Chapter 4: The Name She Buried
Camille's confession hung in the ballroom like smoke.
Darius stared at the locked doors.
Then at Camille.
“What do you mean she died?””
Camille couldn't answer.
Marcus did.
“Seven years ago.””
Darius turned toward him.
“You knew?””
Marcus shook his head.
“I knew about the girl. I didn't know what Camille did afterward.””
Camille wiped both hands across her face.
“You don't understand.””
Darius stepped toward her.
“Then make me understand.””
Behind the doors, there was no longer any crying.
No footsteps.
No breathing.
Nothing.
That silence frightened Darius more than the voice had.
He crouched beside the door.
“Amara?””
Nothing.
He looked through the narrow gap beneath the doors.
Darkness.
Then a small piece of paper slid underneath.
Darius picked it up.
His hands trembled as he unfolded it.
Four words.
*YOU PROMISED TO REMEMBER ME.*
His eyes narrowed.
“I don't remember you.””
Camille whispered, “That's the point.””
Darius stood.
“What did you do to me?””
“Nothing.””
“You just said she died.””
“I know.””
“And someone behind that door is speaking to me.””
“I know.””
“Then tell me who she is!””
Camille's lips shook.
“She isn't Amara.””
Darius stared at her.
“Then who?””
Camille looked toward the doors.
“I don't know.””
Marcus suddenly grabbed Camille's wrist.
“Stop lying.””
She jerked free.
“You don't know what you're talking about.””
“I was there.””
Camille went still.
Darius looked between them.
“Where?””
Marcus swallowed.
“At the hospital.””
Camille's face collapsed.
Darius's voice became quiet.
“What hospital?””
Marcus looked at Camille.
“The night your daughter died.””
Darius closed his eyes.
The word daughter hit harder this time.
“My daughter.””
Camille nodded through tears.
“Yes.””
“Her name?””
She hesitated.
“Amara.””
Darius stared at her.
“So the child behind that door…”
“Isn't her.””
“Then why does she know me?””
“I don't know.””
The guests were beginning to whisper again.
One woman stepped forward.
“Darius, maybe you should call the police.””
Camille snapped around.
“No police.””
Darius looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because they can't help.””
“That isn't an answer.””
Camille's eyes moved toward the purse on the floor.
“There are things in there that should never be found.””
Darius bent down.
He opened the purse again.
Underneath the compact mirror was a small black phone.
It wasn't Camille's.
He picked it up.
The screen lit.
One unread message.
*11:47 PM — HE REMEMBERS.*
Darius looked at the clock.
11:48.
He turned toward Camille.
“Who sent this?””
Camille shook her head.
“I don't know.””
The phone buzzed again.
Everyone jumped.
A new message appeared.
*ASK HER ABOUT THE FIRE.*
Darius slowly raised his eyes.
“What fire?””
Camille backed away.
Marcus whispered, “Oh God.””
Darius stepped toward her.
“What fire, Camille?””
She shook her head violently.
“Darius, don't.””
“What happened seven years ago?””
“I said don't.””
“What burned?””
Camille's eyes filled with terror.
“The house.””
Darius stopped.
“What house?””
She couldn't speak.
Marcus answered.
“His house.””
Darius stared at him.
“My house?””
Marcus nodded.
“The house where Amara was supposed to be.””
A faint metallic sound came from the locked doors.
Click.
Darius looked down.
The lock had turned by itself.
The door remained closed.
Camille whispered one final warning.
“Darius…”
He looked at her.
“Don't open it.””
May you like
Darius reached for the handle.
Then the door slowly began opening from the other side.
