Chapter 2 — Daddy, Help Me
"I asked you a question."
Vivian's voice had changed.
Ellie pressed herself against the wall.
"Three days."
Vivian stared at her.
"You've been doing this for three days?"
Ellie nodded.
"Why?"
The question confused her.
"Because she's hungry."
As if that explained everything.
To Ellie, it did.
Vivian grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the vent.
"Ow!"
"You listen to me. You never go near this vent again."
"But Nora—"
Vivian froze.
"What did you say?"
"Her name is Nora."
Vivian's fingers tightened.
"She told you that?"
Ellie nodded.
"What else did she tell you?"
"Nothing."
"Did she tell you about me?"
Ellie began crying.
"No."
"Did she tell you about your father?"
"I don't know!"
Vivian's fear was becoming anger.
"Stop crying."
Ellie couldn't.
"Mommy, she just wanted bread."
"I told you to stay away from her!"
Vivian's hand moved.
The moment itself was quick.
The fear afterward wasn't.
Ellie recoiled and dropped to the floor, curling inward with both arms over her head.
"Please!" she sobbed. "I'm sorry! Mommy, please!"
Vivian stood over her, breathing hard.
For a second, she seemed horrified by what she had done.
Then something moved behind the vent.
Vivian turned toward it.
"You be quiet."
Ellie's crying stopped for half a heartbeat.
Vivian wasn't talking to her.
She was talking to Nora.
Then the front door opened.
"Ellie?"
Daniel.
Vivian's face drained of color.
"Daddy!"
Ellie's scream tore through the house.
Daniel dropped his briefcase.
He ran.
When he reached the kitchen, he stopped dead.
His four-year-old daughter was curled on the floor.
Vivian stood several feet away.
"What happened?"
Ellie tried to stand but stumbled.
Daniel crossed the room and lifted her into his arms.
She clung to him.
"What happened to her?"
Vivian answered too quickly.
"She had a tantrum."
Daniel stared at her.
"A tantrum?"
"She was stealing food and lying."
Daniel looked at his daughter.
Ellie's face was wet with tears.
"Sweetheart?"
Ellie buried her face in his chest.
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Look at Daddy."
Slowly, she did.
"Did Vivian hurt you?"
Vivian stepped forward.
"Daniel—"
"Don't."
One word.
Vivian stopped.
Daniel looked back at Ellie.
"You can tell me."
Ellie's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Then—
Clink.
Daniel turned.
The sound had come from the wall.
"What was that?"
Vivian immediately moved between him and the vent.
"Nothing."
Daniel stared at her.
"Move."
"Daniel, please."
"Move."
Another sound.
This time, unmistakable.
Crying.
Daniel's expression changed.
"Is there someone back there?"
Vivian said nothing.
Daniel put Ellie down gently.
"Stay behind me."
He approached the vent.
Vivian grabbed his wrist.
"Don't open it."
Daniel looked at her hand.
Then at her face.
"Why?"
"You don't understand."
"Then explain it."
"I can't."
"Who's behind that wall?"
Vivian's eyes filled with panic.
"Daniel, if you open that, everything is going to change."
He pulled his hand free.
"Everything already changed when I walked into this kitchen."
He crouched beside the vent.
It was dark beyond the grille.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Daniel leaned closer.
"My name is Daniel. I'm not going to hurt you."
A tiny hand slowly appeared.
Ellie whimpered behind him.
"That's her."
Daniel stared at the little fingers gripping the metal.
Then came a voice.
Weak.
Frightened.
Barely more than a whisper.
"Daddy?"
Daniel stopped breathing.
The hand tightened around the grille.
"Daddy… help me."
Daniel slowly stood.
His face had gone pale.
Ellie looked between the adults, confused.
Vivian backed away.
Daniel's voice was almost inaudible.
"Who is she?"
Vivian shook her head.
"Who is that child?"
"Daniel—"
"WHY DID SHE CALL ME DADDY?"
Vivian began crying.
Not from sadness.
From fear.
"Please," she whispered. "Don't open that wall."
Daniel stared at the woman he had married.
Then at the vent.
And suddenly he understood the most frightening thing in the room.
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It wasn't that a child was behind his kitchen wall.
It was that Vivian had known she was there.
