Chapter 2 - WAS IT DANIEL?
“EMILY! WHAT HAPPENED?!”
Richard’s voice cracked.
Emily sobbed.
“Dad…”
He looked at her wrists.
Bruising.
Her legs.
More.
His breathing turned heavy.
He looked at Alan.
Then back at Emily.
“WHO DID THIS TO YOU?!”
“I can’t tell you!”
Richard felt heat rise behind his eyes.
“Why?”
Emily shook her head violently.
Then her back touched the mattress.
She flinched.
Hard.
Richard saw.
Immediately.
He gripped the bed rail until his knuckles whitened.
“Emily…”
She pulled the blanket around herself.
“Please.”
“Show me your back.”
“No.”
His voice broke.
“Please.”
Alan stepped closer.
“Richard, let her choose.”
That stopped him.
Richard released the rail.
Emily cried for several seconds.
Then slowly turned.
Lowered the back of the gown enough for them to see.
Across her upper back, scratched into the skin, were three words:
YOU ARE MINE.
Richard’s knees nearly failed.
“Oh my God…”
Emily whispered:
“I’m sorry.”
He stared at her.
“For what?”
She turned back.
Then his eyes caught something beside her hand.
A torn piece of dark blue fabric.
Familiar weave.
Familiar narrow white stripe.
Daniel had worn that shirt at Richard’s house two nights earlier.
Richard picked it up.
“That’s Daniel’s shirt.”
Emily panicked.
“Dad, wait!”
His shock became rage.
Then he saw her face.
She was not afraid he would hurt Daniel.
She was afraid Richard would leave.
So he dropped to his knees.
Held her hand.
His eyes were wet.
His jaw locked.
“Was it Daniel?”
Emily froze.
Her lips moved.
No sound.
Richard waited.
Then she whispered:
“Yes.”
One word.
Everything changed.
Then she gripped his sleeve.
“But you can’t go after him.”
Richard’s face hardened.
“Emily—”
“He wants you to.”
Richard stopped.
“What?”
Her eyes widened.
“He wants you angry.”
Alan looked at Richard.
That sentence pulled the rage into focus.
May you like
Emily whispered:
“He said you’d prove everything for him.”
