Chapter 6 - The House That RemembersThe house stood exactly as they had left it.
Except all the windows were illuminated.
Every room glowed warmly.
As if someone was waiting for them.
Claire refused to move.
Elliot stared at the front door.
“I don't want to go inside.”
“We don't have a choice.”
“Why?”
“Because we're trapped inside its memory.”
Claire took his hand.
They approached the house.
The front door opened before they touched it.
Inside was the living room.
But it was different.
Brighter.
Cleaner.
Newer.
The furniture was the same, but everything looked eleven years younger.
A baby cried upstairs.
Elliot stared at his mother.
“That's Noah.”
Claire nodded.
They climbed the stairs.
The crying stopped.
The nursery door was open.
Inside stood a young Claire.
She was holding a baby.
Daniel stood beside her.
Elliot watched silently.
It was a memory.
His memory.
His parents were arguing.
Daniel said:
“We can't do this.”
Claire replied:
“He's dying.”
“You promised.”
“I promised to save him.”
“You promised not to use the machine.”
Claire cried.
“I can't lose him.”
Daniel grabbed her arm.
“Claire, once you open that chamber, it won't be Noah anymore.”
The baby started crying.
Then the memory changed.
The room became darker.
A machine appeared beside the crib.
Elliot recognized the symbol from the basement.
The black circle.
Three lines.
Claire placed Noah inside the machine.
Daniel screamed.
“STOP!”
Electricity flashed.
The baby's cries stopped.
A deep voice filled the room.
“Transfer complete.”
Elliot covered his mouth.
“What did she do?”
Claire stood beside him, crying.
“I thought I could bring him back.”
The memory shifted again.
Noah was gone.
A tall shape stood beside the machine.
Daniel approached it.
“Who are you?”
The shape turned.
It looked like him.
Then it smiled.
“I am what remains.”
Daniel stepped backward.
“Noah?”
The creature touched his face.
“Not anymore.”
Elliot looked at his mother.
“You created it.”
Claire whispered:
“I created the first one.”
A sound came from behind them.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
The creature stood in the doorway.
“Well done.”
Claire turned.
“Evelyn.”
The creature smiled.
“Mother.”
Elliot stared.
“You're my grandmother?”
The creature's face twisted.
“I am everyone's grandmother.”
Its voice changed.
Women.
Men.
Children.
Dozens of voices speaking together.
“I remember every person this house has swallowed.”
Claire pulled Elliot behind her.
Evelyn smiled.
“And soon, I will remember you.”
She raised her hand.
The walls began to pulse.
The nursery disappeared.
The floor vanished.
Elliot fell.
Claire screamed his name.
He landed in darkness.
Something caught him.
A child's arms.
Elliot looked up.
May you like
Noah smiled.
“You finally came.”
