Chapter 8: The Second Chair
Nobody moved.
The words from Rachel’s recording echoed in my mind.
Ask her why there is a second chair in the basement.
I looked around.
The basement was full of old furniture.
Boxes.
Shelves.
Storage containers.
But no chair.
Then I noticed something.
A space near the far wall.
A clean rectangle on the dusty floor.
Something had been removed.
Recently.
“Where is it?”” I asked.
Vanessa didn’t answer.
Daniel looked at her.
“Where is the chair?””
She laughed softly.
But there was no humor in it.
“You’re all making a mistake.””
I stepped closer.
“No.””
I pointed at the floor.
“You are.””
Vanessa’s eyes moved toward Sophia.
“You have no idea what you’ve done.””
Sophia immediately grabbed my hand.
I squeezed it.
“She did nothing wrong.””
Vanessa’s face changed.
“She always knows how to get sympathy.””
Daniel finally exploded.
“Stop.””
Everyone looked at him.
His voice shook.
But he didn’t step back.
“Stop blaming her.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“You’re choosing him?””
Daniel looked at his daughter.
“I’m choosing my daughter.””
That sentence seemed to hurt her more than an accusation.
Because she realized she had lost control.
I walked toward the empty space on the floor.
“Where did you put it?””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“You think you know everything.””
“No.””
I looked at Sophia.
“I know enough.””
Then I noticed something beneath the shelf.
A small piece of wood.
Painted white.
With a red mark on it.
I picked it up.
It matched Sophia’s chair.
My stomach turned.
The same chair.
The one she said hurt.
I looked at Daniel.
“This is from her dining chair.””
He went pale.
“What?””
I held it up.
“Someone changed it.””
Vanessa stayed silent.
That silence was an answer.
Daniel looked at her.
“Why?””
She didn’t respond.
“Why would you change her chair?””
Finally, Vanessa spoke.
“Because she needed to remember.””
The words made my blood run cold.
Daniel stared at her.
“Remember what?””
Vanessa smiled.
And for the first time, I saw something behind her eyes.
Not anger.
Not fear.
Something colder.
“Remember what happens when children don’t listen.””
Daniel stepped back.
“Sophia…”
He looked sick.
“You did this?””
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“You’re acting like I hurt her.””
“You scared her.””
“She needed discipline.””
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“She’s five years old.””
“And she was becoming difficult.””
Sophia started crying.
Daniel immediately moved toward her.
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
“No.””
He pulled away.
“Don’t touch me.””
The room went silent.
It was the first time Daniel had ever spoken to her like that.
I took out my phone.
“I recorded everything.””
Vanessa’s face changed.
“You what?””
“You just admitted enough.””
She stepped toward me.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing.””
“I understand exactly.””
“No, you don’t.””
Her voice became desperate.
“You think Sophia is innocent because she’s a child.””
I stared at her.
“She is.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You don’t know what Rachel did.””
I froze.
“What?””
Vanessa looked toward Daniel.
“She never told you?””
Daniel’s face changed.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa laughed.
“That’s the problem with you, Daniel.””
“You believe whatever makes you feel less guilty.””
My heart started racing.
Because suddenly the story had changed again.
Vanessa wasn’t just defending herself.
She was trying to reveal something.
Something about Rachel.
Something about Daniel.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her face went pale.
I noticed.
“Who is it?””
She ignored me.
The phone rang again.
Then again.
Finally, she answered.
“Hello?””
Everyone watched her.
She listened.
Then her expression completely changed.
“No.””
A pause.
“That’s impossible.””
She looked at me.
Then at Sophia.
May you like
And whispered:
“Rachel is alive.””
