After countless retries, I've learned a few things. Margaret isn't used to her new body. Each retry, her experimental attacks have been fatal to Ethan.
Mutated Margaret has five abilities: lantern bug control, super strength, thread-based attacks (blades or binding bullets), agile omnidirectional movement, and fluid-body damage absorption. A monster excelling in physical/range attacks, traps, defense, and evasion.
One retry: recalled a locked crow door in the main house with a powerful weapon behind it. Found it, but Margaret adapted to her body, defeating us.
Another: suggested exploring, found a repair kit under the main house's tin-blocked eaves to fix a broken shotgun. Decent firepower, but low ammo capacity led to a reload failure and defeat.
Another: teamed with Zoe after reuniting. Ethan, Mia, and Zoe armed with burner, handgun, and a repaired broken handgun. Margaret's fluid mold consumed Zoe and Mia, and Ethan was trapped by threads, devoured by bugs. Defeat.
Another: equipped two strong weapons, Ethan fought alone. Head-on, he was outmatched. Margaret's home-ground advantage—clinging to all surfaces—overwhelmed him. Defeat.
Tried many approaches, all crushing losses. Ethan's headstrong charges and growing distrust make it worse. Stopping his reckless assault this time was tough; convincing him to gather weapons first was a slog.
"So, what's this talk, Evelyn?"
"Here, she can't hear us."
I send Mia to explore the main house's crow door with the key, leaving Ethan alone (well, with me). Time to come clean.
"You suspect me, right?"
"Margaret named you twice. The 'girl' everyone mentions—you're the mastermind?"
"…Yeah. Zoe tried to say my name, Evelyn."
"That's why you freaked out. Did you cause Mia's state?"
"It was me, but not this me. I'm from the future, here to change a terrible fate."
"…Terminator?"
"No, well, kinda, but no."
I blurt. Ethan's movie obsession rubs off, but that's not it. Love it, though.
"If that's true, why would the mastermind cross time to save me?"
"You might not believe me, but I regret my actions. So much. I dragged the Bakers, you, and Mia into this. I was a monstrous kid. And… you're important to me."
I can't say "father" now—he'd flip. Gotta earn trust without spilling too much.
"Important to you…?"
"There's a kid I want to see smile. For her, I need you unharmed. I can't say more—taboo—but that's why I crossed time."
No real taboo, just a convenient excuse.
"Please. You'll die to Margaret like this. Even your wild streak can't win."
"You don't know unless—"
"I know. I've seen you die over a hundred times. I'm sick of it…"
"You risked telling me this, knowing I might hate you. It's true, isn't it?"
"…Hate me if you want. I'll save you anyway."
Sad, but true. This Ethan isn't the one I spent three years with.
"Hate you now? We've been through too much. I know you're not bad."
I look up. Ethan grins, fist raised.
"You're sorry, right? No point dwelling on guilt. I'll beat this era's you into remorse too. Keep helping, partner."
"Yes, yes! Count on me!"
Tears fall as I phase my fist through his. Confessing was terrifying, but worth it.
"Got a plan?"
"Yup. While waiting for Mia, check the main house's outer wall tin."
"Roger."
Ethan trusts me fully, acting on my word. Not a daughter, but a partner's nice too.
Minutes later, after regrouping with Zoe and entrusting Mia to her, Ethan and I storm the guest house. I have him shoot a handgun round and hide. If head-on fails, we'll strike from the shadows.
"Foolish kid. I'll find you eventually."
"Standby."
Margaret scuttles across the wall. As expected, the night's darkness blinds her as much as us. Her lantern only controls bugs. I signal Ethan to stay quiet as I close in on her.
"Entrances sealed. Nowhere to run, boy."
"Now!"
"No running, bug hag!"
On my cue, Ethan fires a grenade launcher's incendiary round at Margaret's back. A makeshift launcher—Lucas's work, probably—cobbled from scrap, barrel taped for reinforcement, rough but effective. It shoots flaming rounds with devastating impact.
"AAAH!? Burning, burning!? Found you! No escape!"
"Take this!"
Ethan hurls nearby board debris, blasting it with a repaired double-barrel shotgun for a smokescreen. He hides again. Margaret, hit by debris, reels. Not Ethan's style, but it's my plan: Operation Steady.
"Ethan, here!"
"Come play, let's end this!"
Margaret, enraged, spits threads, bundling them into a slashing sweep and bullet barrage while skittering across the floor. But Ethan's gone—I guided him up a ladder left from her destruction, to a second-floor ledge.
"Standby, GO!"
"Stop with the cutesy talk, it's hilarious!"
As Margaret passes below, Ethan jumps, stomping her fluid body and torching it with the burner, wrecking her nest. She burns, but her thread bullet binds him, flinging him back.
"Gah!?"
"Hot, hot, HOT! Give up, boy!"
Margaret charges to crush him. Ethan cuts the threads with debris, slaps them in her face, and fires the grenade launcher at her charging form.
"Goodbye."
"G-GYAAAAH!?"
Blinded by threads, defenseless, Margaret takes the full hit. Her body calcifies, collapsing. My endless nightmare ends with her death throes. …Sorry, Margaret.
Evelyn finally confessed, building unshakable trust. Mia retrieved the grenade launcher, and a repair kit (thanks, pole hanger) fixed the broken shotgun, boosting firepower. Margaret's defeated. Who's next?
Hope you enjoy the next part! Feedback, typos, or ratings super appreciated—more feedback, faster I write!