Chapter 2 - The Echoes in the Hallway
The heavy oak doors of the cathedral remained barred as Officer Miller’s words hung suspended in the air. Nathanael stared at the police officer, the noise of the wedding guests fading into a dull, distant hum. Eleanor let out a sharp, breathless laugh that sounded entirely unhinged in the sacred space.
"You're actually entertaining this nonsense?" Eleanor shrieked, taking a sharp step forward, her manicured nails digging into the lace of her gown. "It's a deepfake! My lawyer will sue the police department into oblivion for defamation!"
"Quiet, Eleanor," Officer Miller warned without raising his voice, his eyes fixed on Nathanael. "Mr. Cross, press play on the second video file. The one time-stamped from last night."
Nathanael’s thumb hovered over the glass screen. His hands were ice cold. He pressed the icon, and the harsh fluorescent lighting of a familiar corridor flickered to life. On the screen, Eleanor stood over Lily, who was curled into a tight ball on the Persian rug. The audio was crisp, capturing every chilling word.
"If you ever tell him about the stairs, I will make sure you never see daylight again," Eleanor snarled on the recording, her face devoid of the angelic grace she wore at the altar.
Martha covered her face with her hands, a ragged sob escaping her lips. The maid, standing near the baptismal font and desperately clutching a worn teddy bear, began to cry quietly into the plush fur of the toy.
Nathanael’s chest heaved. He had spent two years believing Eleanor was the nurturing soul who had gently stepped into his life after the tragic death of his sister. He had trusted her with Lily, his orphaned niece whom he loved more than his own breath.
"Why?" Nathanael choked out, the word barely escaping his lips as he turned to face the woman he had loved. "Eleanor, why would you terrorize a six-year-old child?"
Eleanor dropped her hands, her posture shifting from panicked defensiveness to a terrifying, chilling calm. She smoothed the front of her expensive lace dress and lifted her chin, the tiara catching the light of the stained-glass windows.
"Because that child is a constant reminder of your past, Nathanael," Eleanor sneered, stepping closer to him despite the sheer revulsion in his eyes. "You loved your sister too much. You looked at Lily the way you should have looked at me. I simply wanted to remind her of her place in your grand estate."
The congregation gasped collectively. The illusion of the fairy-tale wedding was utterly obliterated. But before Nathanael could lunge forward in a blind rage, Officer Miller grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back.
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"There's more, Mr. Cross," the officer said quietly, swiping to a different file on the tablet. "The missing person case isn't just a threat. Look at the date of the last file."
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