Chapter 9: The Secret Vanessa Buried
Marcus turned slowly.
The rain rolled down his face.
But he barely felt it.
“Another victim?””
Vanessa stood on the porch steps.
Her entire body looked exhausted.
Like she had been carrying a secret too heavy for too long.
Elena stared at her.
“You never told him.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I couldn’t.””
Marcus looked at Elena.
“Who?””
Nobody answered.
That silence was unbearable.
“Who was the second victim?””
Vanessa looked toward Lily.
Then back at Marcus.
“Someone who was supposed to be protecting you.””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Before Vanessa could answer, a sound came from inside the house.
A crash.
Everyone turned.
Marcus immediately moved toward Lily.
The front door behind him was open.
The darkness inside seemed deeper than before.
“Stay outside,” Marcus said.
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
“No.””
He looked at her.
“You said there was a room.””
Her grip tightened.
“There are things in that room you don’t understand.””
Marcus pulled away.
“I understand enough.””
He entered the mansion.
The hallway was cold.
The lights flickered weakly.
Behind him, Elena and Lily remained near the gate while Vanessa followed.
Marcus reached the room upstairs again.
The door was open.
He stopped.
It had been locked.
Inside, the folders were scattered across the floor.
Someone had been searching.
Marcus walked in.
On the table was a new item.
A small black notebook.
He opened it.
The first page had one sentence.
“Marcus was never the target.””
His heart raced.
He turned the page.
“Lily was.””
Marcus felt sick.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
“No.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You knew?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
He flipped through the pages.
Names.
Dates.
Plans.
Observations about his family.
Then he saw one name repeated again and again.
Elena.
Lily.
And finally…
Vanessa.
Marcus looked up.
“This isn’t just about Elena.””
Vanessa whispered:
“No.””
“It’s about all of us.””
A sound came from downstairs.
A small voice.
“Daddy.””
Marcus ran.
He reached the entrance and saw Lily standing by the gate.
But Elena was no longer there.
The gate was open.
Marcus froze.
“Where is your mother?””
Lily looked terrified.
“She went with him.””
Marcus’s blood turned cold.
“With who?””
Lily pointed toward the road.
“Daniel.””
Vanessa rushed outside.
“No.””
Marcus followed.
The driveway was empty.
Only rain.
Only darkness.
Only the gold music box lying on the ground.
Marcus picked it up.
The melody was still playing.
But something had changed.
A hidden recording began.
Elena’s voice came from inside.
“Marcus…”
He froze.
Her voice was weak.
Afraid.
“If you’re hearing this, then I’m not there to explain.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
The recording continued.
“I need you to know something.””
A pause.
“I didn’t come back because I wanted my old life.””
Marcus listened.
“I came back because Lily is in danger.””
The music box crackled.
Then Elena whispered:
“And the person who knows where the danger started…”
A long silence.
Marcus held his breath.
Then her final words came.
“Is the person you married.””
Marcus slowly looked at Vanessa.
She looked back at him.
May you like
Terrified.
Because both of them knew exactly who Elena meant.
