Chapter 2 – The Locked Passage
The scream shattered the music.
Every conversation inside the ballroom died at once.
Guests turned toward the west corridor, confused by the terrified child's voice echoing through the mansion.
Grace Carter stood frozen beside the hidden vent.
The elegant woman in the emerald gown tightened her grip around the old bronze key.
The billionaire, Charles Ashcroft, stared at both of them without blinking.
"Who was that?" he asked.
No one answered.
The child screamed again.
"Please don't leave me!"
Charles took two slow steps forward.
His expression hardened.
"There is someone behind that wall."
The woman forced a smile.
"You must have imagined it."
Grace looked directly at Charles.
"I heard him."
"I spoke with him."
"He's alive."
The woman's smile disappeared.
Charles reached for the painting.
She immediately grabbed his wrist.
"Don't."
"It's dangerous."
Charles slowly looked down at her hand.
Then back into her eyes.
"Move."
"I can't."
"Move."
For several long seconds, neither of them moved.
Finally, she stepped back.
Charles pulled the enormous painting away from the wall.
The hidden ventilation grille appeared.
The tiny fingers were gone.
Only darkness remained beyond the metal.
Grace picked up the heavy pry bar.
"I almost opened it."
Charles examined the frame carefully.
"There has to be another entrance."
The woman quietly slipped one hand behind her back.
Grace noticed the movement.
"The key."
"She's hiding the key."
Charles turned instantly.
"Give it to me."
"It opens an old storage room."
"I said..."
"Give."
"It."
"To."
"Me."
Reluctantly, she placed the bronze key into his hand.
Charles examined it.
The engraved number surprised him.
B-17.
His face changed.
"I've never seen this key before."
Grace frowned.
"What does B-17 mean?"
Charles looked toward the floor.
"There shouldn't even be a basement under this wing."
Silence filled the hallway.
Somewhere behind the wall...
Three quiet knocks echoed again.
Charles closed his fist around the key.
"Nobody leaves this corridor."
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"We're finding that child."
End of Chapter 2
