Oh god...not again...

The passage of time had etched its mark upon our lives, leaving behind a tapestry woven with threads of joy and sorrow. Five years had slipped by since the harrowing events at the lab, yet the scars of that day lingered like shadows in the recesses of my mind. With each passing day, I found myself counting down the moments until I could officially join the ranks of the facility's staff, a prospect that both excited and daunted me in equal measure.

In the midst of this delicate balance between past and present, Stik and Beth had blossomed into vibrant, curious souls, their laughter a melody that danced through the halls of our home. Despite the lingering specter of tragedy that hung over us like a pall, their innocence served as a beacon of hope in the darkness.

"Mama, can we go play outside? Pleeeeease?" their voices rang out, a chorus of youthful enthusiasm that tugged at my heartstrings. With a soft chuckle, I granted their request, urging them to first nourish their bodies with a hearty breakfast.

As they scampered off in a flurry of excitement, their footsteps fading into the distance, a sudden knock at the front door shattered the tranquility of the morning. My heart skipped a beat at the unexpected interruption, a sense of foreboding settling over me like a heavy blanket.

Approaching the door with cautious steps, I braced myself for the sight that awaited me on the other side. And there, standing in the threshold, was a figure cloaked in shadow, his presence casting a pall over the threshold of our home.

Recognition flickered in the depths of my mind, a distant echo of familiarity that struggled to break through the fog of uncertainty. Yet beneath the veneer of recognition lurked a primal instinct, a warning that whispered of danger lurking just beneath the surface.

With a trembling hand, I extended an invitation into our sanctuary, hoping against hope that the darkness that clung to him would dissipate in the warmth of our embrace. But to my dismay, he remained rooted in place, his gaze fixed upon me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

And then, in an instant, the facade crumbled, revealing the true nature of the threat that loomed before me. His smile, once a beacon of comfort and familiarity, twisted into a grotesque parody of humanity—a grin that spoke of darkness and depravity.

Before I could react, he lunged forward with a speed that defied comprehension, his form contorting into something monstrous before my eyes. With a sickening thud, he pinned me to the ground, his grip unyielding as his arm transformed into a gleaming blade poised to strike.

The cries of our children echoed through the house, a cacophony of fear and desperation that served as a grim reminder of the stakes at hand. And then, in the deafening silence that followed, I heard it—the chilling sound of something slicing through flesh, sealing my fate in a moment of unfathomable horror.

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? SHE DIDNT DESERVE THIS. IF ANYTHING I DID. STOP REMINDING ME OF THE PAIN IVE CAUSED. I COULDVE STOPPED IT. WHY?

It's not your fault...

Right?