Chapter 5 - The Woman in the BasementNobody moved.
Victor's shadow remained beneath the door.
Hannah held Lily tightly.
Ethan silently motioned toward the back wall.
There was another door.
They opened it carefully.
A narrow passage led into an old garage.
Everyone escaped through it.
Victor entered the basement seconds later.
The room was empty.
Meanwhile, Ethan drove into the night.
Claire sat beside him.
Hannah held Lily in the back seat.
Margaret stayed behind.
They needed answers.
They needed Emma.
The journal had mentioned an old hospital.
They arrived after midnight.
A tired security guard checked the records.
“Room 317 existed.”
Hannah leaned forward.
“Who was the patient?”
The guard searched.
Then his face changed.
“The file was removed.”
Ethan frowned.
“By whom?”
The guard looked at an old log.
“Authorized by Daniel Reed.”
Ethan froze.
“My father.”
Hannah whispered.
“He moved Emma.”
“Where?”
The guard shook his head.
“There is no record.”
Lily suddenly spoke.
“She went home.”
Hannah turned.
“What?”
“Mommy went home.”
Claire stared at her.
“How do you remember that?”
Lily touched the journal.
“She told me.”
Hannah looked at Ethan.
They rushed back home.
Margaret was gone.
The house was empty.
The family portrait had disappeared.
A note lay beneath the Christmas tree.
Come alone.
Ethan knew immediately who had written it.
Victor.
He called him.
“Where is my mother?”
Victor answered.
“She is safe.”
“Where?”
“You have something I want.”
“The journal?”
“The journal and the girl.”
Ethan's blood ran cold.
Victor continued.
“Bring both.”
Ethan refused.
Victor laughed.
“You still think this is about money.”
“What is it about?”
Victor's voice became colder.
“Your father stole something from me.”
“What?”
“A name.”
The call ended.
Hannah looked at Ethan.
“What does that mean?”
Before he could answer, the front door opened.
A woman stepped inside.
She was pale, exhausted, and visibly frightened.
Hannah stared at her.
The woman whispered one word.
“Hannah.”
Hannah's eyes widened.
May you like
She knew her.
Emma was alive.
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