Chapter 6: The Room Behind The Locked Door
Daniel's apartment felt different that night.
Not because anything had changed.
Because I had.
Seven years ago, I had moved into this place before we bought our house. Back then, it was small and temporary.
A beginning.
Now every corner felt like a place where secrets had been stored.
Daniel locked the door behind us.
Then he checked the windows.
I watched him carefully.
"You've done this before.""
He stopped.
"Done what?""
"Checked the locks. Checked the windows. Looked outside like someone might be waiting.""
Daniel looked away.
"I didn't want to scare you.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
He sighed.
"No.""
The honesty surprised me.
"I haven't.""
"Then why do you look like you have?""
Daniel walked to the kitchen and poured two glasses of water.
He handed one to me.
I didn't take it.
"Emma.""
"Just tell me everything.""
He stood there silently.
Then he nodded.
"Okay.""
He sat down.
"I found out your father might be alive after I started looking into your family finances.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"Three months ago, there were unusual transfers connected to an account under your father's name.""
My heart sank.
"Why were you looking at my family's finances?""
Daniel hesitated.
And I immediately knew.
"What did you do?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Your mother asked me to.""
I froze.
"My mother?""
"Two months before you started seeing Evan, your mother contacted me.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
"She said she was worried about you.""
"About me?""
"She thought someone was trying to get close to you.""
I felt sick.
"Someone like Evan?""
Daniel looked at me.
"I don't know.""
The room became painfully quiet.
"Did she know about him?""
"No.""
"Did she know about us?""
"No.""
I looked down.
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your mother asked me not to.""
I laughed once.
It wasn't funny.
"Of course she did.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Emma.""
"No, it's fine.""
I stood up.
"My entire life, everyone has been making decisions for me.""
I walked toward the hallway.
"Where are you going?""
"Home.""
Daniel stood.
"Emma, wait.""
I turned.
"What else?""
He hesitated.
That hesitation was the answer.
"There is something else.""
I closed my eyes.
"Of course there is.""
Daniel walked toward the bedroom.
"Before your father disappeared, he kept records.""
"What kind of records?""
"Evidence.""
"Of what?""
He opened the closet door.
At the back was a small locked compartment.
I had never seen it before.
My eyes narrowed.
"How long has that been there?""
"Since before we moved in.""
"What?""
Daniel pulled out a small key.
"My father gave it to me.""
I stared at him.
"Your father?""
He nodded.
"My father knew yours.""
I stepped back.
"Daniel...""
"I didn't know the connection at first.""
He unlocked the compartment.
Inside was a worn envelope.
And another photograph.
He handed it to me.
This one was older.
Much older.
It showed four people standing together.
My father.
My mother.
Daniel's father.
And someone else.
Someone whose face had been scratched out.
"Who is that?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't know.""
I turned the photograph over.
There was writing on the back.
A sentence.
A warning.
*If anything happens to us, protect Emma from the person standing beside her.*
My hands trembled.
"Standing beside her?""
Daniel nodded.
"That's what I've been trying to figure out.""
I looked at the four people in the picture.
My parents.
Daniel's father.
The missing face.
Then I noticed something.
A detail I had missed.
My father wasn't looking at the camera.
He was looking at someone beside him.
Someone outside the frame.
Someone he seemed afraid of.
My phone suddenly rang.
Both of us jumped.
Unknown number.
Again.
Daniel looked at me.
"Don't answer.""
But I already had.
"Hello?""
No one spoke.
Only breathing.
Then a voice whispered.
A voice I recognized.
A voice I hadn't heard in fifteen years.
"Emma...""
I dropped the phone.
May you like
Because the person on the other end said the one sentence I never thought I would hear.
"Your father wants to see you.""
