Daniel immediately dropped to his knees beside the vent.
Hello?
No answer.
He leaned closer.
Can you hear me?
A faint movement came from inside.
Rachel covered her mouth.
Daniel stood.
There shouldn’t be anyone back there.
Lily grabbed his hand.
There is.
She told me not to tell anyone at first.
Daniel looked down at her.
Why?
Lily whispered.
She said someone would make her disappear again.
Rachel stared at Daniel.
Again?
Daniel rushed to the garage and returned with tools.
He began checking the wall.
The house had been built by his grandfather more than fifty years earlier.
Several rooms had been renovated.
Some corridors had been sealed.
Daniel had never questioned why.
Rachel called emergency services.
Daniel struck a small section of plaster near the vent.
The wall cracked.
Behind it was darkness.
Then he saw something moving.
Rachel stepped closer.
Daniel widened the opening carefully.
A child’s hand appeared from inside.
Rachel gasped.
Daniel immediately stopped breaking the wall.
We’re here.
You’re safe.
A little girl’s frightened voice came through the opening.
Please don’t leave me.
Daniel looked at Rachel.
Neither of them understood how a child could possibly be inside their house.
But Daniel knew one thing.
Someone had put her there.
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