Chapter 2: The Phone
The voice disappeared before anyone could identify it.
Tiana spun around.
“What?””
Marcus looked toward the hallway.
“What was that?””
“I didn’t hear anything,” Denise said.
Jordan did.
His eyes narrowed.
“Someone’s back there.””
Marcus immediately turned toward the half-open door.
“Who’s there?””
Nothing.
Only the low hum of the penthouse ventilation system.
The city lights reflected against the polished marble.
Marcus took one step toward the hallway.
Then another.
Tiana grabbed Denise’s wrist.
“Don’t.””
Marcus stopped.
“Why?””
Tiana shook her head.
“I thought I heard something.””
Jordan stared at her.
“You knew someone was there.””
“No, I didn’t.””
“You did.””
“Jordan,” Denise said, “stop accusing her.””
Jordan looked at Denise.
“Then why is she scared?””
Tiana’s eyes filled with tears again.
“I’m scared because you keep yelling at me.””
Marcus raised a hand.
“Everybody calm down.””
Jordan looked toward the hallway.
Then at Tiana.
Then at Marcus.
“I swear I didn’t attack her.””
Marcus’s expression remained hard.
“I heard you.””
“No, Dad. You heard her.””
The words landed heavily.
Denise looked at Marcus.
Marcus looked back at Jordan.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Jordan’s phone buzzed inside his hoodie pocket.
Tiana flinched.
Marcus noticed.
“Give me the phone.””
Jordan pulled it out.
“No.””
“Jordan.””
“I didn’t do anything.””
“Give it to me.””
Jordan tightened his grip.
“I’m not giving you my phone just because she made an accusation.””
Marcus held out his hand.
“Now.””
Jordan looked at Denise.
“Mom?””
Denise’s face was conflicted.
“Jordan, just give it to him.””
Jordan slowly handed over the phone.
Marcus looked at the screen.
Nothing unusual.
Messages.
School notifications.
A few missed calls.
Then Marcus saw one name repeated several times.
*MAYA.*
His daughter.
Twenty-two-year-old Maya was the only person in the family who wasn't downstairs.
Or at least, that was what everyone thought.
Marcus looked toward the hallway.
“Where’s Maya?””
Denise blinked.
“I thought she was upstairs.””
Tiana’s face tightened.
Jordan noticed.
“You know where she is.””
Tiana immediately snapped, “No, I don’t.””
Then footsteps sounded from the hallway.
Fast.
Someone was running.
Marcus turned.
“Maya?””
A figure appeared around the corner.
Maya rushed into the living room wearing a white robe, her curly hair loose around her face. She was holding a phone with a bright red case.
“Dad!””
Marcus turned toward her.
“What’s going on?””
Maya looked at Jordan.
Then Tiana.
Then the phone in Marcus’s hand.
“Give me that.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why?””
“Because you’re looking at the wrong phone.””
Maya crossed the room quickly.
She took Jordan’s phone from Marcus and shoved it back into Jordan’s hands.
Jordan stared at her.
“Maya?””
“Don’t say anything.””
Tiana’s breathing became faster.
Maya noticed.
“You okay, Tiana?””
Tiana nodded.
“Yes.””
Maya stared at her.
“You sure?””
“Yes.””
“Then look at me.””
Tiana didn't.
Maya turned toward Marcus.
“Dad, I need you to do something.””
“What?””
“Watch this first.””
She raised her red-cased phone.
Marcus frowned.
“What am I watching?””
“Security footage.””
Denise’s face changed.
“Security footage of what?””
Maya stepped directly between Marcus and Jordan.
“Of what happened tonight.””
Tiana whispered, “Maya, don't.””
Maya looked at her.
“Why?””
Tiana's lips trembled.
“You don't understand.””
Maya’s voice became quiet.
“I understand enough.””
Marcus reached for the phone.
“Give it to me.””
Maya shook her head.
“No. Watch.””
She unlocked the screen.
A black-and-white video appeared.
The living room.
Same furniture.
Same camera angle.
Same people.
But the footage showed something none of them had seen.
Tiana walking toward Jordan.
Tiana yelling.
Tiana raising both hands.
Tiana lunging first.
Jordan backing away.
Blocking.
Never striking.
Marcus leaned closer.
Denise covered her mouth.
Jordan whispered, “I told you.””
Tiana stopped crying.
Completely.
Maya looked at Marcus.
“Watch what happens next.””
The footage continued.
Tiana moved toward Jordan again.
Jordan backed toward the sofa.
And then, just before Tiana reached him, she turned her head toward the hallway.
Toward someone standing outside the camera’s frame.
Her lips moved.
The audio was barely audible.
But clear enough.
Tiana whispered:
“Is this what you wanted?””
Marcus slowly lowered the phone.
His face had gone completely still.
Then he looked toward the hallway.
“Who were you talking to?””
Tiana said nothing.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Tiana.””
She backed away.
Marcus’s voice hardened.
“Who were you talking to?””
Tiana’s eyes filled with terror.
Not guilt.
Terror.
Then the half-open hallway door moved.
A shadow passed behind it.
Maya whispered, “Dad…”
Marcus stared into the darkness.
May you like
The shadow stopped.
And a hand slowly appeared around the edge of the door.
