Linsey
Hey Mom, there are some kids knocking at the door.
Linsey
Are you expecting anyone?
Mom
No, they’re probably just selling cookies or something.
Linsey
I dunno…they look kind of creepy.
Linsey
I’m watching them on the security app.
Linsey
It’s a boy and a girl.
Linsey
They’re wearing weird clothes…
Linsey
Like from the 1980s.
Mom
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Mom
Not everyone has had the same advantages as you.
Linsey
No, it’s just…they look like they’re wearing costumes.
Mom
Maybe they’re Trick or Treating?
Linsey
A whole week before Halloween?
Mom
Well, what do they want?
Linsey
I don’t know, I haven’t answered yet.
Linsey
I’m just getting super weird vibes from them.
Mom
Little kids. Harmless.
Linsey
I just spoke to them over the intercom.
Linsey
They just sound more like adults than little kids.
Linsey
They asked to use the telephone.
Mom
Did you offer them your cell?
Linsey
They said they needed the landline.
Mom
We don’t have a landline anymore.
Linsey
That’s what I told them.
Linsey
But they just keep banging on the door…
Mom
Maybe they’re confused.
Linsey
Should I call the police?
Linsey
Okay, this is super weird…
Linsey
I went to the door to offer them something to eat…
Linsey
But they wouldn’t even look at the food. All they said was…
Linsey
You must let us in.
Mom
Are they scared of someone?
Linsey
It’s 10:00 at night — there’s no one around.
Linsey
I had to shut the door…the smell…
Mom
Linsey, I’m disappointed in you. These children clearly need help.
Mom
You don’t know how much your father and I have sacrificed for you.
Mom
Not everyone is so lucky.
Linsey
It wasn’t like that, Mom.
Linsey
They smelled like…death.
Linsey
And there was something else…
Linsey
The first time I looked, they were normal. Brown, green.
Linsey
But when I looked again, they changed…
Linsey
They were all black.
Linsey
No pupil. No iris. Just darkness.
Mom
That certainly is odd…
Linsey
They’re screaming now…
Linsey
I told them to quiet down through the intercom, and the girl turned to the camera and said…
Linsey
“Nancy must pay for what she did.”
Linsey
Mom, what’s going on?
Linsey
A second ago you were saying I should take pity on them!
Linsey
How do these kids know you, Mom?
Mom
Don’t worry about that now. Just make sure those children can’t get in.
Linsey
I’m calling the police.
Mom
That will just make things worse.
Linsey
Then tell me what’s going on.
Mom
You’re not going to like it.
Linsey
They’re screaming again, Mom.
Linsey
I’m afraid they’re going to break down the door.
Linsey
If I can’t call the police then you have to tell me what’s happening.
Mom
Your father and I started dating when we were very young.
Linsey
I thought you met in college?
Mom
We knew we were in love, but my parents were very strict.
Mom
They would have sent me away if they found out.
Linsey
I have a sibling?!
Mom
I was very young. Scared. By the time I realized I was pregnant, it was too late.
Mom
I couldn’t tell my parents. I couldn’t get help.
Mom
It was a small town. Everyone knew everyone.
Mom
If I told anyone, it would have gotten back to my parents.
Mom
Only your father knew the truth.
Linsey
Couldn’t you have run away together? With the baby?
Mom
We should have. But we didn’t.
Mom
And now I have to pay the price.
Linsey
What are you talking about?!
Linsey
What happened to the baby?!
Mom
I hid my bump. Pretended nothing was wrong.
Mom
When it was time, your father and I ran into the woods.
Mom
He held my hand while I screamed…
Mom
It was so painful. Not like you. You were such an easy birth.
Linsey
So the baby is alive?
Linsey
What did you do to him?!
Linsey
I don’t understand.
Mom
We left him there. Your brother.
Mom
It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
Linsey
I can’t believe this…
Linsey
You just…let him die?
Mom
I regret it every day. Every hour.
Linsey
That’s not enough.
Mom
Your father and I made a vow that night…
Mom
That when we had our next child, we’d give them everything.
Mom
That’s why we waited so long to have you. We grew up, moved away, went to college.
Mom
We got good jobs. We worked hard so that we could give you everything you’d ever need.
Linsey
That doesn’t make it right.
Mom
I know. But it’s the best we could do.
Linsey
I still don’t understand…
Linsey
Who are these kids?
Mom
I think…that they came for me.
Mom
They want me to pay for what I did.
Mom
There was an old folk legend in our town…
Mom
About the lost spirits of dead children…
Linsey
Mom, now they’re screaming MY name…
Linsey
I don’t think they want you…
Linsey
I got to live the life he didn’t.
Mom
Just stay inside, Linsey.
Linsey
Like you lost my brother?
Mom
Linsey, are you there?!
Mom
I’m scared, Linsey…I don’t know what to do.
Linsey
Did my brother have a name?
Linsey
I’m looking this up online. The legend…
Linsey
It says they don’t want to kill anyone…
Linsey
They just want a name.
Linsey
Well, think about it — you named me after your great aunt.
Linsey
You gave me this name because you loved her. And because you love me.
Linsey
You didn’t give my brother a name.
Linsey
So his spirit can’t rest.
Mom
I can’t give him a name…
Mom
We wouldn’t let ourselves then. It was too painful…
Linsey
Mom, please. They’re going to break down the door.
Mom
Your father and I always liked the name Jason.
Linsey
Okay. I’m going out there.
Linsey
Your name is Jason.
His black eyes turn grey. Then, they become normal.
Linsey
I’m sorry for what happened to you.
Linsey
I’m sorry you were forgotten.
Linsey
But you’re not forgotten anymore.
Linsey
You’re my brother. And I love you.
The boy turns to the girl, whose eyes are still black as night.
The boy looks up at Linsey.
Linsey reaches out to grab her brother’s hand…
