Chapter 8 - lily's hiding place
Lily had always been good at hiding.
Mia had turned it into a game when Lily was four.
Whenever they visited Moretti Manor, Lily would disappear behind curtains, beneath tables, inside window seats.
Mia would pretend she couldn't find her.
But two days before Mia disappeared, the game had changed.
Lily had heard her mother tell her something serious.
If I tell you to hide, hide somewhere nobody knows except us.
The place they chose was inside the old linen closet near the ballroom.
Behind shelves of folded tablecloths was a narrow service hatch.
It once allowed servants to pass laundry between floors.
Most adults couldn't fit.
A small child could.
On Saturday night, while the mansion was being searched, Lily was inside that passage.
She had been there for hours.
Terrified.
Cold.
And clutching the brass key.
Earlier, Mia had seen Adrian approaching.
She had pushed Lily toward the linen closet.
"Game time."
Lily had recognized the phrase.
She hid.
Through a crack in the service hatch, she watched Adrian confront her mother.
"Where's the key?"
"I don't know."
"The child had it."
"She lost it."
Adrian grabbed Mia's arm.
"Don't lie."
Then another person entered the corridor.
A woman.
Lily could see only the bottom of her black dress and expensive shoes.
The woman said, "Take her downstairs."
Mia fought.
Not violently.
Desperately.
"Leave my daughter alone."
The woman replied, "Then tell us where the key is."
Mia refused.
Adrian took her away.
Lily remained hidden.
Hours passed.
Eventually she crawled through the passage.
The tunnel led behind the ballroom walls, then down toward the original service quarters.
She followed old wooden steps.
At the bottom she found another tiny hatch.
Beyond it was darkness.
And voices.
Her mother's voice.
Lily pushed the hatch.
It would not open.
A brass keyhole sat beside it.
She used the key.
The hatch opened.
That was when Lily saw Mia through an old iron grate.
Mia was inside a cellar room.
Locked.
"Mommy?"
Mia rushed toward the sound.
"Lily?"
"I'm here."
"Oh God."
Mia dropped to her knees.
"Listen to me. You have to go upstairs."
"I can open it."
"No. The key doesn't open this door."
"Why?"
"Different lock."
Lily began crying.
"Mommy, I'm scared."
Mia pressed her hands against the grate.
"I know."
"Come with me."
"I can't."
Lily tried the key anyway.
It failed.
Mia looked behind her.
"Take the key to Mr. Moretti."
"Mr. Vincent?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Tell him I'm in the cellar."
Lily sniffed.
"What about Miss Isabella?"
"She'll help too."
Mia heard footsteps.
"Lily, go."
"I don't want to."
"Now."
Lily crawled back into the passage.
Behind her, a door opened.
Adrian entered Mia's room.
Mia forced herself away from the grate.
"You found the child?"
"No."
"Then she's still somewhere in the house."
Mia said nothing.
Adrian crouched.
"You understand how this ends?"
"With you in prison?"
He laughed.
"You think Vincent will believe you over me?"
"He already suspects you."
Adrian's smile faded.
"Because of Isabella."
"No. Because you're not as smart as you think."
Adrian stood.
"You have no idea what's happening."
"I know enough."
"No, Mia. You found one room. One set of papers. One conversation."
He leaned closer.
"This started before Vincent ever met Isabella."
Mia looked at him.
"Why?"
Adrian's eyes became cold.
"Because the Moretti family built everything on what they stole from mine."
He left.
Lily heard part of that conversation from inside the passage.
She didn't understand.
She only remembered the word stole.
Eventually she found her way upstairs.
Near dawn she emerged behind the linen shelves.
She could hear people searching.
But she was afraid Adrian would find her first.
So she waited.
Then she heard Vincent.
"Lily!"
His voice echoed through the ballroom.
She started to open the closet.
A second voice came from nearby.
Adrian.
"Check upstairs again."
Lily froze.
She remained hidden.
Later, when everyone moved away, she crawled toward the west corridor.
She knew another way to the cellar now.
She also knew her mother was still alive.
By Sunday morning, she reached the main hall.
Vincent stood near the staircase.
Lily ran toward him.
She grabbed his sleeve.
May you like
"My mom is in there."
And the entire house turned toward the cellar door.
