Chapter 4: The Second Baby
“You weren’t supposed to find that.””
Vanessa’s whisper seemed to drain the warmth from the kitchen.
Maya stared at her.
“Find what?””
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
Then Sarah.
Then back at Maya.
Nobody answered.
Maya tightened her grip around the phone.
“Who sent me that message?””
Vanessa’s lips trembled.
“I don’t know.””
“You're lying.””
“I’m not.””
“Then tell me about the second baby.””
Marcus stepped toward Vanessa.
“Vanessa.””
She flinched.
“Don’t.””
His voice was quiet.
“Tell us.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You don't understand.””
Sarah moved closer.
“I understand perfectly.””
Vanessa glared at her.
“No, you don't.””
“I was there.””
Sarah's voice cracked.
“I remember the hospital.””
Maya looked between them.
“The hospital?””
Sarah nodded.
“The night you were born.””
Maya's eyes widened.
“There was another baby?””
Sarah swallowed.
“Yes.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You never told me.””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“Every time I called.””
“You called me twice.””
“Because someone kept intercepting my calls.””
Maya's voice rose.
“Stop talking around me!””
Everyone went silent.
Maya stepped into the middle of the kitchen.
“I am seventeen years old. I've spent my entire life believing my mother abandoned me. I've spent years thinking my dad wasn't enough for her.””
Marcus's face broke.
“I never wanted you to think that.””
“But I did.””
Maya pointed toward Vanessa.
“And she knew.””
Vanessa whispered, “I was trying to protect you.””
“From my mother?””
“From what happened.””
“What happened?””
Vanessa looked at the floor.
Sarah answered for her.
“You had a twin.””
Maya stopped.
The room seemed to tilt.
“A twin?””
Sarah nodded slowly.
“A baby girl.””
Marcus stared at Sarah.
“No.””
Sarah looked at him.
“Yes.””
“No. The hospital records showed one child.””
“They showed one surviving child.””
Maya's breath caught.
“What does that mean?””
Sarah closed her eyes.
“They told me your sister died.””
Maya looked at Vanessa.
“And she didn't?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Marcus grabbed the back of a chair.
“Vanessa.””
Her shoulders shook.
“I didn't know what they were going to do.””
“What were they going to do?”” Marcus demanded.
Vanessa looked at Maya.
“They took her.””
Maya's voice became barely audible.
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying!””
Maya slammed her hand onto the marble island.
Vanessa jumped.
Sarah stepped toward her.
“You knew exactly where she went.””
“I knew where she was taken.””
Sarah's eyes hardened.
“That's the same thing.””
“No.””
Vanessa wiped her face.
“It isn't.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You were involved.””
“I was trying to stop it.””
“By hiding it for seventeen years?””
“I was afraid!””
“Of who?””
Vanessa's mouth opened.
Then closed.
Maya noticed.
“Say the name.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because if he's watching—”
She stopped.
Marcus froze.
“Who?””
Vanessa's eyes darted toward the windows.
Maya whispered, “Who's watching?””
Vanessa backed away.
Then her phone rang.
The ringtone was different this time.
Vanessa looked at the screen.
Her face turned white.
Marcus reached for it.
“Who is it?””
She pulled it against her chest.
“Don't answer.””
Maya stared at her.
“Why?””
Vanessa whispered a name.
“Daniel.””
Marcus went still.
Sarah's expression changed immediately.
“Daniel?””
Maya looked at both adults.
“Who is Daniel?””
No one answered.
The phone continued ringing.
Then a text appeared.
*YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES. BRING MAYA ALONE.*
Maya read it.
Marcus reached for the phone.
Vanessa pulled it away.
He grabbed her wrist.
“Who is Daniel?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“He's the reason Sarah disappeared.””
Sarah stepped backward.
“No.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“He's the reason your daughter disappeared.””
Sarah's face collapsed.
Maya whispered,
“My sister is alive?””
Vanessa stared at her.
May you like
Then the kitchen lights suddenly went dark.
And from somewhere outside came the sound of a car door slamming.
