Chapter 2 - The lock opened with surprising ease.David expected resistance.

Instead, the cabinet door swung inward.

Inside were no cleaning supplies.

No towels.

No medicine.

Just a black plastic box.

It was about the size of a shoebox.

A tiny green light blinked on its side.

David stared.

“What is that?”

Clara stayed behind him.

“I don’t know.”

David reached for it.

The moment his fingers touched the box, the green light turned red.

A faint recording began playing.

A child’s voice filled the kitchen.

Clara gasped.

It was her own voice.

“Daddy…”

David froze.

The recording was distorted.

But there was no mistaking it.

His daughter’s voice.

“…please come home.”

David looked at Clara.

She shook her head.

“I never said that.”

The recording continued.

“Dad, please…”

Then came a loud static burst.

The device shut off.

David stared at it.

His mind raced.

He looked toward the bedroom.

Melissa still had not moved.

He walked toward her.

“Melissa.”

Nothing.

He touched her shoulder.

She stirred.

Her eyes opened slowly.

“David?”

Her voice sounded weak.

“What happened?”

David stepped back.

“What happened?”

Melissa blinked.

“What do you mean?”

“Where were you tonight?”

She frowned.

“I told you. I was tired.”

“You left Clara alone with Mikey for six hours.”

Melissa looked confused.

“I wouldn't do that.”

Clara suddenly spoke.

“Yes, you did.”

Melissa turned toward her.

Something strange flashed across her face.

Not guilt.

Fear.

Then it disappeared.

“Clara, go to your room.”

David immediately stepped between them.

“No.”

Melissa sat up.

“What?”

“You're not sending her anywhere.”

“David…”

“Eleven missed calls.”

Melissa stared at him.

“You checked my phone?”

“I checked mine.”

He held it up.

“She called me eleven times.”

Melissa swallowed.

“I didn't know.”

“Why did you tell her not to call 911?”

Melissa went silent.

Clara backed toward the living room.

Then Melissa looked at her.

“Because I knew you would come home.”

David stared.

“That makes no sense.”

Melissa's eyes shifted toward the kitchen.

“What's in the cabinet?”

She stopped breathing.

David noticed.

“You know?”

Melissa stood too quickly.

Her face went pale.

“Don't touch that.”

David stepped toward her.

“Why?”

“Because it isn't yours.”

“What is it?”

“I don't know.”

“You just reacted like you did.”

Melissa's voice sharpened.

“David, give it to me.”

Clara suddenly screamed.

“Dad!”

David turned.

Mikey's bottle had fallen from the counter.

But Clara wasn't looking at the bottle.

She was pointing behind him.

At the bedroom mirror.

There was a message written across the glass.

Three words.

HE IS WATCHING.

David slowly turned.

No one was there.

He wiped the glass.

The words smeared.

Not ink.

Condensation.

Someone had written them with a finger.

David looked at Melissa.

She was trembling.

“Who is watching?”

Melissa didn't answer.

David stepped closer.

“Who?”

She whispered,

“I don't know.”

“Then why are you scared?”

Her lips parted.

But before she could speak, the apartment lights went out.

Complete darkness.

Mikey started crying.

Clara screamed.

David grabbed both children.

The darkness lasted five seconds.

Then the lights flickered back on.

The kitchen was empty.

The black box was gone.

David spun toward the hallway.

“Melissa?”

She was standing beside the bedroom door.

Her face looked terrified.

Then she pointed behind David.

“At the balcony.”

He turned.

The balcony door was open.

Cold night air rushed into the apartment.

The curtain moved gently.

David ran toward it.

No one was there.

But on the railing sat something that had not been there before.

A tiny white envelope.

He opened it.

Inside was a photograph.

It showed Clara and Mikey sleeping.

Taken from inside their apartment.

David's blood turned cold.

On the back were four handwritten words.

SHE WASN'T THE FIRST.

He looked at Melissa.

She stared at the photograph.

Then she whispered,

“David…”

“What?”

“There was another family.”

David felt his stomach drop.

“What family?”

Melissa closed her eyes.

“The people who lived here before us.”

“What happened to them?”

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She opened her eyes.

“They disappeared.”