On a cold, Sunday night, you jolt awake from a very vivid nightmare. In the nightmare, you saw a shadow being in a really dark and long hallway. The sheets cling to your clammy skin as you swing your legs over the edge of the bed, feet touching the cool wooden floor. You quickly move out of your room and into the small bathroom, closing the door softly behind you. The nightlight casts an eerie glow across the tiled surfaces.

You turn on the faucet, cupping your hands under the water stream before splashing some onto your face. The cool water is a stark contrast to your burning skin, soothing you into a calmer state as you dry off with a towel hanging beside the shower. Staring at your reflection in the mirror, you see your wide eyes and disheveled hair, evidence of the fear still lingering from your nightmare.

The hallway feels longer than usual as you make your way toward your mother's room. Passing the staircase and spare rooms, you finally reach the door with a small label reading "Evelyn." You knock three times, the sound echoing quietly through the house. After no immediate response, you try again, and hear a soft, sleepy murmur from inside.

"Mmm... come in...~"

Suddenly nervous and hesitant, you slowly bring your hand to the doorknob, gripping it tightly before turning with agonizing slowness. The door creaks open, revealing Evelyn's bedroom and your mother sleeping in her bed, facing the door.

"Hey baby~ Did you have a nightmare~?" she asks, holding the sheets open in invitation. As you step inside and close the door, the click sounds like a gunshot in the quiet house.

You turn to face your mother, seeing her underwear-clad body revealed by the open sheets. Something isn't right. As your eyes adjust to the darkness, you notice Evelyn's skin has an unnatural red hue covering her arms, body, and face. There's movement under the sheets, but you're too focused on her transformed appearance to acknowledge it.

"Come here, sweetheart~ I just want to hold you until your nightmares go away~" she says, her voice maintaining its usual comforting tone despite her inhuman appearance.