CHAPTER 7: The Things We Remember

They didn't open the door.

Lucien waited until the scratching stopped.

Then he unlocked it.

The hallway was empty.

No footprints.

No woman.

Nothing.

Serena stepped into the corridor.

"Who was that?"

Lucien closed the door behind them.

"I don't know."

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"You knew the voice."

He didn't answer.

Serena followed him downstairs.

"You knew it."

"Yes."

"Who is she?"

"I don't know."

"Lucien."

He stopped.

She nearly walked into him.

He turned.

"Do you really want the truth?"

"Yes."

"You may not like it."

"I haven't liked anything you've told me so far."

He looked at her for a long moment.

"Neither did I."

They stood there in silence.

Then Lucien said—

"My father believed the house was haunted."

Serena blinked.

"That's your explanation?"

"No."

He looked toward the west wing.

"My father believed something lived here."

"Something?"

"A presence."

Serena folded her arms.

"And you believe him?"

"I believed him when I was thirteen."

"What changed?"

Lucien's expression darkened.

"I saw it."

A chill ran through her.

"You saw what?"

"A woman."

Serena's heart stopped.

"What did she look like?"

"I don't know."

"You don't remember?"

"I remember her face."

He looked directly at Serena.

"I just can't describe it."

That made no sense.

"Why?"

"Because every time I try, I remember something different."

Serena's skin prickled.

"What did she do?"

"She stood behind you."

Serena's breath caught.

"What?"

"The night you disappeared."

He stepped closer.

"She was standing behind you."

Serena stared at him.

"And you?"

"I tried to reach you."

"What happened?"

"My father came into the room."

"What did he do?"

Lucien's jaw clenched.

"He told me to leave."

"Did you?"

"I didn't have a choice."

"Why?"

"Because he locked the door."

Serena's eyes widened.

"You left me there?"

"I was thirteen."

His voice cracked.

For the first time, Serena saw something beneath his cold exterior.

Guilt.

"I was thirteen," he repeated. "I couldn't get back inside."

"What happened to me?"

"I heard you screaming."

Serena stopped breathing.

"And then?"

"The door opened."

"Who opened it?"

Lucien stared at her.

"You."

She frowned.

"What?"

"You walked out."

"I walked out?"

"Yes."

"Alone?"

He shook his head.

"You were holding someone's hand."

Serena's stomach twisted.

"Whose?"

"I never saw the face."

A memory flashed through her mind.

A hallway.

A little boy crying.

A woman's hand.

Cold fingers wrapped around hers.

A whisper.

Don't look back.

Serena gasped.

Lucien caught her before she fell.

"Serena."

She pushed against his chest.

"Don't."

"I'm trying to help."

"I remember."

His eyes widened.

"What?"

"I remember the hallway."

Lucien's face went pale.

"What else?"

"A woman."

He went completely still.

"What did she say?"

Serena closed her eyes.

The memory sharpened.

"I don't know."

"Try."

"I can't."

"Serena."

She opened her eyes.

"She said something about a promise."

Lucien's breathing stopped.

"What promise?"

Serena looked at him.

"You."

His face changed.

"What about me?"

She swallowed.

"I promised I'd come back."

Silence.

Lucien looked away.

Then he laughed once.

It wasn't amusement.

It was pain.

"I waited."

Serena's chest tightened.

"What?"

"I waited for you."

His eyes met hers.

"For years."

She couldn't speak.

"I thought you abandoned me."

"I was seven."

"I know."

"I didn't choose to leave."

"I know."

Something fragile passed between them.

Serena stepped closer.

Lucien didn't move.

"You remember me," she whispered.

"I never forgot you."

Her heart pounded.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was afraid."

"Of what?"

He looked at her lips.

"That you wouldn't remember me."

The room became unbearably quiet.

Serena felt his hand rise.

His fingers touched her cheek.

For one second, she forgot the house.

The secrets.

The woman.

Everything.

Then Lucien leaned closer.

Their lips were inches apart.

A loud crash exploded upstairs.

They broke apart.

Serena looked toward the ceiling.

"What was that?"

Lucien grabbed her hand.

"Stay here."

"No."

"Serena—"

"I'm coming."

They ran upstairs.

The sound had come from her bedroom.

Her door was open.

Inside, every drawer had been pulled out.

Her clothes were scattered across the floor.

The mirror was cracked.

And sitting on her pillow—

was a photograph.

Serena picked it up.

Her hands began shaking.

It was a picture of her and Lucien as children.

They were holding hands.

Someone had written on the photograph.

YOU PROMISED HIM.

Serena turned it over.

Another message.

NOW KEEP YOUR PROMISE.

A sound came from the bathroom.

Serena slowly turned.

The door was slightly open.

"Lucien..."

He stepped in front of her.

The bathroom door moved.

Slowly.

A shadow appeared behind it.

Then—

the lights went out.

Serena felt something cold brush against her shoulder.

A woman's voice whispered directly into her ear.

"Your mother lied."

The lights came back.

Nobody was there.

Except Lucien.

And he was staring at the floor.

Serena followed his gaze.

There were wet footprints.

They began at the bathroom door.

They crossed the bedroom.

And stopped beside Serena's bed.