CHAPTER 2: ALONE

Michael left, shutting the wardrobe doors behind me. The space was too small, too tight—I could barely breathe. My knees were pressed to my chest, and the scent of wood mixed with my own sweat filled my nostrils. Time dragged on, stretching into what felt like forever. My heart pounded so loudly I was afraid someone might hear it.

I wanted to stay hidden like Michael told me, but fear and curiosity gnawed at me. I couldn't take it anymore. With shaky hands, I pushed the wardrobe door open and climbed out. My feet barely made a sound as I crept toward the bedroom door, every step feeling heavier with dread.

Slowly, I opened the door and stepped into the dimly lit hallway. My body trembled, but I forced myself to keep going. I had to know what was happening. I had to see.

Reaching the top of the staircase, I gripped the railing and peered down.

Mum and Dad were on their knees, their hands restrained by two men. My breath caught in my throat. A woman I had never seen before sat before them, her posture relaxed, yet there was something menacing about her. And then—my stomach dropped.

Uncle Phillip.

He was standing beside the two men, watching my father struggle. My dad’s best friend. Our family’s trusted friend. Why was he doing this?

“What is going on?” I whispered under my breath, my fingers digging into the railing.

“Are you not going to tell me where the key is?” the woman asked, her voice smooth but sharp as a blade.

Dad lifted his chin, his expression unwavering. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. We don’t have any keys.”

The woman chuckled darkly. “Do you really think I’m going to buy that? Either you provide the key, or your wife will be my next meal.”

The moment she said it, one of the men pressed a knife to Mum’s throat. My whole body locked up. I wanted to scream, to run to her, but my feet refused to move. My hands trembled violently as I gripped the railing harder. Who were these people? What did they want?

Then, Mum’s eyes flickered toward me. She blinked twice.

A signal.

She was telling me not to move. Not to come out.

Tears burned my eyes. I wanted to run to her, but I couldn’t disobey her now. My whole body shook with silent sobs—until I felt a hand clamp over my mouth.

Panic surged through me, but then I heard his voice.

“Lily, I told you to stay in the closet,” Michael whispered harshly as he pulled me back into his room.

I turned on him immediately, my voice shaking. “Who are those people? What do they want from us?”

Michael’s expression was grim. “I don’t know, Lily, but Mum said we need to run.”

“No!” I shook my head violently. “We are not leaving them behind. Uncle Phillip was holding a knife to Mum’s throat! Why? He’s Dad’s best friend!”

Michael clenched his jaw. “I don’t know! But we have to leave now!”

I refused to accept it. “No! I am not leaving them to die!”

Michael grabbed my shoulders, his eyes wet with unshed tears. “They are going to kill us too, don’t you get it?” His voice broke, and a single tear slipped down his cheek.

I froze. My strong, brave brother was crying.

But I still couldn’t leave. I couldn’t. My hands fumbled for the phone, and I quickly dialed 911.

“Lily, I already called them,” Michael insisted. “We need to go.”

“No!” I shoved him aside and sprinted toward the stairs. My heart pounded as I ran, hoping—praying—I wasn’t too late.

But the moment I reached the bottom step, my entire world shattered.

The woman in red had Mum and Dad suspended in the air. But it wasn’t just that. It was the way they looked—lifeless. As if something invisible was pulling the life right out of them. Their skin had turned deathly pale, and their lips were drained of color.

It looked like a scene from a horror movie.

But it wasn’t.

It was real.

Rage and terror crashed through me. “Let my parents go, you monster!” I screamed, my voice raw with desperation.

The woman’s head turned slowly, her lips curling into a cruel smile. “Well, well. Look who we have here. A little cutie pie.”

I took a shaky step forward, fists clenched. “What do you want from my parents? Why are you doing this?” I yelled, my voice cracking.

She tilted her head, laughing softly. “She’s a brave one. Just like you used to be.” Her eyes gleamed as she turned back to Mum.

“Let… her… go,” Mum whispered weakly, barely able to lift her head.

The woman sighed, rolling her eyes before smirking. “Do you know your fckng mistake, sister?” she sneered. “Marrying a human.”

Sister?

My breath hitched. No. That wasn’t possible.

“I’m going to let you watch as I kill your precious daughter.”

Before I could process what was happening, her hand shot forward, wrapping around my throat. My feet lifted off the ground, my lungs burning as she squeezed.

I clawed at her hand, kicking, struggling—anything to break free. My vision blurred, my head spinning from the lack of air.

The woman grinned. “Are you scared?” She twisted her face into something almost playful—mocking.

Rage flared inside me. With the last bit of strength I had, I opened my mouth and sank my teeth into her wrist.

She shrieked, dropping me instantly. I hit the ground hard, gasping for air.

“Lily, run!” Mum’s voice, weak but urgent, rang out. Then she shoved me backwards -toward the stairs.

"Mum, I can't leave without you; I just can't," I whispered, my voice breaking as I stared at Dad's lifeless body, his eyes empty, his face pale.

"But I am always with you," she said, her breath shaky, her strength fading. Why weren’t the police here yet?

"Who are these people?" I asked, desperate for answers.

"That doesn't matter," she said, cupping my cheeks with trembling hands, her warmth barely there. She wiped the tears from my face and pressed something into my palm. "Keep this safe; I trust you. Now go."

"But—"

"Go," she repeated, turning to face the woman in red.

"Wow, isn't this touching? A mother and daughter’s final goodbye," the woman taunted, her voice dripping with mockery. She let out a laugh so sharp it made my ears ring.

"I told you to stay in your lane, sister." Mum said to her, rage evident in her voice.

"In my lane?" She scoffed, a smirk spreading across her face. "You brought this on yourself—on your husband, your children. And now, you will pay."

The woman’s smile vanished. Her eyes darkened with fury. "You think you have a choice?" she spat. "Phillip, kill her."

A scream built in my throat, but I swallowed it down. I didn't want to leave, but I had to. I turned and ran.

I sprinted upstairs, my heart hammering against my ribs as I searched for Michael. Where was he? My hands trembled as I pushed open his bedroom door.

Empty.

Panic surged through me. I was about to leave when a shadow loomed in the doorway. Uncle Phillip. His usual sweet smile was in place, but now it made my skin crawl.

"Hey, Lily. Happy birthday," he cooed, as if we weren’t standing in the middle of a nightmare. "That was quite the show downstairs, don’t you think? Your mum and aunt are discussing another surprise. Why don’t we go grab some ice cream for everyone?"

Did he really think I was that naive? That I would run into his arms like a toddler promised a treat?

"Do I look like I’m two?" I glared at him, fists clenched. "I’m eleven, not one. Dad trusted you. How could you do this to him? To us?"

His smile twisted into something cruel. "Because your dad was a d*ck." He took a step forward. "Now, you can come with me willingly, or I’ll make you."

I backed away, but he followed.

Then, out of nowhere—

CRACK!

Phillip collapsed to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Michael stood behind him, gripping a baseball bat, his breath ragged.

"Lily, we need to go. Now."

I didn’t argue. I let Michael grab my hand, and we ran. As he carried me away, my fingers curled around the necklace at my throat. I could still feel the weight of the key in my palm. Mum’s voice echoed in my head: Keep it safe.

A burst of heat scorched the night. Our house—our home—was engulfed in flames.

Tears blurred my vision as I buried my face in Michael’s chest. "They're gone," I sobbed.

Michael held me tighter. "Lily, listen to me," he murmured, pulling me into the shadows of an abandoned alley. "No matter what happens to me, don’t look back. Just run."

My stomach twisted. "No! I’m not leaving you behind. We couldn’t even save Mum. Michael, Dad was on the floor. She killed him!" My voice cracked as fresh tears spilled down my cheeks.

Michael clenched his jaw, his eyes filled with something I didn’t understand.

"Lily, focus," he said. "Mum gave you that key for a reason. She trusts you. You have to be strong." He hesitated, then added, "I might not be able to stay by your side for long."

"No! No!" I shook my head violently, gripping his shirt. "You’re not leaving me too!"

Michael sighed and wiped my tears away. "I don’t want to, but if we ever get separated, I need you to protect what’s inside this bag." He handed me a small, worn satchel, its leather cracked with age. "Promise me."

I hesitated.

"Lily." His voice was firm, his eyes pleading.

"I promise," I whispered.

"Good." He exhaled shakily. "We need to rest. Tomorrow is going to be a long day for us."

And as the fire raged behind us, I realized our nightmare was only beginning.