Chapter 12
The first pale streaks of amber and grey dawn filtered through the lace curtains of the guest room, casting long, delicate shadows across the wooden floorboards. Arthur hadn't slept. He had spent the entire night sitting in the armchair beside the bed where Lily was sleeping, watching the steady rise and fall of her small chest. Every time he closed his eyes, the sound of the front door unlocking, the sight of the open silver suitcase, and the cold, unblinking stare of Sarah standing at the foot of the stairs rushed back into his consciousness with vivid clarity.
Around 6:00 AM, a soft knock rattled the guest room door, and Claire poked her head in, holding a steaming mug of black coffee. She whispered good morning, noting the dark circles under Arthur’s eyes. He took the mug gratefully, the warmth seeping into his stiff fingers.
"I've already made some calls," Claire whispered, stepping quietly into the room so as not to wake Lily. "I spoke with Detective Miller from the local precinct, and I also reached out to Dr. Vance’s emergency service line. They’re aware of the situation. A car is going to meet us at your house in two hours to conduct a welfare check and secure the premises."
"We have to go back there?" Arthur asked, his voice tight.
"We do," Claire said gently. "You need to retrieve some clothes for Lily, and more importantly, the authorities need to document the scene before Sarah does anything else. We can't just leave her there alone in that state."
Arthur nodded, taking a slow sip of the bitter coffee. Just then, Lily stirred in the bed. The little girl rubbed her eyes with her small fists, blinked against the morning light, and sat up, still wearing the pink onesie from the night before. For a second, a look of profound confusion crossed her features as she tried to orient herself in the unfamiliar room, before her eyes landed on Arthur.
"Daddy?" she whispered, her voice small and tentative.
"I'm right here, sweetie," Arthur said, setting the coffee mug down on the bedside table and sitting on the edge of the mattress, gathering her into his arms. "Good morning."
"Are we still at Aunt Claire's?" she asked, burying her face in his shoulder.
"Yes, we are. And we're going to stay here for a while," Arthur reassured her, stroking her soft brown hair. "How are you feeling?"
"My tummy feels funny," Lily admitted quietly.
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"That's just because of last night, honey. It's going to take a little while for things to feel normal again. But I promise you, you are completely safe. Nobody is ever going to hurt you."
Twenty minutes later, Arthur, Claire, and Lily packed into Claire’s SUV for the tense drive back to the house where the nightmare had begun. The morning fog clung heavily to the pine trees along the highway, mirroring the uncertainty that weighed down upon them like a leaden blanket.
