Sitting there, darkness crowding in around him, he was silently mumbling to himself. The low hum of the television and scattered voices chanted weird words that he couldn't care less about. His mind was on other things, more important things. Images of the years past darkened his vision, corrupting his soul. Those memories were always there, hovering above him, reminding him of the horror in his life, the horror that he was capable of. His only savior from the shadows clawing at his ankles was the blue glow of the TV screen, illuminating the small area between him and it. A sudden chill washed over him, sending a shudder down his spine. The TV flickered once before the image faded into static completely. A young girl's voice shattered the annoying buzz of the static as she cried out for her father. Winching in pain as if he had been physically assaulted, he grimaced, gripped the remote control tightly, and clicked the TV off, a light tear running down his cheek as the room was swallowed up by complete darkness.
The soft click of the dead bolt at his front door receding into the hollow wood startled him but failed to surprise him. It was time.
"What took you so long?" he called out as the single tear melted into the collar of his shirt.
"You were expecting me?" the soft voice replied.
"I always knew you would come, sooner or later." His fingers momentarily dug into the plush fabric of the arms of his chair as a slight feeling of dread inched its way into his mind.
"You knew what you were doing all those years ago." A bare foot, sheltered by the dark, tattered ends of a long black gown came into view. "This is the path you chose."
"I never chose to die for someone else's sins," he whispered as he looked up, seeing into those cold, blue eyes for the first time. "I don't regret what happened."
"I knew you wouldn't."
He glared at her, anger burning deep into his heart. "There's no reason for me to regret what I did. I saved her life! I did what was asked of me. I rescued her from you freaks!"
She didn't even seem affected by his anger. "You stole her from us," she mumbled, closing her eyes tight as if she was vividly remembering that day. "You brought this on yourself."
"Say what you want, but she's happy. I gave her the best life I knew how to. I loved her like she was… I love my daughter. I protected her, and I saw that she was okay. Whatever you plan to do with her, you'll never win. This…god will never be born. I stopped you once, and Heather will stop you this time around, regardless of what you do to me."
"Your confidence is just an arrogant lie," she smirked, gesturing toward his hands, which were still gripping the arms of the chair tightly.
He just glared at her even more, refusing to move his hands. "What did you come here for?"
"What an odd question?" she smiled. "I believe you know exactly what I came here for."
"What? To kill me? Fine," he mumbled. "But, it won't change anything. It will only fill Heather with more desperation to make sure you fail."
She grinned, a wide, evil smile. "That's precisely my intention."