Chapter 1 - The Woman Came Back
Lily’s fingers were trembling when she grabbed Emma’s coat.
Emma had been kneeling beside the kitchen counter, gathering crayons from the floor, when her four-year-old daughter suddenly pressed herself against her.
“Mommy... that woman came back.”
Emma stopped.
“What woman?”
Lily looked toward the hallway.
“The brown-hair lady.”
Emma knew immediately.
Claire.
Claire Mercer had appeared outside the house twice during the previous month.
The first time, she claimed she had the wrong address.
The second time, Emma watched her photograph the front window before driving away.
Emma had called police.
Nothing criminal could be established.
Claire had not returned.
Until now.
Emma touched Lily’s cheek.
“Where did you see her?”
Lily leaned closer and whispered something.
Emma’s face changed.
“She said Daddy sent her.”
Lily nodded.
Emma’s husband, Daniel, had died eighteen months earlier.
No one was supposed to know the phrase Lily said Claire had used:
Tell your mommy the yellow bird still remembers.
Daniel used to call Lily his yellow bird.
Emma stood immediately.
She pulled Lily behind her and grabbed the long wooden bat near pantry.
“Stay behind me.”
Emma crossed hallway.
Her heartbeat grew louder with every step.
She opened door.
Claire stood outside.
Behind her was Ethan Cole, a man Emma had met only once—Daniel’s former business partner.
Emma raised bat.
Claire did not move.
“Before you swing that, look at this.”
She raised phone.
Emma glanced down.
Live video.
Her kitchen.
Lily stood beside counter.
Emma looked over shoulder.
Then back at phone.
Ethan spoke quietly.
“Emma... that feed is live.”
Emma’s breathing stopped.
On screen, Lily slowly turned toward hidden camera.
Then another child entered frame behind her.
Emma stared.
Same yellow shirt.
Same denim overalls.
Same dark hair.
Same face.
Two Lilys.
Claire whispered:
“Now ask which one whispered to you.”
Emma’s bat lowered.
Then directly behind her came a small voice.
“Mommy?”
Emma froze.
Claire looked past her.
Confidence disappeared.
“Don't turn around.”
Emma tightened grip on bat.
“Why?”
Claire stared into hallway.
“Because the girl I came here to find is standing in your kitchen.”
Emma looked at phone.
Two girls remained visible.
Then one reached toward the hidden camera.
May you like
The feed went black.
And from inside Emma’s house came the sound of the back door opening.
