Chapter 2: The Name on the Photograph
Marcus didn't move.
The little girl remained curled beneath the blanket, watching him with frightened eyes.
Elena stood behind him with both hands pressed against her mouth.
The hallway suddenly felt too small.
Marcus looked down at the photograph again.
The edges were yellowed with age. There was a crease running straight through the middle.
But the image was unmistakable.
Him.
Holding a baby.
His baby.
He remembered the hospital room.
He remembered the white walls.
He remembered the nurse standing in the doorway.
He remembered the words that had broken him.
“She didn't make it.””
Marcus slowly closed his eyes.
“What's your name?”” he asked.
The girl hesitated.
“Elena?””
Elena shook her head.
Marcus looked back at the child.
“What's your name, sweetheart?””
The girl whispered, “Nia.””
Marcus's face tightened.
“Nia.””
She nodded.
He repeated it as if testing whether the name belonged in his life.
“Nia.””
Elena stepped forward.
“Marcus, listen to me.””
He stood.
“No.””
“Please.””
“No.””
His voice was quiet now, which frightened Elena more than shouting would have.
“You knew.””
Elena cried harder.
“I found her two years ago.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Two years?””
“She was already living here.””
“Two years?””
“I didn't know where else to take her.””
“You put a child inside our wall?””
“She was hiding.””
“From who?””
Elena couldn't answer.
Marcus pointed toward the opening.
“You fed her through a hole in our pantry wall for two years?””
“She was terrified.””
“Of what?””
Elena wiped her cheek.
“Of being found.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“By who?””
Silence.
Nia shifted beneath the blanket.
Marcus immediately turned toward her.
“Are you hungry?””
She nodded.
He crouched again.
“I brought you nothing but questions.””
He looked at the plate.
“Can I give you some?””
Nia stared at Elena first.
Marcus noticed.
That tiny movement hurt more than he expected.
Elena nodded.
Nia slowly reached for the plate.
Marcus passed it through the opening.
“Careful,” he said.
“It's still warm.””
The girl took a small bite.
Marcus watched her eat.
Something inside him cracked.
He recognized the way she held the spoon.
The way she tilted her head.
The tiny crease between her eyebrows.
He had seen those things in the photograph.
His photograph.
His daughter.
Marcus looked at Elena.
“Why did they tell me she died?””
Elena shook her head.
“I don't know everything.””
“You know enough.””
“I know she was taken from the hospital.””
Marcus stopped breathing.
“What?””
Elena looked toward Nia.
“Not by you.””
“Who took her?””
“I don't know.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I spent years trying to find out.””
Marcus looked at the wall.
“Then why hide her from me?””
Elena's face collapsed.
“Because someone was watching our house.””
Marcus went still.
“What did you say?””
“I saw the same car three times.””
“When?””
“Last year.””
“And you never told me?””
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
“That whoever took Nia the first time would take her again.””
Marcus looked toward the front of the house.
The windows were dark.
The locks were still engaged.
Everything looked normal.
But suddenly every shadow seemed occupied.
Nia stopped eating.
Marcus noticed.
“What is it?””
The girl stared at the hallway.
Her fingers tightened around the spoon.
Elena whispered, “Nia?””
The little girl looked at Marcus.
“He came back.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Who came back?””
Nia pointed toward the pantry door.
“The man.””
Elena went pale.
“What man?””
Nia's eyes filled with tears.
“The man who told Mommy not to let Daddy find me.””
Marcus slowly stood.
“Mommy?””
Elena's face changed.
Marcus saw it.
“You called her Mommy?””
Nia looked at Elena.
Then back at Marcus.
Elena whispered, “Marcus…”
A sound came from the pantry.
Three slow knocks.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Nobody moved.
Marcus turned toward the door.
Elena grabbed his arm.
“Don't open it.””
He looked at her.
“Why?””
Another knock came.
Then a man's voice drifted through the door.
“Elena?””
Marcus's entire body went rigid.
May you like
The voice continued.
“I know she's in there.””
