Chapter 2: The Secret Behind the Walls
I didn’t let go.
Not for one second.
My son’s hand was in mine, small fingers wrapped around my thumb like he was holding onto the last safe thing in the world.
“Vanessa,” I said slowly, “what did you just say?””
She didn’t answer.
She just stood there.
Frozen.
Lily was crying beside me.
“Mommy, why don’t you want Dad to get Noah?””
Vanessa flinched.
The question hurt her more than any accusation could have.
“I do,” she whispered.
But her voice didn’t sound convincing.
I pulled carefully.
“Buddy, can you hear me?””
No answer.
I leaned closer to the opening.
“Noah? It’s Dad.””
A weak sound came from below.
A breath.
A tiny movement.
“He’s alive,” I said.
Lily covered her mouth.
Vanessa closed her eyes.
And that scared me more than anything.
Because a mother should be running toward her missing child.
Not standing away from him.
I turned toward her.
“Tell me why you said that.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Marcus, please.””
“No.””
My voice came out louder than I expected.
“No more secrets.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain it.””
She looked at the hole in the floor.
“I can’t.””
I stared at her.
“You can’t?””
She swallowed.
“Not here.””
I almost laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because nothing about this made sense.
“Our son is trapped underneath our house, and you’re worried about where we talk?””
Vanessa looked at Lily.
Then at me.
“Keep your voice down.””
I felt anger rise in my chest.
“Why?””
She didn’t respond.
That silence was an answer.
I carefully moved closer to the opening.
“Lily, stay back.””
“But Dad—”
“Please.””
She wiped her tears and nodded.
I grabbed my phone from my pocket and turned on the flashlight.
The beam disappeared into the darkness beneath us.
The crawlspace was bigger than it should have been.
That was the first thing I noticed.
Our house was built on a normal foundation. There shouldn’t have been enough room under the floor for someone to move around.
But there was.
I could see old wooden supports.
Dust-covered pipes.
And marks on the ground.
Like something had been dragged.
I felt my stomach twist.
“Marcus,” Vanessa whispered.
I looked up.
She was staring at the floor.
Not at Noah.
At something else.
“What?””
She pointed.
“There.””
Near the edge of the opening was a small scratch carved into the wood.
Three letters.
N.
O.
A.
My blood ran cold.
“Did you write this?”” I asked.
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“Then who did?””
She didn’t answer.
Lily walked closer.
“Mommy?””
Vanessa immediately stepped toward her.
“No, Lily. Stay there.””
Lily looked hurt.
“Why are you scared?””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
That was when my phone rang.
The sound echoed through the room.
Unknown number.
I stared at the screen.
No one called me from unknown numbers.
Not anymore.
I answered.
“Hello?””
For a few seconds, there was only static.
Then a voice.
A whisper.
“Marcus.””
My entire body went still.
The voice was familiar.
Too familiar.
“Who is this?””
A pause.
Then:
“Don’t take him out.””
I looked at Vanessa.
Her face turned completely white.
“Who is this?”” I repeated.
The person on the phone ignored me.
“You need to listen carefully.””
My grip tightened.
“Where are you?””
Another pause.
Then the voice said something that made my blood freeze.
“Your wife knows why Noah is under the floor.””
The call ended.
I slowly lowered the phone.
Lily looked between us.
“Dad?””
I couldn’t speak.
Because Vanessa was crying now.
And she wasn’t looking at me.
May you like
She was looking at the hole.
Like she was afraid of what would happen if Noah came out.
