Chapter 2 - The vent
I did not confront Vivian again in bed.
That surprised me later.
People imagine discovery produces immediate action.
Sometimes it produces stillness.
I looked at Vivian.
She looked back.
Ellie’s fingers remained wrapped around mine.
I said:
“Okay.”
Vivian relaxed too quickly.
That confirmed more than another argument would have.
Ellie eventually fell asleep.
At 1:17 a.m., Vivian’s breathing became slow.
I waited another ten minutes.
Then slid out of bed.
No shoes.
No lights.
I walked downstairs.
The kitchen was dark except for the appliance clock and a small night-light near the pantry.
I found crumbs beside the vent.
Fresh.
I crouched.
“Nora?”
Nothing.
I waited.
Then:
“Ellie?”
A child.
My skin went cold.
“No. My name is Thomas.”
Silence.
“Are you Nora?”
Very quietly:
“Yes.”
I touched the grate.
“Are you hurt?”
No answer.
“Can you come out?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Another pause.
“Door.”
“What door?”
“Vivian locks.”
I stood.
The wall behind the pantry had once contained a servants’ passage.
I knew because the renovation drawings showed old cavities, dumbwaiter channels, and utility access.
Most had been closed.
One narrow service corridor remained behind the mechanical room so plumbers could reach pipes.
It was not supposed to be accessible from the kitchen.
I went to the pantry.
Moved a shelf.
Nothing.
Then I remembered an access panel inside the laundry room.
I tried it.
Locked.
Why?
We had never locked it before.
I returned to the vent.
“Nora.”
“Yes?”
“I’m going to get you out.”
“No police.”
That stopped me.
“Why?”
“Vivian says they send me away.”
I closed my eyes.
“Who are you afraid they’ll send you away from?”
“Mom.”
There.
“Where is your mom?”
No answer.
I pulled out my phone.
Before I pressed call, Vivian’s voice came from behind me.
“Thomas.”
I turned.
She stood at the kitchen entrance.
Barefoot now.
Cream robe.
No makeup.
Still somehow composed.
“What are you doing?”
I pointed at the vent.
“Who is in my wall?”
“No one.”
Nora whimpered.
Vivian closed her eyes.
The lie was over.
“What did you do?”
“It isn’t what you think.”
“I don’t know what to think.”
“Put the phone down.”
“No.”
“Thomas.”
“Move.”
She stepped in front of the hallway.
“Please let me explain before you turn this into something it isn’t.”
I dialed.
May you like
That choice probably saved me from making several worse ones.
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