Chapter 2
Before Ryan could even reach the wall, the rapid tapping of flats against the hardwood floor echoed from the main staircase. Emily, Ryan’s wife, hurried into the hallway, tying the belt of a silk robe over her elegant cream blouse and fitted dark trousers. In her mid-thirties, Emily was breathtakingly beautiful, her fair skin glowing even in the dim light, and her delicate earrings catching the faint glow of the hallway sconces. She was intelligent, fiercely perceptive, and wildly protective of her family.
"Ryan? Lily?" Emily called out, her voice laced with rising panic. "What is going on? I woke up and the nursery was empty."
"Stay back, Emily," Ryan ordered, raising a hand without taking his eyes off the wooden paneling. "Keep Lily behind you."
Emily didn't hesitate. She rushed forward and scooped Lily into her arms, pressing the three-year-old’s face into her shoulder. "Ryan, you're scaring me. What is it?"
"I don't know yet," Ryan replied, his voice dangerously calm.
He stepped up to the wall, pressing his ear flat against the cold, polished wood. At first, there was nothing but the steady hum of the central air conditioning. Then, he heard it. It was faint, rhythmic, and unmistakable.
Someone was breathing on the other side of the wall.
Ryan’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief. He stepped back, analyzing the seam of the wood. It was a maintenance access panel, designed to blend perfectly with the surrounding decor, meant only for plumbers or electricians. It had been sealed shut since they bought the mansion.
"There is someone in the walls," Ryan stated, his tone shifting from a father to a Mafia boss facing a breach in his fortress.
"What?" Emily gasped, pulling Lily tighter against her chest. "Ryan, call the security team! Call the guards outside!"
"No time," Ryan grunted.
He dug his strong, calloused fingers into the narrow gap Lily had pointed out. His broad shoulders flexed beneath his tailored black suit as he found leverage. With a sudden, explosive surge of brute strength, Ryan forcefully pulled the panel away from the frame.
The sound of splintering wood and snapping nails echoed like gunshots down the hallway. Dust and dry wall particles billowed out into the air in a thick, choking cloud. The heavy wooden panel crashed onto the floor at Ryan’s feet.
Emily coughed, waving the dust away from her face, while Lily peeked over her mother’s shoulder.
Ryan waved a hand to clear the air, peering into the pitch-black void between the inner and outer walls of the house. As the dust settled, the faint hallway light bled into the gap.
May you like
It was a narrow hidden space, barely wide enough for a person to sit up. But it was not empty. The floor of the cavity was lined with dirty, stolen blankets, discarded food wrappers, and a tiny, makeshift sleeping area constructed from shredded pillows.
Ryan stood entirely frozen, his composed demeanor shattering completely as a tiny shadow shifted in the far corner of the dark space.
