Chapter 17 - The Baby Crying Under the FloorThe cry continued.
A newborn.
Somewhere beneath us.
My husband stared at the floor.
“What is that?”
His mother smiled.
“The heir.”
Lena shook her head.
“There is no baby.”
“There will be.”
My stomach turned.
She pointed at me.
“The ritual needs one final step.”
My mother screamed:
“No!”
The floor cracked open.
A staircase appeared.
Below was a chamber filled with candles.
At the center was a cradle.
Empty.
But it was rocking.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
I could hear the baby crying.
My husband grabbed my hand.
“We're leaving.”
The chapel doors wouldn't open.
His mother stood blocking the stairs.
“You cannot leave until the family receives its heir.”
My husband punched the door.
Nothing.
Lena stepped toward the cradle.
The crying stopped.
Inside was a tiny red ribbon.
I recognized it.
It was the same ribbon from my childhood.
The ribbon Lena had worn.
She picked it up.
Suddenly every candle went out.
A child's voice filled the chamber.
“Where were you?”
Lena dropped the ribbon.
She began sobbing.
“I tried to save you.”
The voice answered:
“You left me.”
“No.”
“You promised.”
Lena collapsed.
I looked at her.
“Who is speaking?”
She looked at me.
“There was never one child.”
My body went cold.
“What?”
“There were two.”
She pointed toward the darkness.
“My sister.”
I stared at her.
“But you're my sister.”
Lena shook her head.
“No.”
She whispered:
“I am the first daughter.”
“And you…”
She pointed at me.
“…are the second.”
Then the cradle stopped rocking.
May you like
A tiny hand rose over the edge.
And grabbed the side.
