Outside Justin's room, everyone stood frozen in the hallway.
The muffled screams continued from behind the closed door—
each one slicing deeper into their hearts.
Amber stood motionless.
For the first time in years…
her hands were shaking.
Emily:
"A-Aunt… what's happening to him…?"
Amber didn't answer.
Her jaw tightened.
Her eyes stayed on the door—
like she could see through it.
Megan:
"Amber… say something. Why did it happen when Eric said—"
Amber raised her hand.
Silencing everyone.
Inside the room, Justin screamed again.
Justin (from inside):
"AHHHHHHHH—!!!"
Eric flinched with each cry.
His grip on the knife loosened.
Finally—it fell to the floor with a sharp clang.
Eric whispered, voice trembling:
Eric:
"…he's breaking because of me."
Amber turned sharply toward him.
Her eyes were cold, sharp—
nothing like the gentle touch she had shown minutes ago.
Amber:
"No.
He's breaking because of the truth you exposed."
Eric swallowed hard.
Eric:
"What… truth?"
Amber took one step toward him—
and that one step made him shrink back.
Amber:
"The mark on Justin…
reacts to betrayal."
Her voice was low but deadly calm.
"And you, boy…
You were the final trigger."
Eric's heart dropped.
Eric:
"B–but I didn't mean—"
Amber:
"Intent doesn't matter."
Her eyes flickered, almost glowing with fury.
"Justin trusted you.
Like a brother."
Eric's knees buckled.
Eric:
"…I didn't know."
Amber leaned forward slightly.
Amber:
"And that ignorance…
is what's killing him."
The hallway fell silent.
Then Jonathan finally spoke, voice cracked:
Jonathan:
"Amber… we need to go inside. He needs us—"
Amber cut him off sharply.
Amber:
"NO."
Her gaze was firm.
"He told us not to go in.
And forcing the door will make his condition worse."
Eric looked at the door in horror.
Eric:
"So he's just… suffering alone?!"
Amber's eyes softened for a split second—
just long enough for a hint of pain to show.
Amber:
"He has to.
If anyone touches him right now, the marks will advance."
She exhaled slowly.
"We would kill him."
Everyone went silent.
No one had breath left to speak.
Another scream tore through the door.
Justin (inside):
"AHHHH—AHHHHHH—STOP—!!"
Eric pressed his hands to his ears, trembling.
Eric:
"I… I can't listen to this…
I caused this… I—"
Amber grabbed his collar so fast he gasped.
Her face inches from his.
Her voice was soft—
too soft.
Amber:
"You caused nothing."
Eric blinked.
Amber:
"This… was going to happen someday.
You only accelerated it."
She released him and stepped back.
"And maybe…
that's better.
The longer truth stays buried, the more deadly it becomes."
Eric's chest tightened.
Eric:
"What truth…?
Why did you kill my mother?"
Her eyes darkened.
A storm brewing.
Amber:
"That…
you will know."
She pointed at Justin's door.
"But not until he survives this."
Everyone stared at her.
Thomas:
"Aunt… can he really survive this?"
Amber didn't blink.
Amber:
"He has to."
A dangerous smirk touched her lips.
"Justin is my son."
But the smirk faded as another agonized scream echoed.
This one quieter.
Weaker.
Too weak.
Amber's control cracked.
She reached toward the door—
Her fingers trembled.
Jonathan put a hand on her shoulder.
She froze.
He shook his head.
Jonathan:
"If you go in… he dies."
Amber's teeth clenched.
A tear—just one—slipped down her cheek.
She let it fall.
For now.
Everyone stared silently.
The hallway was filled only with—
Justin's final, hoarse scream:
Justin:
"AH… hhh…
don't…
come…"
Then—
Silence.
.... continue