Chapter 2 - THIRTY-FOUR MINUTESDaniel climbed down first.
“Mom?”
Evelyn tried to stand.
Her knees buckled.
Daniel caught her.
“Easy.”
Lily wrapped both arms around her grandmother.
“You scared me.”
Evelyn held her tightly.
“I knew you'd come.”
Daniel looked around the cellar.
It was shallow, old, and badly maintained.
There were shelves of dusty gardening equipment along the walls. Old wine bottles. Rusted tools. A broken wooden cabinet.
But there was something else.
A small electric heater.
A blanket.
A glass of water.
And a plate containing half a sandwich.
Daniel stared.
“This wasn't an accident.”
Diane appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Get Mom upstairs.”
Daniel looked up.
“Why was she down here?”
Diane's jaw tightened.
“She fell.”
“You locked her in?”
“She wasn't locked in.”
“You put boards over the hatch.”
“I was trying to protect everyone.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“From what?”
Diane didn't answer.
Lily noticed something on the wall.
A small red light.
Blinking.
She pointed.
“What is that?”
Diane immediately stepped down.
“Don't touch it.”
Lily stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because you don't know what it is.”
Daniel moved between them.
“Diane.”
For the first time, his sister looked genuinely frightened.
Not angry.
Not annoyed.
Frightened.
“You need to listen to me,” she whispered.
Daniel shook his head.
“You lied to the entire family.”
“I lied because I had to.”
“Had to?”
Diane looked at Evelyn.
Their eyes met.
And Grandma looked away.
Daniel helped his mother upstairs.
The family gathered around the table in stunned silence.
Thirty-four minutes earlier, Diane had announced Evelyn was gone.
Now Evelyn was sitting three feet away.
Lily watched everyone.
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She knew adults lied when they were scared.
And every adult in that room looked terrified.
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