Chapter 12 - The Golden Cage
Daniel spent the next two days meticulously mapping out every single detail of their sprawling new estate.
He quickly realized that the massive property was not designed to keep intruders out; it was designed to keep them locked inside.
The ten-foot-tall wrought iron gates at the end of the driveway were heavily magnetized and required a digital key card to open.
High-definition security cameras hung from every corner of the main house, their red lenses constantly swiveling to track his movements.
Whenever Daniel tried to walk near the dense woods at the edge of the property, Elias would miraculously appear.
“It’s too close to the property line, Daniel. We have to follow the security protocols,” Elias would say, his hand resting casually on his holstered pistol.
Daniel would nod and retreat, playing the role of the traumatized, compliant son perfectly.
On Wednesday afternoon, Daniel snuck into the library while Elena was taking a long bath.
He logged onto the massive desktop computer, desperate to find an outside connection, only to discover the internet was heavily restricted.
Every outgoing email, social media login, and search query was routed directly through a firewall controlled by Elias.
They were entirely cut off from the outside world, living in a beautiful, heavily monitored prison.
Daniel heard the heavy oak door creak open behind him and instantly closed the web browser.
Emma walked into the library, clutching her favorite stuffed bear, looking unusually pale and tired.
“Daniel, my tummy hurts really bad,” Emma whispered, rubbing her stomach.
Daniel frowned, kneeling down and pressing the back of his hand against her small forehead.
She wasn't running a fever, but her pupils were slightly dilated, and she looked incredibly lethargic.
“Mom gave me a special green juice this morning to help me grow strong,” Emma mumbled, leaning heavily against his chest.
Daniel’s blood ran completely cold as he remembered the horrifying words written in Elena's secret journal.
May you like
She was already starting to heavily sedate Emma, preparing for the "tragic accidents" that would inevitably occur after Friday.
He had to get them out of this house tonight, or they were both going to die.
