The tiny toddler walked quietly through the long corridors of the mansion. For the past few minutes she had been searching for the two voices she wanted to hear most.
When she finally heard them, the sounds were nothing like the warm, gentle ones she was used to.
Her mother's voice suddenly cried out. "Ahh! Why are you being so aggressive tonight…?!"
Her father's calm reply followed. "Because I need to give you a punishment."
"It stings… ahh… slow down…! At this rate I will die—"
Slap… slap… slap…
The sharp sounds made little Athanasia freeze in place. Her small hands clutched the front of her nightgown as fear crawled up her spine.
From another space, the older Athanasia watched the same memory and immediately recognized it. This was the exact scene from the dream that had twisted her understanding of her parents for years.
Plap… plap… plap…
"Mmmh… ahh… ahhh…!"
With that final, broken moan from Lysia, everything went silent.
