Chapter 11: The Memory She Buried
The room became silent.
Nobody breathed.
Vanessa stepped backward.
"No.""
Lily looked at her.
"I'm sorry.""
Vanessa's face collapsed.
"Lily...""
My daughter pulled closer to me.
"Daddy, I didn't want to remember.""
I knelt beside her.
"It's okay.""
"No.""
She shook her head.
"I forgot because Mommy Vanessa told me I had to.""
My entire body went cold.
I looked at Vanessa.
"What did she do?""
Vanessa started crying.
"I can explain.""
I stood up.
"Explain.""
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because this time, there was nowhere left to hide.
Lily spoke quietly.
"After Mommy Emily disappeared, I woke up in the car.""
Everyone turned toward her.
"There was rain.""
Her small voice trembled.
"And Mommy Vanessa was there.""
Vanessa covered her mouth.
"Please...""
Lily continued.
"She told me not to tell Daddy.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Why?""
Lily looked down.
"Because she said Daddy would be sad.""
That didn't make sense.
Not yet.
"Did Mommy Vanessa hurt you?""
Lily shook her head.
"No.""
A strange relief came over me.
Then disappeared.
"Then what happened?""
Lily hugged her stuffed animal.
"She took me somewhere.""
"Where?""
"The old house.""
David suddenly looked up.
"The basement.""
Lily nodded.
"I saw Mommy Emily.""
My heart stopped.
"You saw her?""
Lily nodded slowly.
"She was crying.""
Nobody moved.
"What did she say?""
Lily squeezed her eyes shut.
"She said Vanessa was trying to help.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"What?""
Vanessa was crying harder now.
"I didn't know what else to do.""
I stared at her.
"Start talking.""
She sat down.
"I found Emily that night.""
David looked shocked.
"You never told me that.""
"I was scared.""
Vanessa wiped her tears.
"Emily wasn't dead. She was hurt.""
My mind struggled to process everything.
"Why didn't you call the police?""
Vanessa looked at the floor.
"Because Emily told me not to.""
"Why?""
"Because she said someone inside the police department was working with the person who wanted her gone.""
David nodded slowly.
"I remember.""
I looked at him.
"You knew?""
"I suspected.""
My hands tightened.
"So Emily was alive.""
Vanessa nodded.
"For a few hours.""
The room became heavy.
"What happened?""
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"She made me promise to protect Lily.""
"From who?""
Vanessa looked at David.
Then me.
"From the person who had been following Emily for years.""
"Who?""
Her voice became barely audible.
"Her father.""
I froze.
"Emily's father?""
David nodded.
"He was involved.""
The pieces started connecting.
The hidden room.
The altered records.
The threats.
The fake documents.
"Where is he now?""
Nobody answered.
Then David looked at the window.
"He's been watching us.""
My phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
No one spoke.
Then a man's voice whispered:
"You finally remembered, Lily.""
I froze.
Everyone heard.
The voice continued.
"Bring my granddaughter to the old house.""
My blood turned cold.
"Who is this?""
A soft laugh.
"You already know.""
The call ended.
I looked at David.
"Her grandfather?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
My phone buzzed again.
A new message.
A location.
The old house.
Then another message appeared.
*Come alone, Daniel. Or you will never see the truth about Emily.*
I looked at Lily.
No.
I would not risk her.
Not again.
But before I could speak, Vanessa grabbed my arm.
"Daniel.""
I looked at her.
She was terrified.
"Don't go there.""
"Why?""
May you like
Her lips trembled.
"Because that's exactly what he wants.""
