"C-3"

As Maya slowly regained consciousness, the sterile scent of the hospital filled her nostrils, and the soft glow of fluorescent lights danced behind her closed eyelids. With a groan, she blinked her eyes open, the world swimming into focus around her.

Beside her, she saw her brother Connor sitting in a chair, his expression a mix of relief and concern. As she began to piece together what had happened, her voice trembled with anxiety. "Where is Mom, Dad, and Lily?" she asked, her heart pounding in her chest.

Connor's gaze softened as he met Maya's eyes. "They're safe, Maya," he said gently, reaching out to grasp her hand in his. "They're with family friends right now."

A wave of relief washed over Maya as she took in her brother's words. "Thank goodness," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Connor gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "You had us all worried there for a moment," he admitted, a faint smile playing at his lips. "But you're going to be okay now. That's all that matters."

"I think my job in this family has only made things worse," Connor admitted with a heavy sigh. "I was supposed to protect you all, but instead, I feel like I've put us all in danger."

Maya squeezed his hand gently, offering him a reassuring smile. "You've done your best, Connor," she said softly. "None of this is your fault."

Connor's eyes flickered with gratitude as he met Maya's gaze. "Thanks, Maya," he said, a hint of relief in his voice. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep us safe from now on."

As Lily and the family's new puppy relaxed in the living room, enjoying their time together, the peaceful atmosphere was suddenly shattered by the sound of the dog growling. Startled, Lily glanced around, her curiosity piqued.

Following the direction of the growling, Lily cautiously approached the nearby window, peering outside. Her eyes widened in surprise as she spotted a rat, significantly larger than usual, scurrying along the edge of the garden.

Alarmed, Lily quickly called out for her dad, her voice tinged with urgency. "Dad, come quick! There's a huge rat outside!"

Dad hurried to Lily's side, his concern evident as he saw the oversized rodent. "That's no ordinary rat," he remarked, his voice tense.

Mom joined them, her brow furrowing in concern as she took in the sight. "We need to deal with this before it becomes a problem," she said firmly, her maternal instincts kicking in.

Lily nodded eagerly, her eyes wide with apprehension. "What should we do?"

Dad's hand tightened around the shotgun as he took aim at the rat, his movements swift and decisive. With a resounding blast, he fired, but to his horror, the rat seemed unaffected by the shot. Instead, it grew even larger and more powerful, its eyes gleaming with malevolence.

Realizing the danger, Dad swiftly scooped Lily into his arms and rushed back into the safety of the house. As they reached the threshold, Mom's concerned voice greeted them.

"What happened, dear?" she asked, her eyes wide with alarm.

Lily's voice trembled as she spoke, her words barely above a whisper. "The rat... it's not just a rat anymore. It's something... something much worse."

Dad's expression hardened as he set Lily down, his mind racing with thoughts of how to protect his family from this newfound threat. "We need to barricade the doors and windows," he said firmly. "Whatever that thing is, we can't let it get inside."

The rat's relentless assault against the door sent shockwaves of fear through the family as they struggled to hold it shut. Dad's muscles strained as he braced himself against the force of the rat's onslaught, his hands gripping the doorknob with white-knuckled determination.

"Everyone, try to hold this door for a moment," Dad called out, his voice echoing with urgency.

With a collective effort, Mom, Lily, and even the family dog pressed against the door, their combined strength a bulwark against the rat's relentless advance. But despite their best efforts, the door creaked and groaned under the pressure, threatening to give way at any moment.

"Is everyone okay?" Connor asked anxiously as he stepped into the house, his eyes scanning the room for signs of injury.

Mom nodded, her voice tinged with concern. "We're fine, but Lily got a sharp wood in her hand when she tried to help."

Lily winced as Connor approached, the pain evident on her face. "It hurts, Connor," she whimpered.

Connor knelt beside her, gently examining her hand. "Hang in there, Lily. I'll take care of it," he reassured her, his voice calm despite the urgency of the situation.

As he carefully removed the splinter, Lily let out a relieved sigh. "Thanks, Connor," she said gratefully.

Meanwhile, Maya remained outside, her gaze fixed on the rat's body. The sight of the C-3 marking sent a shiver down her spine, triggering a distant memory.

"I've seen this before," she murmured to herself, her brow furrowed in thought. "But where?"

"Maya, get inside! I need your help," Connor called urgently to Maya, his voice breaking through her thoughts.

Startled, Maya turned to see her brother's urgent expression. Without hesitation, she rushed to his side, ready to assist him however she could.

"What's wrong, Connor?" Maya asked, concern etched in her features as she joined him inside.

Connor's expression was grim as he explained, "We need to secure the house and make sure everyone's safe and checking the doors and windows. Can you handle that?"

Maya nodded, her determination matching her brother's. "Of course, Connor. Let's do this."

As the family relaxed at home, enjoying the peace of the evening, Connor's phone rang, breaking the tranquility. He received an urgent call for a meeting and swiftly departed, leaving Maya with a solemn request to keep the family safe.

As Connor hurriedly gathered his things, Maya's voice trembled with worry. "Be careful out there, Connor. We'll be waiting for you."

Connor offered her a reassuring smile. "I'll be back before you know it, Maya. Just keep everyone safe while I'm gone."

Dad nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "We'll hold down the fort here, son. You focus on what you need to do."

With a quick nod, Connor dashed out the door, leaving Maya and the rest of the family in a tense silence.

Lily tugged at Maya's sleeve, her eyes wide with concern. "Is Connor going to be okay, Maya?"

Maya knelt down to her sister's level, offering a reassuring hug. "Don't worry, Lily. Connor's tough. He'll handle whatever comes his way."

Mom placed a comforting hand on Maya's shoulder. "We'll all be here for each other, Maya. We'll get through this together.".