Chapter 16 - Footsteps in the Dark
The massive house felt like a terrifying, unfamiliar labyrinth in the pitch black.
Claire knew the layout of the estate perfectly, but every shadow looked like a lurking threat.
She quietly opened the secret servant's door at the back of the nursery.
It led to a narrow, winding staircase that connected to the kitchen pantry on the ground floor.
She moved with agonizing slowness, praying that Lily would not wake up and cry.
As she descended, she heard the loud crash of Damian kicking open the main nursery door.
"Clever girl," Damian’s voice drifted down from above, followed by a dark chuckle.
Claire reached the kitchen and slipped out the back door into the pouring rain.
The cold water soaked her clothes instantly, but she welcomed the cover of the violent storm.
She had to find Noah.
She knew Damian wouldn't have taken him far, because his ultimate goal was to make Claire watch her family suffer.
She thought about all the places Noah loved to hide when he was feeling overwhelmed.
The garden maze. The old greenhouse. The basement theater.
Then she remembered the conversation she had overheard weeks ago.
Damian had asked Noah about the old, abandoned wine cellar beneath the guest cottage.
Claire sprinted across the dark lawn, her feet slipping on the wet grass.
She kept Lily tucked safely inside her heavy waterproof jacket.
She reached the guest cottage and bypassed the front door, moving toward the rusted iron grate on the side of the building.
The padlock on the cellar door was broken, completely shattered by a heavy tool.
Claire pulled the door open and descended into the damp, freezing darkness.
"Noah?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the thunder.
She heard a muffled, terrified whimpering coming from the far corner of the stone room.
Claire pulled her phone out and quickly flashed the screen light.
Noah was tied to a heavy wooden chair, his mouth covered with thick silver duct tape.
His eyes were wide with absolute, pure terror.
Claire rushed forward and ripped the tape from his mouth, ignoring his sharp cry of pain.
"I'm here, baby, I'm right here," she sobbed softly, working frantically to untie the ropes.
"He said he was going to hurt you, Claire," Noah cried, his small hands shaking violently.
"He is not going to hurt anyone," Claire promised fiercely.
She pulled the ropes free and pulled Noah into a tight, desperate embrace.
They had to get out of the cellar before Damian realized she had left the main house.
But as she turned toward the stairs, a bright, blinding flashlight clicked on at the top of the steps.
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Damian stood there, the heavy iron poker resting on his shoulder.
"A beautiful family reunion," he sneered.
