Chapter 8: The Child Daniel Buried Alive
The crying upstairs continued.
Soft.
Broken.
Human.
Evelyn stared at the projector.
Daniel's final words remained burned into her mind.
*THE SECOND LIE IS ABOUT WHO KILLED ME.*
“Laura?”” Evelyn called.
No answer.
Cole was already moving toward the staircase.
“Stay behind me.””
Matthew and Michael spread out.
Richard remained beside the door, staring at the floor.
Evelyn looked at him.
“You knew.””
He lifted his head.
“I knew there was a child.””
“You knew Daniel lied to me.””
“I knew he lied about the baby.””
Her voice shook.
“And you said nothing.””
“I was sworn to protect him.””
“You were sworn to protect a dead man's secret.””
“I was protecting you.””
“No.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“You were protecting yourself.””
Richard flinched.
Before he could respond, the projector shut off.
The house fell dark again.
Cole clicked on his flashlight.
“Laura!””
A voice answered from upstairs.
“Come alone.””
Cole laughed once.
“Not happening.””
“Then she dies.””
Evelyn froze.
“Who?””
Silence.
Then footsteps.
Fast.
A door slammed.
Cole looked at Matthew.
“She's moving.””
They rushed upstairs.
The second floor was a maze of bedrooms and narrow hallways.
At the end stood a woman.
Dark hair.
Pale face.
Gray coat.
She was holding a knife.
And beside her, pressed against the wall, stood Evelyn's missing husband.
Not Daniel.
Ethan.
The boy from the photograph.
Seventeen years old.
Alive.
Terrified.
Evelyn stopped.
“Ethan.””
The boy looked at her.
Something changed in his face.
Recognition.
Not because he knew her.
Because he had heard her name before.
His lips parted.
“You're Evelyn.””
Her heart nearly broke.
“Yes.””
He stared at her.
“My dad told me about you.””
Evelyn swallowed.
“Daniel?””
Ethan nodded.
Laura tightened her grip on the knife.
“Don't move.””
Cole raised his hands.
“Okay.””
“You're not police.””
“No.””
“Then don't pretend you can save her.””
Cole glanced at Evelyn.
“She doesn't need saving from us.””
Laura's eyes narrowed.
“Ethan stays with me.””
The boy looked terrified.
“No.””
Laura turned sharply.
“Ethan.””
He recoiled.
“You said I could leave.””
“You don't understand what happens if you do.””
“I understand enough.””
Richard stepped forward.
Laura's expression hardened instantly.
“You.””
Richard stopped.
“You're still alive.””
“So are you.””
“That was never supposed to happen.””
Cole looked at Richard.
“What does she mean?””
Richard said nothing.
Laura looked at Evelyn.
“Ask him.””
“Ask him what?””
“Who was in the delivery room.””
Evelyn's face went pale.
She looked at Richard.
“What delivery room?””
He closed his eyes.
Laura laughed bitterly.
“There's your answer.””
Evelyn's voice trembled.
“Richard?””
“I wasn't there.””
Laura snapped,
“Liar.””
“I came later.””
“When?””
“After Daniel called.””
“What did you see?””
Richard looked at Evelyn.
“A baby.””
Evelyn stared.
“What baby?””
He didn't answer.
Laura stepped toward the railing.
“Your baby.””
Evelyn felt as though the floor had disappeared.
“I don't remember any baby.””
“Of course you don't.””
“Why?””
Laura's voice softened.
“Because you were unconscious.””
The room went silent.
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.””
“You were hemorrhaging.””
“No.””
“You almost died.””
“No…”
“Daniel was told you might not survive.””
Evelyn stared at her.
Images flashed through her mind.
Hospital lights.
A ceiling.
Daniel crying.
A nurse saying something she couldn't hear.
Then nothing.
She had always believed her memory loss was caused by medication.
But now…
Laura continued.
“Your daughter was born alive.””
Evelyn covered her mouth.
“Daughter?””
Richard looked at the floor.
“Yes.””
Evelyn turned toward him.
“You knew?””
“I knew there was a baby.””
“You knew she was alive?””
Richard's silence answered.
Evelyn stumbled backward.
Cole caught her.
“Easy.””
“My daughter…”
Her voice cracked.
“Where is she?””
Laura's eyes moved to Ethan.
Then back to Evelyn.
“She died.””
Evelyn broke.
She dropped into the nearest chair.
“You said she survived.””
“She did.””
“Then why did you just say she died?””
Laura's expression changed.
“Because the baby was your daughter.””
Evelyn looked confused.
“She wasn't mine?””
“No.””
Laura pointed toward Ethan.
“She was his.””
Evelyn stared.
Nothing made sense.
Cole slowly pieced together the words.
“Wait.””
Everyone looked at him.
“You're saying Ethan isn't Meredith's biological son, isn't Richard's, and isn't Laura's?””
Laura nodded.
“Correct.””
“Then whose?””
Laura looked directly at Evelyn.
“Daniel took the baby.””
Evelyn's breath caught.
“Your daughter?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
Laura's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know.””
Evelyn stood.
“You said she died.””
“I was told she died.””
“By whom?””
Laura looked at Richard.
He stepped backward.
“Don't.””
Laura pointed at him.
“He was there.””
Richard shook his head.
“I wasn't.””
“You were.””
“I saw the baby.””
“You saw the burial.””
Evelyn froze.
Richard whispered,
“No.””
Laura's voice became fierce.
“You stood beside Daniel when he buried a box.””
Evelyn looked at Richard.
“A box?””
Richard said nothing.
Laura continued.
“There was no body.””
Silence.
“There was only a blanket.””
Evelyn's hand trembled.
“What was in the box?””
Laura looked at her.
“Nothing.””
The answer was almost a whisper.
“Daniel buried an empty box.””
Evelyn stared.
“Why?””
“Because someone was watching.””
“Who?””
“The people who wanted the child.””
Cole stepped forward.
“Why would anyone care about a baby?””
Laura looked at him.
“Because of Daniel's inheritance.””
He frowned.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“It will.””
She looked toward the old portrait hanging at the end of the hallway.
“The Harrington fortune didn't begin with Daniel.””
Richard closed his eyes.
Laura continued.
“It came from a company built by Daniel's grandfather.””
Edward, who had remained downstairs with Michael and Meredith, suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs.
“What company?””
Laura looked at him.
“The original Harrington Trust.””
Edward went pale.
“That trust was dissolved decades ago.””
“No.””
Laura shook her head.
“It was hidden.””
“By whom?””
“By Daniel's grandfather.””
“Why?””
“Because the trust contained something more valuable than money.””
Cole asked,
“What?””
Laura looked at Evelyn.
“Evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
“An old crime.””
Richard suddenly shouted.
“Laura, stop!””
She ignored him.
“Daniel's grandfather stole another family's land.””
Edward frowned.
“What does that have to do with Ethan?””
“Everything.””
Laura continued.
“The real heir was supposed to receive that land.””
“Who was the heir?””
Laura's gaze moved to Ethan.
“Him.””
The boy's face went blank.
“I don't understand.””
Laura approached him.
“You were raised believing you were nobody.””
She lowered the knife.
“You aren't.””
Ethan stared.
“What am I?””
Laura's voice broke.
“You're the last heir to the Harrington trust.””
Evelyn looked at Richard.
“Then why was my daughter involved?””
Richard spoke quietly.
“Because Daniel changed the trust.””
“How?””
“He transferred everything.””
“To whom?””
Richard swallowed.
“To the child born that night.””
Evelyn's eyes widened.
“My daughter.””
“Yes.””
“But if she died…”
“She didn't.””
Evelyn stopped breathing.
Richard looked directly at her.
“She survived.””
The house went completely silent.
Evelyn whispered,
“Where is she?””
No one answered.
Then Meredith slowly stepped forward.
She was crying.
“I know.””
Evelyn turned.
“You know where my daughter is?””
Meredith nodded.
“Because I raised her.””
Everything stopped.
Evelyn stared.
“No.””
Meredith wiped her face.
“Her name is Lily.””
The world tilted.
Evelyn gripped the chair.
“My daughter?””
“She's twenty years old.””
“You said Ethan was your son.””
“He is.””
“How can both be true?””
Meredith looked at Ethan.
Then at Evelyn.
“Because I raised Ethan.””
She looked back at Evelyn.
“And Lily.””
Evelyn's eyes widened.
“You raised both?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
Meredith whispered,
“At a place Daniel paid for.””
“Where?””
“The old Saint Mary's boarding home.””
Evelyn's heart pounded.
“Is Lily alive?””
“Yes.””
“Where is she now?””
Meredith looked toward Laura.
Laura's face had gone white.
“She took her.””
Evelyn turned.
“Who?””
“Laura.””
Evelyn looked at the woman holding the knife.
“You have my daughter?””
Laura slowly shook her head.
“I did.””
“Past tense?””
“She left me.””
“When?””
“Two weeks ago.””
“Where did she go?””
Laura looked at Richard.
“She went to him.””
Evelyn followed her gaze.
Richard.
“No.””
Richard closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
Evelyn felt sick.
“You took my daughter?””
“I protected her.””
“You stole her.””
“I saved her.””
“From what?””
Richard looked at Daniel's old portrait.
“From the same people who killed your husband.””
Cole's phone suddenly rang.
Every person in the room jumped.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Hello?””
Static.
Then a girl's voice.
Weak.
Shaking.
“Are you with my mother?””
Evelyn's knees almost gave out.
“Lily?””
The voice went silent.
Evelyn grabbed the phone.
“Lily, baby?””
Nothing.
Then:
“Mom?””
Evelyn covered her mouth.
“I’m here.””
A breath.
Then another.
“I've been waiting.””
Tears streamed down Evelyn's face.
“Where are you?””
A man's voice suddenly replaced the girl.
“Don't move.””
Evelyn froze.
The man continued.
“We have her.””
Cole took the phone back.
“Who are you?””
“You don't need to know.””
“What do you want?””
“The trust.””
Edward stepped forward.
“What trust?””
The man laughed.
“You know exactly what trust.””
The call ended.
Immediately, the lights in the house came on.
Everyone stared at the windows.
Every curtain had been drawn back.
Outside, headlights appeared.
One car.
Then another.
Then five more.
Cole moved to the window.
“We're surrounded.””
Matthew came beside him.
“Armed?””
“Probably.””
Richard looked at Laura.
“You knew this was coming.””
Laura nodded.
“I hoped I was wrong.””
Evelyn stood.
“Where is my daughter?””
Laura pointed toward a small wooden door at the end of the hallway.
“Behind that.””
Evelyn rushed toward it.
Richard grabbed her arm.
“Don't.””
“Let go.””
“The door is trapped.””
“How do you know?””
“Because I built it.””
Evelyn stared at him.
“You built this house?””
“No.””
“The room.””
Richard nodded.
“Daniel and I constructed a hidden passage six years ago.””
“What’s inside?””
“A vault.””
Evelyn's eyes widened.
“For the trust?””
“Yes.””
She took the silver key from her pocket.
“This?””
Richard nodded.
“That's the key.””
Cole looked at the door.
“So that's why they wanted it.””
Richard said nothing.
Evelyn placed the key into the lock.
Before turning it, she looked at him.
“You're coming with me.””
Richard hesitated.
“Why?””
“Because my husband trusted you.””
She tightened her grip on the key.
“And because you owe me the truth.””
She turned it.
A deep mechanical click sounded inside the wall.
The door opened.
Beyond it was a narrow staircase descending into darkness.
A faint light glowed below.
And from somewhere beneath them came a girl's voice.
“Mom?””
Evelyn's eyes filled.
“Lily.””
She stepped onto the first stair.
Cole followed.
Then Michael.
Matthew.
The youngest.
Richard came last.
But as he entered, Laura shouted.
“Wait!””
Everyone stopped.
Laura was staring at the doorway.
“There's something you need to know before you go down there.””
Evelyn turned.
“What?””
Laura looked at Richard.
“Your daughter wasn't the only child Daniel hid.””
Evelyn stared.
“What?””
Laura's eyes filled with terror.
“There were two babies that night.””
Richard whispered,
“No…”
“One was yours.””
She looked at Ethan.
“The other was his.””
Then the house shook.
A violent explosion erupted somewhere outside.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
The hidden door slammed shut behind them.
May you like
And in the darkness below, someone whispered:
“Welcome home, Mom.””
