Chapter 2: The Missing Girl in the Photograph
I didn’t leave Brenda’s driveway.
Not because I wasn’t afraid.
Because Lily was.
And I knew children didn’t invent fear like that.
They borrowed it from somewhere.
“Uncle Daniel,” Lily whispered.
I looked down.
“Yes?””
“Don’t call me Lily.””
The sentence hurt more than I expected.
My niece had always loved her name.
She used to write it everywhere.
On drawings.
On birthday cards.
On the fogged-up bathroom mirror after showers.
Lily.
Five letters.
A name she carried proudly.
Now she looked terrified whenever I said it.
“Okay,” I said softly.
“What should I call you?””
Her lips shook.
“Chloe.””
Brenda laughed from the doorway.
A sharp, uncomfortable laugh.
“You’re really going to encourage this?””
I stood up.
“No. I’m going to figure out why my niece came back from your house afraid of her own name.””
Brenda’s face tightened.
“Your niece is unstable.””
I stared at her.
“She’s eight.””
“Exactly.””
The way she said it made my skin crawl.
Like being eight years old made Lily easy to dismiss.
I stepped toward the porch.
“What happened last night?””
Brenda blocked the entrance.
“Nothing.””
“Then why are there seven sleeping bags?””
Her eyes flickered.
Only briefly.
But again, I noticed.
“There were supposed to be six girls,” I continued.
“Six backpacks. Six children.””
Brenda looked away.
“Kids bring extra things.””
“A sleeping bag with a name tag?””
Silence.
That silence told me more than any answer could.
My phone finally connected.
My sister Rachel answered immediately.
“Daniel? Is Lily okay?””
I looked at Lily.
She was standing behind me, holding her own arms.
“Rachel,” I said carefully.
“I need you to stay calm.””
“What happened?””
“Lily says she wants to be called Chloe.””
There was a pause.
Then Rachel laughed nervously.
“What?””
“I’m serious.””
“No. No, Daniel. She doesn’t do things like that.””
“I know.””
My voice lowered.
“Something happened here.””
Rachel became quiet.
“Where are you?””
“Brenda Cole’s house.””
Another pause.
Then:
“Bring her home.””
“I’m trying.””
“No, Daniel. Don’t argue. Bring my daughter home now.””
Before I could respond, the call ended.
I looked at Lily.
“Your mom wants you home.””
She shook her head violently.
“No.””
“Sweetheart—”
“No!””
The sudden panic in her voice made Brenda look satisfied.
“See?”” Brenda said.
“This is what I mean.””
But Lily wasn’t looking at Brenda.
She was looking through the window beside the door.
At something inside the house.
“Chloe?”” I asked.
She whispered:
“The man came before breakfast.””
I felt every hair on my arms rise.
“What man?””
“The one Mrs. Cole said we had to impress.””
Brenda stepped forward.
“That’s enough.””
Lily flinched.
I immediately moved between them.
“Don’t come near her.””
Brenda’s face turned red.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.””
“Then explain.””
“I don’t have to explain anything.””
“You do when a child is terrified.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“You think you know everything because you’re her uncle?””
“No.””
I looked at Lily.
“I know one thing.””
I pointed toward my niece.
“She’s scared of you.””
That landed.
For a moment, Brenda had no response.
Then she smiled.
Not kindly.
Not warmly.
A cold, controlled smile.
“You should ask her what happened to the seventh girl.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
Brenda stepped backward.
“Ask her.””
Then she closed the door.
Not slammed.
Closed.
Like she knew something I didn’t.
I looked at Lily.
Her face had gone pale.
“Who was the seventh girl?”” I asked.
She stared at the locked door.
May you like
And whispered:
“She wasn’t invited.””
