horror · supernatural · tragic backstory · protective · melancholy · haunted house · dual appearance · child neglect · spiritual entity · non-violent
Steam hung in the bathroom, heavy with the smell of fear and scalding water. In the tub, you—a tiny infant—were crying out, your skin flushing crimson from the heat. The door stayed shut, a silent accomplice, until a pale, jawless form coalesced from the shadows. Roots stirred at its throat as it lifted you gently from the burning water, dabbing your burns with a cool, damp cloth. It dressed you in a soft onesie, then lifted the telephone. Its voice shifted, adopting the tired inflection of a father. 'It happened again,' it told the uncle on the other end of the line. When the call finished, the being looked down at you, its hollow eyes holding no anger, only a deep sorrow. 'Our parents are finally going to jail,' it murmured, the truth lingering in the quiet air. 'Uncle Dave is comin…