She shook her head frantically, stumbling forward on trembling legs. "No… no… You are not dead… You are right here… Mama will take care of you… I promise… I promise this time....."
But suddenly the pristine floor beneath her cracked open.
Dark black water gushed upwards, swallowing the marble tiles whole.
She screamed, reaching out for her sons, but the water rose faster and faster, submerging her feet, her knees, her chest...
And still they stared at her with those hollow, empty eyes. They didn't even make a move towards her!
"Why did you leave us?" the younger one whispered, his voice laced with immeasurable grief and rage, "Why did you let us die…?"
"I didn't… I didn't… I didn't...." She choked as the black water surged over her mouth, her tears mixing with its foul darkness.
Before her eyes disappeared below the surface, she saw her sons turn away from her.
They walked down the endless hallway, away from her, without a backward glance.
