Chapter 2: The Room Behind the Door
I spent the next three hours trying to convince myself I was being paranoid.
That was what Daniel wanted me to believe.
"You're overthinking it," he said when I mentioned Emily after we got back to our apartment.
He was sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone.
"She has always been sensitive.""
I stared at him.
"Sensitive people don't look terrified when their family walks into a room.""
Daniel looked up.
His expression changed for only a second.
Then it disappeared.
"Claire, you met my sister for one afternoon.""
"I saw how everyone treated her.""
"You saw a family having dinner.""
"No.""
My voice became quieter.
"I saw a woman being punished.""
The silence that followed was uncomfortable.
Daniel placed his phone down.
"Don't do this.""
"Do what?""
"Create problems where there aren't any.""
I studied his face.
The man I loved suddenly felt unfamiliar.
Not because he was angry.
Because he was defending them so quickly.
"I just think something is wrong," I said.
Daniel sighed.
"Emily has always made people worry about her. That's what she does.""
"What does that mean?""
He stood up.
"It means she likes attention.""
I remembered Emily's face.
The way she avoided eye contact.
The way she flinched.
That wasn't someone searching for attention.
That was someone hiding.
At 9:45 P.M., I grabbed my coat.
Daniel looked confused.
"Where are you going?""
I hesitated.
For one second, I almost lied.
Then I decided I needed to know the truth.
"I forgot something at your parents' house.""
His eyebrows pulled together.
"Now?""
"Yes.""
"Claire, that's ridiculous.""
Maybe it was.
But staying home felt worse.
The drive back to the Mercer estate felt completely different at night.
The beautiful house from earlier looked like something from a horror movie.
Most of the lights were off.
I parked near the trees and walked toward the side entrance Emily had pointed me toward earlier.
I didn't know she had pointed.
Not exactly.
But I remembered her looking toward that door during dinner.
Like she wanted me to notice it.
The door was unlocked.
That scared me more than if it had been locked.
Inside, the house was silent.
I whispered her name.
"Emily?""
Nothing.
I walked farther.
Then I heard something.
A sound from upstairs.
A door closing.
I followed the noise.
At the end of the hallway was a small wooden door I hadn't noticed before.
The handle was old.
Different from the rest of the house.
I reached for it.
Before I touched it, a voice behind me said:
"You shouldn't be here.""
I turned.
Emily stood in the hallway.
She looked even more exhausted than earlier.
But this time, she looked relieved too.
"I came because of your note.""
She looked at the door.
"I know.""
"What is behind there?""
Emily swallowed.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she stepped closer.
"My parents told everyone I was sick.""
I waited.
"But that's not the truth.""
My chest tightened.
"What happened to you, Emily?""
She looked toward the staircase.
"They wanted me to stay quiet.""
"Who?""
Her eyes moved toward the closed door.
Then she whispered:
"The person who has been controlling everything in this house.""
A floorboard creaked behind us.
Emily's face drained of color.
She grabbed my wrist.
"Hide.""
"Emily—"
"Please, Claire. If he sees you here, he'll know I told you.""
The footsteps grew louder.
Closer.
I looked at the dark room beside us.
Then back at Emily.
"Who is coming?""
She didn't answer.
She only stared toward the hallway.
May you like
And when the shadow appeared at the end of the corridor, Emily whispered a name that made my blood run cold.
"Daniel.""
