Chapter 6 - The House Was Chosen
Daniel smashed the white noise machine against the edge of the dresser.
Plastic split. The voice died.
Lily jumped.
"Sorry," Daniel said immediately.
Claire stood. "That won't stop her."
"Then tell me how she got into our house."
Claire closed her eyes.
"She chose it."
Daniel stared at her.
"What does that mean?"
"When we moved here three years ago, my mother sent the listing. She said it was a good neighborhood. Good schools. She pushed me to see it."
"You told me you found this place online."
"I know."
"Another lie."
"Yes."
Daniel rubbed both hands over his face. Every memory of buying the house shifted in his head.
The unusually motivated seller.
The fast inspection.
The one contractor Claire insisted they use.
"The renovation company," he said. "Hale Residential."
Claire looked away.
"Your family owns it?"
"A holding company does."
Daniel felt sick.
"So these passages were opened during the remodel."
"Maybe."
"Not maybe."
He searched the broken machine and found a thin wireless board inside, much newer than the device itself.
"We need a way out that they don't control."
"The basement has an old coal door," Claire said. "It opens outside."
Daniel picked up Lily.
"Then we go now."
They moved down the hallway without turning on lights. The house felt unfamiliar, every vent and smoke detector suddenly suspicious.
At the top of the stairs, Daniel heard a soft creak behind them.
He turned.
A small girl stood at the end of the hall.
Maybe eight years old.
Dark curls.
Yellow sweater.
Bare feet.
She looked exactly like the child in the photograph except older by only a few years.
Impossible.
Claire covered her mouth.
"Emma?"
The girl shook her head.
"I'm Rose."
Daniel held Lily tighter.
"Who are you?"
Rose looked straight at Claire.
"Rebecca's other daughter."
Then she pointed toward the staircase.
May you like
"Don't go down there. Your mother is waiting."
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