Chapter 4 - The Missing PageEthan searched every page of the journal.
Nothing.
The final section had been torn away.
Claire looked at Margaret.
“You have it.”
Margaret shook her head.
“No.”
“You're lying.”
“I swear.”
Hannah noticed something inside the leather cover.
A tiny metal clasp.
She pressed it.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was a folded note.
Ethan opened it.
His father's handwriting appeared.
If you are reading this, Victor has already found you.
Claire's heart raced.
Daniel had written instructions.
The missing page was not in the journal.
It was hidden inside the family portrait.
Ethan looked toward the wall.
The large portrait of his family had hung there for decades.
He pulled it down.
Nothing.
Claire checked the frame.
Still nothing.
Hannah looked behind it.
A small envelope was taped to the wood.
Ethan opened it.
Inside was a key.
And another message.
Basement.
Ethan frowned.
“We don't have a basement.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
Claire stared at her.
“You do.”
Margaret said nothing.
Ethan moved a cabinet.
Behind it was a hidden door.
Lily watched from Hannah's arms.
The key opened it.
A narrow staircase descended into darkness.
Ethan turned on his phone flashlight.
The basement was filled with boxes.
Old records.
Photographs.
Medical files.
And a small child's bedroom.
Hannah stared.
Lily whispered.
“This is my room.”
Everyone turned.
Hannah looked confused.
“You've never been here.”
Lily shook her head.
“Yes, I have.”
She pointed at a wooden chest.
“My mommy showed me.”
Hannah opened it.
Inside was a stuffed rabbit.
A red ribbon.
And an old cassette tape.
Claire found a recorder.
The tape began playing.
Emma's voice filled the room.
“If Lily ever hears this, I need her to know that I never left because I stopped loving her.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
Emma continued.
“I left because someone inside this family wanted me gone.”
The tape crackled.
Then one final sentence played.
“Trust Hannah.”
The recording ended.
Suddenly footsteps sounded above them.
Someone was walking through the house.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Ethan turned off the flashlight.
A shadow stopped outside the hidden door.
May you like
Then Victor's voice whispered through the darkness.
“Found you.”
Related Stories
