The hallway echoed with Justin's tortured screams.
Everyone stood frozen in horror—
helpless…
terrified…
broken.
Justin (inside the room):
"AHHHHHHHHHH—!!"
Eric collapsed to the floor, shaking uncontrollably.
He had forgotten the knife in his hand… forgotten his anger…
forgotten everything—
except fear.
Deep, soul-shattering fear.
But Amber didn't hesitate.
She walked straight to Eric—
took his hand—
and forced the knife into her own stomach.
Everyone:
"AMBER!!!"
Eric's eyes widened, breath stopping entirely.
The knife slipped from his fingers and clattered against the floor.
Eric:
"Wh—wh… Amber… I—I didn't—"
Amber didn't even flinch.
She looked at him with a strange, empty smile.
Amber:
"…are you satisfied now?"
Another scream ripped through the door.
Justin:
"AHHHHHHHH—!!"
Amber stabbed herself again—
straight through her shoulder.
Jonathan:
"AMBER!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Amber didn't look at him.
She whispered—
just loud enough for him to hear.
Amber (whisper):
"…punishing myself."
A tear slid down her cheek—
the quiet kind
that hurts more than any scream.
From inside the room—
Justin:
"AHHHHHH—STOP—IT—!!"
Amber grabbed the knife again.
And stabbed her palm.
Blood spilled across the floor.
Jonathan's breath broke.
Jonathan:
"A-Amber… please… stop…"
But she couldn't hear him.
Not over Justin's pain.
Not over her guilt.
Every time Justin screamed—
Amber stabbed herself again.
Her leg.
Her arm.
Her side.
The children backed away, terrified.
Even Eric hid behind Megan, trembling.
Because Amber wasn't stopping.
Because she wouldn't stop.
Because she refused to stop.
Justin:
"AHHHHHHHH—!!"
Amber lifted the knife toward her chest.
Toward her heart.
Everyone lunged forward—
Everyone:
"NO!!!"
Jonathan ran faster than all of them.
At the last second, he grabbed her wrist—
twisted the knife away—
and slammed his lips onto hers.
A desperate, shaking kiss.
Not romantic.
Not passionate.
Not gentle.
A kiss that screamed—
"STOP."
"ENOUGH."
"YOU ARE NOT ALONE."
Amber kissed him back—
but there was no heat.
No emotion.
Just exhaustion.
Just surrender.
Just the smallest flicker of—
relief.
Jonathan pulled back, breath shattering.
His forehead rested against hers.
His voice broke.
Jonathan:
"…don't do this to yourself."
She didn't speak.
Her bloody hand slowly uncurling from the dropped knife.
Her eyes staring at the floor.
Her breathing uneven.
Her heart bleeding more than her wounds.
---
Narrator Note (your meta-note rewritten, cleaner & emotional):
If you're wondering
why Amber is doing this
despite everyone saying they love her…
despite wanting her…
despite calling her family…
It's simple.
Love doesn't stop guilt.
Affection doesn't erase trauma.
And even the strongest people…
break when the people they protect suffer.
Justin is her son.
Her weakness.
Her anchor.
Her entire heart.
And hearing him scream…
because of a truth she hid…
It shattered her.
This wasn't punishment.
This was the only way she knew how to feel his pain.
---continue