Chapter 2 - The Accusation
Daniel stood paralyzed as his dead wife stared back at him in sheer horror.
"Sarah?" he choked out, dropping the hammer onto the floor.
"Daddy, is that Mommy?" Lily asked, her innocent voice breaking the heavy silence.
Sarah scrambled backward into the corner of the dark room, pulling her knees to her chest.
"Stay away from me, Daniel!" Sarah screamed, pressing her back against the cold concrete.
"I didn't put you in here, I swear I didn't know!" Daniel pleaded, stepping toward her.
"Don't lie to me!" she cried, tears streaming down her hollow, dirt-streaked cheeks.
Vanessa suddenly jumped up from the floor and pulled her phone from her pocket.
"I am calling the police right now, Daniel," Vanessa said, her voice shaking but oddly confident.
Daniel whipped around to face his new wife.
"What are you doing?" he asked, completely bewildered by her sudden shift in demeanor.
"You kept her locked up in there, you psycho!" Vanessa yelled, dialing 911.
Daniel realized instantly that he was being set up.
Vanessa had been guarding this room, but now she was pinning the crime on him.
"Yes, please send help immediately, my husband has a woman locked in a hidden room," Vanessa cried into the phone.
Daniel knew the police would believe her over a confused, traumatized hostage.
He turned to his terrified daughter and scooped her up into his arms.
"Sarah, you have to come with me right now if you want to live," Daniel said, reaching his hand into the dark room.
Sarah hesitated, trembling wildly as she looked from Vanessa to Daniel.
"She is the one who kept you here, Sarah, please look at me!" Daniel begged.
Sarah looked at Vanessa, who was smirking slightly while talking to the dispatcher.
Realizing the truth, Sarah grabbed Daniel's hand and let him pull her out of the cell.
"We have to leave before the cops get here," Daniel said, guiding them toward the back staircase.
As they ran down the steps, the blaring sound of police sirens echoed in the distance.
They burst through the back door and ran into the pouring rain toward the garage.
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Daniel shoved them into his SUV and slammed his foot on the gas pedal.
The garage door opened, but a police cruiser was already pulling into the driveway, blocking their only exit.
