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âThe voice was male. It was broken in a way that spoke of weeksâmaybe monthsâof isolation and fear.
â"Mum, please," the voice continued, cracking on the last word. "I heard the door. I know you came back. You promised you'd come back. You scared me."
âA figure emerged on a rickety wheelchair from the darkened corridor, silhouetted against the dim light filtering through shattered windows. He was gaunt, hollow-eyed. My chest constricted at the color of the whites of his eyesâviolet. My eyes trailed down his arm to the IV sticking out of it, connected to a pouch of violet, simmering fluid sloshing on the IV stand with every movement he made.
âHe clutched what looked like an old hunting rifle with shaking hands, the barrel pointed directly at us.
â"You're not her," he whispered, his voice dissolving into something between a sob and a snarl. "You're not my mum."
