Chapter 2 - The Room Nobody Was Supposed to Enter
Rafael reached for Mara's wrist.
Sofia slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch her."
His eyes snapped toward Sofia. "You have no idea what you're doing."
"Then explain it."
He didn't.
Mara pushed the blue door wider.
Beyond the door was a dusty sitting room with shelves, a small desk, faded blue wallpaper, and one shuttered window.
On the desk sat a silver music box.
It was open.
The tiny dancer turned as the melody played.
Sofia moved toward it.
"Camila's," she whispered.
She remembered the two of them at thirteen, fighting over the same box. Camila had scratched a tiny C under the lid with a sewing needle so no one could claim it belonged to anyone else.
Sofia lifted the lid.
There it was.
C.
Mara's breath caught.
Rafael stayed in the doorway.
"This room proves nothing," he said.
Sofia looked around. "Why was her music box locked in here?"
"Your aunt couldn't bear to see it after Camila ran away."
"Camila didn't run away," Mara said.
Rafael's jaw tightened.
Mara moved to the desk and opened the center drawer. Empty.
The second drawer stuck halfway.
She pulled harder.
Something shifted behind it.
Sofia helped remove the drawer completely.
Taped to the wooden back panel was a yellow envelope, brittle with age.
One name was written across the front in blue ink.
SOFIA.
Her knees weakened.
"That's Camila's handwriting."
Rafael crossed the room in three quick steps.
"Give me that."
Mara snatched the envelope away.
"No."
"You don't understand what that letter can do."
Sofia looked at him.
Not what it could say.
What it could do.
May you like
That was when she understood something terrifying.
Her uncle already knew what was inside.
