Chapter 4 - what daniel forgot)
Daniel Mercer dreamed of fire.
He was seventeen again.
Running barefoot through a forest at night.
His father was shouting somewhere behind him.
Do not turn around.
Daniel turned around.
Red light moved between the trees.
Not flames.
Eyes.
Hundreds of them.
He woke violently.
His bedside lamp shattered.
Daniel sat upright.
Vanessa stirred beside him.
“What happened?”
He looked at the broken lamp.
“I don't know.”
His heart pounded.
Vanessa switched on her side lamp.
“You were dreaming.”
Daniel rubbed his face.
“I haven't had that dream in years.”
“What dream?”
He hesitated.
He didn't like discussing childhood.
Especially the years before his father died.
“Nothing.”
Vanessa placed a hand against his back.
“You can tell me.”
Daniel stared toward the bedroom door.
“Did you ever meet my father?”
Vanessa's hand stopped moving.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Why would I?”
“I don't know.”
“You were twenty-two when he died. I didn't know you then.”
Daniel nodded.
Of course.
He wasn't sure why he'd asked.
Maybe because the dream had included something else.
A woman in green standing between the trees.
He couldn't see her face.
But he remembered the dress.
Emerald.
Vanessa owned one almost exactly like it.
“You've been working too much,” she said.
“Probably.”
“Stay home tomorrow.”
“I have Boston.”
“Cancel it.”
Daniel looked at her.
Vanessa rarely asked him to cancel work.
“Why?”
“The children need you.”
Guilt struck immediately.
“Did something happen?”
“No.”
“Then why say that?”
“They miss you.”
Daniel stared at his wife.
He loved Vanessa.
At least he had believed he did.
Their relationship had begun two years after Claire's death.
Daniel had been empty.
Vanessa entered his life gradually.
A charity event.
Coffee.
Another meeting.
Dinner.
She never pushed.
Never tried to replace Claire.
At least not in the beginning.
Over time, Daniel allowed himself to believe the children needed stability.
He needed stability too.
For a while, Vanessa provided it.
Then something changed.
Or perhaps Daniel had finally begun noticing things that were always there.
Owen stopped eating breakfast with her.
Lily became nervous whenever Daniel traveled.
Household employees rarely lasted more than a few months.
Vanessa always had explanations.
Daniel always had meetings.
He looked at the clock.
4:21.
“I'll cancel Boston.”
Vanessa smiled.
“Good.”
She kissed his shoulder and returned to sleep.
Daniel remained awake.
At five, he went downstairs.
The dining room was empty.
He entered the kitchen.
Something felt wrong.
The pantry doors were chained.
Daniel stared at them.
Why hadn't he questioned this more?
He walked closer.
Seven latches.
His fingers touched the first.
A sensation shot through his arm.
Heat.
Daniel pulled back.
His palm had turned red.
He stared at it.
A memory flashed.
Not from the dream.
From childhood.
His father standing beside a red wooden door beneath the Mercer family home in Virginia.
Never touch the silver locks.
Daniel heard his seventeen-year-old voice.
Why?
His father answered.
Because silver keeps our blood asleep.
The memory vanished.
Daniel staggered.
He grabbed the counter.
“What the hell?”
Three knocks came from the pantry.
Daniel looked up.
Another memory.
His father.
Blood on his shirt.
Eyes glowing red.
Daniel whispering, What are you?
His father answering, What you will become if they ever threaten your children.
Daniel backed away.
“No.”
The pantry knocked again.
Then a woman's voice spoke.
So softly Daniel almost convinced himself he imagined it.
“Danny.”
Only one person had called him that.
Claire.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Claire?”
Silence.
He reached for the chain.
“Dad?”
Daniel spun.
Owen stood in the kitchen doorway.
“What are you doing?”
Daniel looked from his son to the pantry.
“Nothing.”
Owen's eyes narrowed.
“You heard it.”
“Heard what?”
“The knocking.”
Daniel forced a laugh.
“Probably pipes.”
Owen's expression changed.
Daniel recognized disappointment.
Not fear.
Not confusion.
Disappointment.
“What?”
“That's what she said.”
“Who?”
“Vanessa.”
Daniel straightened.
“Owen, is something going on?”
His son looked toward the pantry.
Then back at him.
“Would you believe me?”
“Of course.”
“Even if Vanessa says I'm lying?”
Daniel hesitated.
It was barely a second.
But Owen noticed.
“I knew it.”
He turned.
“Owen.”
“Forget it.”
Daniel followed.
“Stop.”
Owen stopped in the dining room.
Daniel crouched slightly so they were at eye level.
“Talk to me.”
Owen looked toward the stairs.
“Lily says Mom talks to her.”
Daniel's chest tightened.
“What?”
“From the pantry.”
Daniel stood.
“Owen.”
“You said you'd believe me.”
“I believe you're telling me what Lily said.”
“That's not the same thing.”
“Your sister misses her mother.”
“So do I. I don't hear dead people.”
Daniel flinched.
Owen continued.
“Something is happening in this house.”
“What?”
“I don't know yet.”
“Yet?”
Owen touched his blazer.
Daniel did not notice.
“I'll show you when I do.”
Then Owen walked upstairs.
Daniel remained alone in the dining room.
May you like
Behind him, the pantry knocked three more times.
This time Daniel did not pretend it was the pipes.
