Chapter 7: The Locked Room
Malcolm stared at the photograph on his phone.
His mother was sitting in a wooden chair beneath a single bare bulb.
Her hands were tied.
Her face was bruised.
But she was alive.
A second message appeared.
*YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES.*
Malcolm looked at Nia.
“Where is she?””
Nia shook her head.
“I don't know exactly.””
“You said she came to find you.””
“She did.””
“Then take me to her.””
“I can't.””
Malcolm stepped closer.
“Why?””
“Because I was told to bring you the key. Not to bring you there.””
“By who?””
Nia looked toward Tasha.
Tasha's face had gone pale.
“Nia,” she whispered, “don't.””
Nia's eyes hardened.
“You've been saying that for twelve years.””
Malcolm looked between them.
“What happened twelve years ago?””
Neither answered.
He turned toward Nia.
“You said my sister was waiting for me.””
“She is.””
“Where?””
“In this building.””
Malcolm's eyes widened.
“You're telling me my sister has been here this whole time?””
“No.””
Nia swallowed.
“Not here.””
“Then where?””
Nia pointed toward the service corridor.
“There is a private room beneath the ballroom.””
Tasha suddenly grabbed Malcolm's arm.
“Don't go down there.””
He pulled away.
“You knew about it.””
“I knew there was a room.””
“Have you been inside?””
Tasha's silence answered.
Malcolm walked toward the corridor.
Nia followed.
Tasha remained behind for a moment before rushing after them.
The guests parted without speaking.
At the end of the corridor was a plain gray door.
Nia inserted the key.
The lock clicked.
She stopped.
Malcolm looked at her.
“What?””
Nia whispered, “Once that door opens, everything changes.””
Malcolm placed his hand on the handle.
“My life changed twelve years ago.””
He opened it.
A narrow staircase descended into darkness.
Cold air rose from below.
Tasha stood at the top.
“Malcolm.””
He looked back.
“What?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“If you find her…”
She couldn't finish.
Malcolm's jaw tightened.
“If I find my sister, what?””
Tasha looked down.
“Ask her why she stayed away.””
Malcolm stared at her.
“You know the answer.””
“Yes.””
“Then tell me.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
Tasha whispered, “Because she made me promise.””
Malcolm descended.
Nia followed.
Tasha came last.
The staircase ended at another door.
A red emergency light flickered overhead.
Malcolm heard something.
A faint scratching.
Then a woman's voice.
“Malcolm?””
He froze.
Nia covered her mouth.
Tasha began crying.
Malcolm stepped toward the door.
“Who is that?””
No answer.
He pressed his ear against it.
Again.
“Malcolm?””
His heart nearly stopped.
He knew that voice.
Older.
Softer.
But he knew it.
“Lena?””
Tasha closed her eyes.
The door opened from the other side.
A woman stood there.
She was Black, perhaps in her early thirties, with tired eyes and a thin scar along her cheek.
Malcolm couldn't move.
The woman stared at him.
Tears filled her eyes.
“You got married.””
His knees nearly gave out.
“Lena?””
She nodded.
He stepped forward.
She stepped back.
For twelve years, he had imagined this moment.
In every version, he ran to her.
In every version, she hugged him.
But now she was standing three feet away.
And she looked terrified.
Malcolm whispered, “It's really you.””
Lena nodded.
“Yes.””
He covered his mouth.
A sob escaped him.
Tasha looked away.
Nia began crying silently.
Malcolm took another step.
“Why?””
Lena's face crumpled.
“I couldn't come back.””
“You were alive.””
“Yes.””
“You let us think you were dead.””
“I had no choice.””
“You always had a choice!””
Lena flinched.
Malcolm immediately lowered his voice.
“I'm sorry.””
She shook her head.
“No. You're right.””
He looked at her scar.
“Who did this?””
Lena touched her cheek.
“No one.””
“Don't lie to me.””
She looked toward Tasha.
“Tasha knows.””
Malcolm turned.
Tasha stood at the bottom of the stairs.
“You told me she was safe.””
Tasha whispered, “She was.””
“She was locked underground.””
“Not by me.””
Lena stepped forward.
“Malcolm, listen.””
He turned back.
“What?””
“Mom is in danger because of me.””
“Where is she?””
“I don't know.””
“You were just talking to her?””
“No.””
“Then how did you know?””
Lena reached into her pocket.
She pulled out a small photograph.
It showed their mother standing beside a black sedan.
On the back was a date.
The same date Lena had disappeared.
Malcolm stared.
“What is this?””
Lena's voice dropped.
“The night I left, Mom didn't send me away.””
She looked at Tasha.
“She sent me to hide.””
Tasha whispered, “Lena…”
“And someone followed us.””
Malcolm's eyes narrowed.
“Who?””
Lena looked toward the stairwell.
“I never saw his face.””
Then every light in the underground room went out.
A man's voice came through a hidden speaker.
“You should have stayed gone.””
May you like
The door slammed shut.
And the lock turned from the outside.
