dy of her mother. Her vision blurred with unshed tears, the weight of the moment pressing down on her like an

-foot

fear as the sound grew closer. Her eyes darted toward the darkened entryway, where a figure emerged from the shadow

and of average build, his hands clasped behind his back as though he were merely observing a painting rat

voice deep yet eerily sof

y to the surface, piecing together a truth she had buried deep within her mind. Her lips tremb

r. Her eyes widened in realizatio

month

a's

osed to be a

to work' day," Dad had said that morning, hi

eyes. "Dad, I'm t

ring me toward the car. "You'll always be my

allways were sterile and white, the floors polished to perfection. I sighed as I walked beside

u to experience a day in

ack at me. "You don't have to stay in here if you don't want to.

esigned. "Fine. I'll

shoulder. "T

The soft hum of conversation filled the space as I idly observed my surroundings. The r

ehow-I drifte

oom was empty, the overhead lights casting long, eerie shado

:04

on me as I walked toward his office, my own footsteps amplified in the stillness. A c

through the closed blinds. "He's still here,"

resp

arder this time. "D

l not

the doorknob. It was warm to the touch. Too wa

en-I sc

le. Blood had trailed from his head to the floor, forming a dark, ominous stai

no, this isn't real." My hands trembled as I covered

ck into the hallway, my voice breaking

no on

the floor. My sobs echoed through the empty

-foot

est. I looked up, des

rged wasn't a doctor, no

er half visible in the dim light. I stared, conf

lifted

to he

ic the shap

ld. He wasn't holding anything-his hands

voice came out as a trembling w

boy p

red his hand, turned around, a

shbac

stared into the face of the bo

stood in that h

had watched h

he was he

am

ice barely more than a b

read across Damian's face.