The Beginning
The game opens up with a an old video of Mia apologizing to Ethan about lying (though it isn’t clear what she lied about), after which she goes missing during what is seemingly a babysitting job according to her prior video correspondence with Ethan. Years later, Ethan gets an email from Mia telling him to pick her up at the Baker residence in Dulvey, Louisiana. The email is simple, with no details other than a location. Mysterious, yes, and downright creepy in a world that saw a mutant outbreak just a few years prior. But Ethan misses his wife so he heads there, alone.
Entry to the main house is barred by a large, iron gate, so Ethan makes his way through a side passage that leads to the guest house, the very same house where the Beginning Hour demo took place. It’s quiet, but you can hear something moving around, though it’s unclear what. After moving through the house, using the secret passageway to enter the basement and a secret hall. You find Mia locked in a cell, dirty and frightened. She has no idea who sent you that email, but she knows that you must get out of this place before things get worse. She keeps mentioning her family, which is confusing as she isn’t from this area. After trying to escape, the first signs of what’s wrong begin to reveal themselves.
While leading you, she’s taken by someone or something. You don’t get to see it, but you can hear her terrified screams as you make your way after her. When finally returning upstairs, there’s a mysterious phone call from a young woman. While it’s not made clear right away, it turns out that it’s Zoe Baker, the daughter of the family who wants out of this hellhole. She wants to escape, but she needs your help to do it. For some reason, she’s able to resist whatever it is that’s turned her family members into homicidal maniacs and turns to you with clues and assistance. Of course, before heading to help her, you’re reunited with Mia.
Mia transforms. Her skin becomes veiny, her eyes dark, her teeth rotten. She develops immense strength as she chucks you several feet into a wall. Something has infected her, yet it doesn’t seem to have a complete hold as she can return to normal at times. Just long enough to warn you. It’s the first taste of what lies in wait. But the cause isn’t something as simple as a zombie outbreak, and it has everyone in the Baker household under its control.
