CHAPTER SEVEN
1011 Words
HER NAME
Lila stood by the door.
She couldn't move.
She couldn't even speak.
Brian had already stepped outside, but his last words were still in her head.
They found your name beside them.
She looked at the open door.
Then at the empty hallway.
"Brian?"
No answer.
She rushed outside.
"Brian!"
He was already walking toward his car.
He stopped when he heard her.
"Get back inside."
"What did you mean?"
"Lila."
"What did you mean when you said they found my name?"
Brian looked at her.
For a second, he said nothing.
Then he walked back toward her.
"You shouldn't have heard that."
"Then don't say things like that and expect me not to ask."
His jaw tightened.
"Go inside."
"No."
"Lila."
"No."
She surprised herself with the firmness in her voice.
Brian stared at her.
She had always been the softer one.
The one who avoided arguments.
The one who gave in first.
But not tonight.
"I deserve to know what's happening," she said.
Brian looked away.
"You deserve to be safe."
"Those aren't the same thing."
He looked back at her.
Neither spoke.
Then Brian's phone rang again.
He answered.
"Yes."
Lila watched his face.
He listened.
Then he said,
"Don't let anyone touch it."
He ended the call.
"Brian?"
He looked at her.
"I need to go."
"To the chapel?"
He didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
"I’m coming with you."
"No."
"Then tell me what's happening."
"Lila, listen to me."
His voice was no longer angry.
It was tired.
"You need to stay here."
"Why?"
"Because I don't know what we're dealing with."
She stared at him.
"Then why are you going?"
"Because you're my sister."
He opened the car door.
Lila stepped closer.
"Brian."
He stopped.
She lowered her voice.
"I'm not a little girl anymore."
Something flickered across his face.
"I know."
Then he got into the car.
The engine started.
Lila watched the car disappear down the street.
She stood there long after the headlights were gone.
She went back inside.
The house felt different now.
Every sound seemed louder.
The ticking clock.
The refrigerator.
The wind against the windows.
Lila sat on the sofa.
She pulled her knees toward her chest.
Her mind wouldn't stop.
Someone had been watching her.
Someone had been sending her messages.
Now her name had been found at a place she had never even visited.
At least, not that she remembered.
She closed her eyes.
A strange feeling came over her.
A memory.
Something dark.
A voice.
A door.
Then nothing.
Lila opened her eyes quickly.
Her breathing was uneven.
"What was that?"
She pressed her hands against her face.
She hated when that happened.
The half-memories.
The strange flashes that disappeared before she could understand them.
She had learned not to chase them.
They never gave her anything useful.
Only questions.
Across the city, Brian's car stopped outside the old chapel.
Police lights flashed against the trees.
Several people stood around the entrance.
Brian stepped out.
A man in a dark jacket walked toward him.
"You're late."
"I came as soon as I could."
"What happened?"
The man glanced toward the chapel.
"You should see it yourself."
Brian walked inside.
The building was old.
Dust covered the wooden floor.
Several candles had been placed near the front.
A police officer stood beside a table.
Brian stopped.
There was a small box on the table.
He stared at it.
"What's that?"
"We found it under the floor."
Brian looked at the officer.
"Open it."
The officer hesitated.
"We thought you should be here first."
Brian stepped closer.
"Open it."
The officer lifted the lid.
Inside was an old necklace.
Brian's face changed.
He knew it.
His mother had worn it every day.
Until the night she died.
He reached for it.
"Where did you find this?"
"Under the floorboards."
Brian picked it up.
His fingers shook slightly.
He hadn't seen it in ten years.
"There's something else."
The officer handed him a folded piece of paper.
Brian opened it.
There were only two lines.
Some things were buried for a reason.
And underneath:
Ask Lila.
Brian's eyes hardened.
"Who found this?"
"We don't know."
"Who else has seen it?"
"Only the officers."
Brian folded the paper.
"Good."
The officer looked at him.
"There's one more thing."
Brian waited.
"We found footprints outside."
"Whose?"
"We don't know yet."
"Where do they lead?"
The officer pointed toward the back of the chapel.
Brian followed him.
The footprints continued through the wet grass.
Then stopped near the trees.
Brian looked down.
There were several sets.
One belonged to the officers.
Another was older.
But the third set was fresh.
Very fresh.
Brian looked around.
Someone had been here recently.
He reached for his phone.
Before he could call anyone, a sound came from behind the trees.
A branch snapped.
Brian turned.
"Who's there?"
Silence.
He pulled out his weapon.
"Come out."
Nothing.
Then a figure moved between the trees.
Brian took one step forward.
The figure ran.
Brian chased after him.
"Stop!"
The person disappeared into the darkness.
Brian stopped near the road.
He looked around.
Nothing.
Then his phone vibrated.
He looked down.
Unknown number.
A message.
You're looking in the wrong place.
Another message came.
She is the key.
Brian's blood ran cold.
He typed:
Leave my sister out of this.
The reply came almost immediately.
You should have done that years ago.
Brian stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
This time, there was a photograph.
Brian opened it.
His face went pale.
It was Lila.
Standing outside the house.
Taken only minutes ago.
Brian slowly looked back toward the street.
His sister was supposed to be home alone.
Someone was watching her.
Right now.
Lila sat on the sofa.
She heard the front door click.
She looked up.
"Brian?"
No answer.
She stood.
"Brian?"
The lights suddenly went out.
Lila froze.
The house became completely dark.
Then she heard footsteps.
Slow.
Coming from the hallway.
Someone was inside.
And whoever it was...
wasn't Brian.
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