Chapter 2 - Four Words
After the last guest left, Sarah carried Lily to the kitchen and pressed a cold cloth to her cheek. "Does it hurt, sweetheart?"
Lily nodded. "Is Ethan mad because I broke his birthday?"
"You didn't break anything on purpose. What he did was wrong, and it wasn't your fault."
"Will he hit me again?"
Sarah swallowed. "You won't be alone with him until I know everyone is safe. I promise."
Ethan stood in the living room among the broken decorations. His phone was in Sarah's hand. "Give it back!"
"Tell me who sent that message."
"It's nothing."
"Nothing doesn't make you look terrified."
His face flushed. "You embarrassed me in front of everyone."
"You hit your sister twice."
"I know what I did! You just love making me the bad guy."
"You are responsible for what you do, Ethan. You don't get to hurt people because you're angry."
His phone buzzed again. A second message appeared from the same unsaved number.
Ask your mother what really happened to Dad.
Sarah felt the room tilt. Three years had passed since Daniel died in the garage fire. She had worked hard to keep that night from swallowing the children whole.
Ethan snatched the phone and backed away. "You knew this was coming, didn't you?"
"No. I don't know who this is."
"You always say that."
He stormed upstairs and slammed his bedroom door. A picture frame rattled off the wall.
Sarah called after him, but he wouldn't answer. She checked on Lily, called the pediatrician's after-hours line, and saved screenshots of the messages before the phone disappeared again. The nurse told her what symptoms to watch for and advised her to bring Lily in if the swelling worsened.
When Sarah returned to the stairs, she heard Ethan speaking through his closed door.
May you like
"I did what you told me," he whispered. "So why are you still doing this?"
Sarah stood frozen. Someone had been giving her son instructions—and he had been listening.
