Chapter 2: The Whispers in the Manor
By midnight, Dr. Mercer had cleared Lily of severe respiratory distress, attributing her collapse to oxygen deprivation and panic. She was tucked safely into her canopy bed upstairs, fast asleep.
Downstairs, the quiet was oppressive. Julian stood in front of the open refrigerator door, staring into the dark, stone-lined vault concealed behind it. The estate had belonged to his late grandfather, a man known for secretiveness, but Julian had never dreamed a cold storage unit hid a vintage panic room.
“It couldn't have locked from the inside on its own, Julian,” Elena said, her voice hollow as she walked into the kitchen. She held a warm cup of tea she had no intention of drinking.
“I know,” Julian replied, his brow furrowed. He turned to face his wife. “Someone turned that key from the outside.”
May you like
Elena gasped, her eyes widening. “Are you saying someone in this house locked our seven-year-old child in a freezer vault?”
Julian looked toward the hallway where Clara, the young maid, was still sweeping up the glass fragments. “We find out who, and we find out why.”
