Chapter 2: The Locked Door
The drive home felt endless.
Every red light felt like it lasted forever.
Every second my son was alone felt unbearable.
“Daddy, are we going to save Noah?””
Sophie’s question broke my heart.
I looked at her through the mirror.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
My voice was steady, even though I was barely holding myself together.
“We’re going to bring Noah home.””
When I pulled into the driveway, the front door was locked.
I jumped out of the car before it was even fully stopped.
The house was silent.
Too silent.
“Noah!””
I ran inside.
“Sophie, stay with me.””
I rushed down the hallway toward the bathroom.
My heart stopped when I saw the small chair pushed against the door.
Someone had placed it there.
I moved it away and grabbed the handle.
“Noah?””
For a second, there was no answer.
Then I heard a weak voice.
“Dad?””
My entire body went cold.
I unlocked the door.
Noah was sitting on the floor.
His face was red from crying.
His hands were wrapped around his knees.
The moment he saw me, he stood up and ran into my arms.
“Dad!””
I held him tightly.
“I’m here. I’m here.””
He buried his face against my shoulder.
“I thought you weren’t coming.””
Those words hurt more than anything Vanessa had said.
I pulled back.
“Buddy, why would you think that?””
He looked down.
“Mommy said you were busy.””
I swallowed.
“She said I was too bad to go with you.””
My jaw tightened.
“What else did she say?””
Noah hesitated.
I softened my voice.
“You can tell me anything.””
He looked toward Sophie.
“She said Sophie was the only one who belonged.””
Sophie immediately started crying.
“I didn’t say that.””
“I know,” Noah whispered.
I looked around the bathroom.
There was a blanket on the floor.
A cup of water.
Nothing dangerous.
But the fact that my son had been left there alone still made me sick.
I heard the front door open.
Vanessa.
She had followed us home.
“Daniel?””
I turned.
She stood in the hallway, still wearing the same clothes from dinner.
“You called the police?””
My eyes narrowed.
“You’re asking that?””
She sighed.
“You’re making this bigger than it is.””
Noah moved behind me.
I noticed.
And that hurt.
My son was afraid of his own mother.
“Vanessa, explain.””
She crossed her arms.
“He was throwing a tantrum.””
“He wanted chicken dinner.””
“He was disrespectful.””
“How?””
She looked away.
“He talked back.””
I stared at her.
“Our son is eight years old.””
“He needs discipline.””
“Discipline is not locking him in a bathroom.””
Her expression hardened.
“You always take their side.””
The sentence bothered me.
Not because she said it.
Because of the way she said it.
Like our children were her opponents.
Not her family.
The police arrived a few minutes later.
They spoke calmly with Noah and Sophie.
They asked questions.
They took notes.
One officer, a woman named Harris, looked at me.
“Mr. Carter, we’ll need to understand exactly what happened tonight.””
I nodded.
“I want the truth.””
Officer Harris looked toward Vanessa.
“And so do we.””
Vanessa suddenly became emotional.
“I can’t believe everyone is treating me like a criminal.””
Noah flinched.
That tiny reaction told me everything.
Later that evening, after the officers left, I sat on Noah’s bed.
He was holding his favorite stuffed animal.
“Dad?””
“Yeah?””
“Am I leaving tomorrow?””
My heart broke.
“No.””
He looked confused.
“Mommy said you would choose Sophie over me.””
I froze.
“What?””
He nodded.
“She said after tomorrow, you’d understand.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What is happening tomorrow?””
Noah opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
“Mommy told me not to tell.””
I leaned closer.
“Buddy, you’re safe now.””
He looked at the bedroom door.
Then whispered.
“Tomorrow, someone is coming to take my room.””
I felt my blood run cold.
“Who?””
Noah’s eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t know.””
Then my phone buzzed.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
I opened it.
May you like
And the first line made my entire body go numb.
*“Daniel, you need to see what your wife has been planning behind your back.””*
