Chapter 3 - The Girl With Claire's Eyes
Ethan took the stairs two at a time.
Lily followed, one hand on the railing as the house groaned around them.
They found the girl inside a bedroom closet, curled behind moldy blankets with the rabbit pressed to her face.
She couldn't have been older than eight.
"It's okay," Lily said. "We're not going to hurt you."
The girl's eyes moved to Ethan.
She went rigid.
"You look like him."
Ethan stopped.
"Like who?"
"Grandpa."
Silence filled the room.
Lily crouched slowly.
"What's your name?"
"Mia."
"Mia what?"
The girl hesitated.
"Cole."
Ethan sat down hard on the edge of the bed.
Lily felt the answer before he said it.
"Claire's married name would have been...?"
"Cole was ours," Ethan whispered. "She never changed it because she disappeared at nine."
Mia looked at him.
"My mom says our name is Cole."
Ethan's eyes filled.
"Your mom. What's her name?"
Mia hugged the rabbit tighter.
"Claire."
A crash sounded downstairs.
Someone had entered the house.
Ethan stood instantly.
"Mia, who brought you here?"
"Mom. She said to hide upstairs and not come down until she came back."
"Where did she go?"
Mia pointed toward the floor.
"Down there."
Footsteps moved across the first floor.
Slow.
Heavy.
Lily killed her flashlight.
Ethan whispered, "There's a back stair through the old laundry chute."
"You remember?"
"I remember everything now."
The footsteps stopped below them.
A man's voice called up.
"Mia?"
The girl covered her mouth.
Ethan's face changed.
Not fear.
Recognition.
Lily leaned close.
"Who is that?"
Ethan whispered one word.
"Dad."
Lily stared at him.
"Your father died six years ago."
Another floorboard creaked below.
May you like
Then the same voice called again, clearer this time.
"Ethan? I know you're up there too."
