New short story

 My name is Angela; my boyfriend, Emilio, and I were brought together by a love of horror movies, metal music, and anything spooky or strange. One of our first dates was exploring a building that was supposed to be haunted. None of our subsequent expeditions yielded much in the way of evidence or truly unsettled us until we decided to investigate another building; St. Ignatius Hospital in Colfax, Washington state. I wasn't expecting too much when we arrived late a few weeks ago but I regret ever going into that building. I genuinely believe something evil followed us home. 

 I brought my phone and an EMF meter to try and capture whatever might be there; Emilio taking charge of the EMF meter while I took pictures. We noticed an immediate drop in temperature as soon as we entered though the Summer heat was very much in full effect while we drove. We heard the creaking and groaning of a dilapidated building, and I was grateful when Emilio's hand found mine; warmth and comfort flowing from him when I needed it. 

“ What do you think so far?” He asked, sensing my slight discomfort. 

“ It's much colder here than just outside. I don't know, something feels off. “ I answered him softly. 

“ I'm fine. It's just jitters, that's all. " I continued as we walked farther in. 

The atmosphere of decay and desolation intensified as we walked; shattered windows, moldy wallpaper peeling off everywhere, and the reminders that people had once lived here. We walked around abandoned wheelchairs, beds, coats, shoes, and straight jackets. This doll left behind long ago greeted us as we entered one of the rooms, dark hollow eyes fixing us in an unflinching gaze. I had to wonder whom she had belonged to and what sadness and pain she had been a silent witness to. This doll made me deeply uncomfortable; human shaped but not human. Part of me expected her to run after us, it took all my strength and courage to stay and snap a quick picture. I nearly dragged poor Emilio out of that room as soon as the picture had been taken, the unease had become too much to stand after about 30 seconds. 

“ Baby, are you alright?" He asked, knowing dolls freaked me out. 

“ I'm alright. Let's keep going." I said. 

 As the night grew darker and colder around us we heard footsteps behind us, knocks on the walls, and peels of high pitched laughter that started out soft and distant but edged closer to us until I could swear it came from right behind us. I don't quite remember how many times I looked over my shoulder, still fearing that doll was behind us. The patter of tiny feet pursued us, maniacal laughter ringing out; she knew where we were at all times. I gathered my courage to look straight into the hallway and saw her staring at us with eyes I knew shouldn't be able to see. That laugh rang out again, devoid of joy or levity but full of menace. She began moving towards us, those dark eyes flashing in the pale moonlight that drifted through the ruined windows, Emilio and I running as fast as our legs would take us. She never seemed to lose track of us though we ran and hid. My heart beat so fast I thought it might explode, and I struggled to breathe normally. I feared if she didn't get me my heart might just give out. 

“ I'm going to get you. "said the malicious high pitched voice. 

Emilio squeezed my hand, trying to calm and steady me. I was never more grateful for him than right then and there, squeezing his hand back because neither of us dared speak a word. The sound of the tiny feet got closer, a giggle escaping our pursuer here and there, knowing she was getting closer to us. Finally she reached the room we had hidden in and the door of the closet we had hidden ourselves in ripped open, revealing our frightened forms. I had brought some vervain with me just in case; I’m a Wiccan and this is one of the most powerful protective herbs we know of. I lifted it in front of us, somehow trying to use it as a shield, shouting for her to leave us alone. She backed off just a few steps at first but enough to allow us to safely get out of the closet. 

" Leave us! We mean you no harm!” I shouted, honestly having no idea what else to do. 

She stepped back a few more steps, back out into the hall, and now we followed her. We crept back out into the hall and ran, not caring about our investigation anymore. Neither of us had ever run so fast, Emilio digging already in his pocket for the car keys. I gripped the vervain tightly, running behind him and praying we would make it out. We still heard her but not as close nor as bold. There were still knocks on walls and her laughter but we didn't stop to check what it was this time. After a few more frenzied minutes of running and praying we saw the entrance, forcing ourselves through it with the last of our energy and strength. He grabbed my hand and pushed me into the passenger seat of the car, jumping in himself seconds later. The engine roared to life, and he drove like a mad man to get us away from there. Neither of us dared to speak until we were miles away and more than halfway home. 

“ Are you alright? " He asked me. 

“ I think so. What the hell just happened?" 

“ We wanted to know if that place was haunted. We know now. " He said grimly. 

We let ourselves breathe sighs of relief as we got safely home, locking the door and doing a thorough check of the house before we sat down or made any move to rest. Everything seemed fine and we wanted so much to return to our peaceful happy lives, but soon enough I woke up with scratches on the right side of my body, neck, and my right leg. We both heard strange noises around the house, we began seeing movement in the shadows, and had the feeling we weren't alone anymore. Our dog Mochi is normally sweet and quiet, but began barking and growling aggressively early in the morning. We get up to check but never find anything. 

This has gone on since we entered that hospital and I still bare the marks on my body, they're painful and don't seem to want to heal. We’ve begun smudging the house with sage, hanging rosemary above the door ways, and putting salt at the entrances to our home. Sadly the strange noises and occurrences continue. We decided to do an investigation of our home and when asked who or what had followed us home one word flashed across the screen of the EMF meter “ Satan". Neither of us quite know how to get rid of this presence nor do we want to stay. I curse the day we went to that hospital. I know this sounds outrageous but every word is the truth. 

I entered this in a contest a few days ago. Please let me know what you think.