Chapter 3: The Secret Behind the Door
Chapter 3: The Secret Behind the Door
Days passed.
The Hawthornes insisted their eight-year-old son, Oliver, suffered from a rare neurological disorder.
"No visitors."
"No photographs."
"No conversations."
Only scheduled visits.
Yet nothing made sense.
Oliver never appeared at breakfast.
Never walked in the gardens.
Never attended school.
One rainy afternoon, Elena noticed something unusual.
A food tray returned untouched.
Except for one thing.
A folded piece of paper hidden beneath the plate.
Her hands trembled as she unfolded it.
The childish handwriting read:
Please don't believe them.
I'm not sick.
They won't let me leave.
Before Elena could hide the note, the butler entered.
His eyes fell immediately to the paper.
Without a word...
He snatched it away.
That evening, Mrs. Hawthorne smiled as if nothing had happened.
"Children have vivid imaginations."
Elena nodded politely.
May you like
But deep inside...
She no longer believed a single word spoken inside the mansion.
