(Trigger warning: More blood/gore)

It had taken hours to calm herself enough to call the police to report the murder of Hank. She was kept on the scene to answer questions. When she was finally permitted to leave, Hank's poor house was covered in that god awful crime scene tape always seen on TV.

A police officer stopped her before she got even a block away, pulling his car over to the side next to her. "...Are you sure you are alright to walk to your destination by yourself, Miss?"

If she had her wits about her, Ellie would have probably spat in the man's face for calling her a "Miss." However, her brain was as rattled as her shaking hands. It was hard, but she still declined the offered ride with a shaky "....I'm... fine..."

The man in the driver's seat gave her a wary look, but respectfully drove away. He couldn't do anything for her if she did not want the help.

Ellie Spectre couldn't tell where she was going. Her face was red as if she was trying to hold back the tears, her stomach felt knotted up, and her thoughts felt numb. Her feet did the difficult part of guiding the way, much like how they had when she was seeking out Hank at his place. Though the results were not pleasant, her feet had still done their job properly.

"...how do I tell Dad.... and Mom...?" Her thoughts couldn't stay in her head as she quietly asked a rather important question. She wasn't as concerned for her mother learning about Hank's murder. She respected the man, but she was not his friend. Hank was her father's friend. That friendship went all the way back to high school. If she had lost Jared or Zuniga in such a way, she had no idea what she would do. She'd probably be doing the same thing she was doing with Hank's murder, wandering around in a nearly aimless haze.

Her sneakers eventually stopped in front of a door. It actually took her several seconds to realize that this was in fact, her own house. She fumbled to find her keys and eventually got the door open as quietly as she could manage.

There was a good chance her parents were asleep, considering the time that they had to leave for work in the morning.

She didn't even think about possibly waking them when it came to the lights.

With the flip of a switch, the only color she could see was red.

Iris, Come Out and Plaaaay!

The keys she had in her hands fell to the floor as Ellie Spectre stared at the message written in blood.

This was almost identical to what she had found at Hank's house before she had found what was left of Hank's body. Dread consumed her as she remained unblinkingly glaring at the message.

"...Hank died because of me..."

Tears were already starting to roll down her cheeks at this realization as well as one other realization.

She didn't want to budge from the spot, but her feet did not seem to get the message as they began to carefully tread down the hallway. The hallway had crimson splashed against the pale walls, the same strange phrase written in liquid red.

Her searching wasn't nearly as extensive, for once she was out of the hallway, she found what she suspected she would find.

Two dead bodies, both propped up in chairs at the dinner table, both beheaded in a similar manner to how Hank had been. Upon plates in front of their respective bodies were the heads of Ed Spectre and Kat Spectre. Terror was forever frozen onto their features.

Before she could scream, another voice screeched out in horror.

Iris blinked as the haze seemed to finally loosen itself upon her. It apparently wasn't enough for her slumber to be haunted by her memories. She had been simply gazing over the target sight, the brush covered hill, and had zoned out.

She closed her eyes and shook her head.

You can't afford to be doing this... one slip up... and their deaths will be on your hands...