Chapter 3 - The Thing Maya Could Not Say
Richard did not tell Victoria about the ribbon.
He hated that.
He hated that he kept a secret from his wife.
But he hated something else more.
The feeling that he needed to.
Later that afternoon, Maya sat in the garden with him.
She played with small flowers while Richard watched.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Can I sleep in your room?”
Richard smiled gently.
“Why?”
Maya looked down.
“Because.”
That was all.
Because.
Adults always wanted explanations.
Children often only had feelings.
Richard picked her up.
“Okay.”
Maya rested her head against his shoulder.
Then she whispered:
“Don’t let her close.”
Richard froze.
His arms tightened.
“Who?”
Maya did not answer.
She looked toward the house.
Toward the nursery window.
Richard followed her eyes.
Victoria was standing there.
Watching them.
That evening, Richard called Dr. Harris, a child psychologist.
He explained everything.
The crying.
The fear.
The refusal to go near Victoria.
The doctor listened carefully.
“Children often communicate through behavior.”
“So you think she’s afraid?”
“I think she is telling you something.”
Richard became quiet.
“But she’s two.”
“Yes.”
The doctor paused.
“And that is exactly why you should pay attention.”
That night, Richard did something he had never done before.
He checked the old nursery furniture.
The closet.
The drawers.
Under the bed.
Nothing.
Then he found something taped underneath the changing table.
A small piece of paper.
A child’s drawing.
At first, it looked like random scribbles.
Then Richard noticed the shapes.
A little girl.
A tall woman.
A dark circle above them.
He stared.
The woman had no face.
Richard swallowed.
Maya walked into the room.
“Who is that?”
Richard turned.
“Maya.”
She pointed.
“Bad lady.”
His blood went cold.
“Who?”
Maya looked at the drawing.
Then at the hallway.
Then she whispered:
“Red dress.”
Richard looked at the paper again.
Red dress.
Victoria had worn a red dress.
His mind immediately fought against the thought.
No.
Impossible.
Victoria loved Maya.
He had chosen her because she seemed perfect.
But perfection was exactly what frightened him now.
Later that night, Richard checked the security system records.
Something appeared.
A deleted file.
From the nursery hallway.
Time:
8:22 PM.
The exact moment before Maya ran.
Richard restored the footage.
The screen loaded.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then the hallway camera showed Victoria leaving the nursery.
Alone.
Slowly.
Calmly.
But Maya was not behind her.
Richard leaned closer.
Then another figure appeared.
A small shadow.
Maya.
She was standing inside the nursery doorway.
Looking terrified.
And Victoria was looking back at her.
Not crying.
Not hurt.
May you like
Not confused.
Angry.
