Chapter 11 - The Video No One Was Meant to See
Late that evening, after everyone else had gone to bed, Daniel locked himself inside Lily's small room.
He connected the flash drive to his laptop.
For several seconds...
Nothing happened.
Then a single folder appeared.
Its title was simple.
If Dad Ever Comes Home
Daniel stopped breathing.
Inside were dozens of short video files.
The earliest recording showed a frightened thirteen-year-old Lily sitting on the edge of her narrow bed.
She looked directly into the hidden camera.
"Dad... I don't know if you'll ever see this."
"I found an old phone."
"I'm recording whenever I can."
Her voice trembled.
"They read my letters before they send them."
"So I stopped writing."
The next recording was taken months later.
Another bruise marked her cheek.
Another apology escaped her lips before she even spoke.
"I'm okay."
"I don't want you to worry."
Daniel closed his eyes.
She had been trying to protect him...
Even while trapped herself.
The final file carried no date.
Only one word.
Basement
He clicked it.
The screen remained black.
Only voices could be heard.
Rebecca.
Michael.
And a third person Daniel did not recognize.
Then came one sentence that made his blood run cold.
May you like
"If Daniel ever comes back..."
"...he can never find what's under the house."
