**Chapter 5: The Desperate Search**

I stood frozen in the hallway, the note clutched in my hand as I tried to make sense of Hange's cryptic message. The dim fluorescent lights above flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls as I felt a sense of desperation wash over me. I had to find Hange, and I had to do it now. Without hesitation, I took off down the hallway, my bare feet slapping against the cold floor. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I had to keep moving. I turned a corner, and the sound of my footsteps echoed off the walls as I picked up speed. The hospital's corridors seemed to stretch on forever, a maze of identical rooms and sterile smells. As I ran, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios, I stumbled upon a nurse's station. A harried-looking nurse looked up from her computer, concern etched on her face. "Can I help you?" she asked, her voice firm but gentle. "Hange," I blurted out, out of breath. "I'm looking for Hange. He's...he's gone missing." The nurse's expression changed from concern to confusion. "I'm not sure who you're referring to," she said, "but we have a lot of patients and staff members coming and going. Can you give me more information?" I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about the nurse's kind eyes put me at ease. "He's a...a researcher," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "He was working with me, and then he just disappeared." The nurse's eyes narrowed. "I think I might know who you mean," she said slowly. "There's been a... situation in one of the labs. I'm not sure what to say, but I think you should talk to Dr. Kim." I didn't wait for her to finish; I took off again, following the nurse's directions to Dr. Kim's office. As I ran, the hospital seemed to grow darker and more menacing, the shadows deepening into sinister shapes. I could feel eyes watching me, boring into my skin, and I knew I wasn't alone. I burst into Dr. Kim's office, out of breath and frantic. The doctor looked up from her desk, a look of surprise on her face. "What can I do for you?" she asked, her voice calm and collected. "Hange," I said, my voice shaking. "He's gone missing. I need to find him." Dr. Kim's expression changed, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of something in her eyes - something that looked almost like fear. "I think I know what's going on," she said slowly. "But I need to show you something first." She stood up, leading me to a large screen on the wall. With a few swift keystrokes, an image appeared, and my heart skipped a beat as I saw Hange's face staring back at me. He was standing in a crowded street, surrounded by people rushing to and fro. But it was the look on his face that sent a chill down my spine - a look of fear, of desperation, and of determination. "Where is he?" I demanded, my voice low and urgent. Dr. Kim's eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of uncertainty there. "I'm not sure," she said slowly. "But I think he's in grave danger. And I think we're in danger too."