Chapter 5 - The Lockdown
The sound of Victoria's heavily distorted voice through the intercom completely paralyzed me with pure, unadulterated terror.
I realized she must have placed a hidden camera in the wine cellar to protect her twisted secrets.
"You are completely trapped in this house, David, because I just engaged the maximum security lockdown protocol," she taunted coldly.
The heavy steel shutters violently crashed down over every single massive glass window in the entire mansion.
The luxurious Hollywood Hills home instantly transformed into an inescapable, highly advanced technological fortress.
I tightly hugged a trembling Lily to my chest, desperately trying to shield her from the terrifying, sudden noises.
"What do you want from us, Victoria?" I yelled aggressively toward the blinking red light of the nearest security camera.
"I just want your incredibly massive fortune, darling, and unfortunately, your sweet daughter legally stands in my way," she replied with a cruel laugh.
I knew I could not waste precious time arguing with a ruthless killer who controlled the entire house's mainframe.
I turned around and sprinted wildly back up the servant stairs, carrying my terrified daughter as fast as I could.
We emerged on the second floor and rushed directly into my highly secure, reinforced master bedroom.
I slammed the heavy oak doors shut and aggressively threw the thick, solid brass deadbolt firmly into place.
I placed Lily gently inside my massive walk-in closet, handing her my cell phone so she could watch her favorite cartoons.
"Do not make a single sound, sweetheart, Daddy is going to fix everything," I promised, kissing her forehead.
I walked over to my heavy wooden nightstand and unlocked the biometric drawer where I kept my registered firearm.
The drawer slid smoothly open, but my heart sank directly into my stomach when I saw the empty velvet lining.
Victoria had thoroughly anticipated my every move and systematically disarmed me before initiating her deadly trap.
I grabbed a heavy, solid bronze lamp from the bedside table, refusing to go down without a brutal fight.
I heard the slow, highly deliberate click of expensive high heels echoing loudly down the hardwood floor of the hallway.
Victoria stopped directly outside the master bedroom doors, softly humming a deeply unsettling, sweet lullaby.
"You really cannot hide from me in your own house, David," she whispered loudly through the thick oak wood.
I stood perfectly still, raising the heavy bronze lamp above my head, entirely prepared to strike the moment she entered.
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Suddenly, a thick, highly noxious white smoke began aggressively pouring through the air conditioning vents in the ceiling.
Victoria was brilliantly using the mansion's climate control system to pump highly toxic, lethal chemical gas directly into the room.
