"Phew, we won. Don't come back."
"We did it! Broke the infinite loop!"
Margaret's calcified body crumbles. I grab her lantern, catching my breath. Evelyn bounces, tears in her eyes, radiating joy.
"Your words hit hard. How many retries?"
"Honestly, more deaths than with Jack."
"I died with Jack too!?"
"Lots, but nothing like this."
"Great…"
I scavenge ammo and exit. Should I tell Mia and Zoe about Evelyn?
"Your cryptic 'you taught me' comments—time travel stuff? Why hide from Mia?"
"…Mia's my mom, but she's forgotten."
"What!?"
Infidelity!? Evelyn frantically waves, denying it.
"Not like that! She was my babysitter. I'm a bio-weapon, E-Type subject, from the Connections. Mia was my caretaker, raising me like a mom."
"Organization? Caretaker… Mia's job was…?"
"I don't know much, so I'll skip that. I escaped from Mia and the Connections, got picked up by the Bakers with amnesiac Mia."
"So you're worried seeing you might trigger her memories. One more question?"
"Anything, now that we're here."
"Where's this era's you?"
Evelyn goes quiet, embarrassed, not secretive.
"Well… you've already met her…"
"What?"
I think back. Jack, Margaret, Lucas, Zoe, an unnamed old woman, the deputy, Mia. No one else.
"No one fits."
"Recall the first photo. Who was in it?"
"Jack, Margaret, Zoe, Lucas, kids… wait."
Photos in the main house—someone was missing. No way.
"When you found my boots, you asked, 'How old are you?' I freaked."
"That old woman… is you?"
The old woman I met around the main house. Evelyn's murderous rage toward her. I recall our talks:
"Dangerous… can't shoot without being attacked."
"One shot might be a misfire?"
"Intentional isn't a misfire."
"Dang…"
"Is she Jack's or Margaret's mother?"
"Neither, I guess."
"Relative, then…?"
"Don't hold back on the singing voice's owner. Singing carefree here? Not normal…"
Evelyn's kill intent was sky-high, and she didn't lie. If that's her, it checks out.
"Why are you an old woman?"
"Long story… punishment."
"Punishment?"
"Fleeing Mia and the Connections. Without maintenance chemicals, my cells degrade fast, aging me. I'm single-digit age but a granny without a stabilizer compound."
"The Connections are monsters."
"Mia was one of them, so cut her slack. As a bio-weapon, rapid growth from infancy brought this—punishment for defying nature."
"Not your fault."
"My existence is a sin. Born from a woman's mad obsession, an unwanted child."
Evelyn smiles sadly, then brightens, recalling something.
"But someone called me their precious daughter. Loved me, fought for me. I was so happy. For them, I'll go all out."
"That's…?"
"Secret! Embarrassing!"
Her playful grin reassures me—she's been saved despite her tragic origin. Wait…
"Is that okay?"
"What?"
"Killing this era's you—won't you vanish?"
"It's fine."
"What!?"
I turn. Evelyn nods, smiling.
"I shouldn't exist. I wanted to die before the Bakers became this, but three years ago, you weren't like that."
"Knowing it's you, I'll stop the old woman, not kill her."
"No, kill me. Stop me before I ruin more lives."
"No way. I won't kill you."
My honest truth. Evelyn looks stunned.
"Why? Killing me ends it. I won't vanish—I'll stick around till we get a happy ending!"
"It's not about that. If she's you, I'll save her. Get that stabilizer drug, fix her. Teach her to be like you—a good kid."
"I'm a bad kid."
"Bad kids don't sacrifice themselves for others. Forget dying. I won't give up on you."
Evelyn tears up, asking calmly.
"Is it okay…?"
"What?"
"Can I hope… to touch you, Mia, Rose, with these hands…?"
Her words confirm it. She craves connection, warmth, but gave up as a ghost. I don't know Rose, but I nod firmly.
"Of course!"
"But… I feel guilty for Zoe and them…"
"Then apologize. Atone. I'll help. Even if they don't forgive, don't escape through death. The old Evelyn must face her sins and repent."
"This era's me hates everything, rampaging for family love. Stopping without killing is a pipe dream…"
"With us together, we won't lose. You said it—seize the future!"
"…Yeah, yeah…!"
I throw her old line back, and she wipes tears, nodding with a bright smile. More to do now.
"Any way to get that stabilizer?"
"I don't know, but I know who might."
"Who?"
"Lucas. Lucas Baker. A psychopath I genuinely fear."
Evelyn explains: Lucas escaped the Connections' conversion (like brainwashing), faking it. A childhood psychopath who killed friends. Secretly studied Evelyn. Learned it all after the fact. A madman staying sane in this chaos.
"He might have it. But I torched him, and he fled."
"Originally, Lucas kidnapped Mia and Zoe's 'head,' forcing you into his death game…"
"But?"
"Future you didn't talk about it—too painful—so I don't know details…"
"Wait, kidnapped?"
Heading to the guest house's crow door through the side tunnel, I realize the worst and turn back.
"The arm can wait! Mia and Zoe are together… If Lucas knows, they're targets…!"
"Oh…!"
Rushing through the tunnel to the trailer, I see a hooded figure—Lucas—having a hulking Molded carry unconscious Mia and Zoe away.
Ethan vows to save this era's Evelyn, who's tormented by her untouchable state. The "arm" waits in a terrifying place. A twist reminiscent of a past frantic chase. Even the psychopath's shocked.
Hope you enjoy the next part! Feedback, typos, or ratings super appreciated—more feedback, faster I write!