Chapter 4: Beneath the House
Vittorio stepped into the passage without looking back.
“Daddy?””
Lucy’s voice came again.
Closer this time.
“Lucy!””
His own voice echoed through the narrow tunnel.
Daniel grabbed his arm.
“Sir, wait.””
Vittorio pulled free.
“My daughter is down there.””
“And that's exactly why you shouldn't walk into an unknown tunnel alone.””
Vittorio looked at him.
“Then come with me.””
Daniel nodded.
Bianca remained frozen beside the hidden doorway.
Vittorio pointed at her.
“You stay here.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Bianca.””
“I’m coming.””
“You're not.””
“She’s my daughter.””
Vittorio's eyes hardened.
“And someone inside this house has been lying to me.””
Bianca flinched.
“Do you think it was me?””
“I don't know what to think.””
He turned toward Daniel.
“Keep her here.””
Bianca grabbed his sleeve.
“Vittorio, please.””
He looked down at her hand.
Then at her face.
For the first time, he saw something he couldn't identify.
Fear?
Guilt?
Or grief?
He gently removed her fingers.
“If you know something,” he said quietly, “this is your last chance to tell me.””
Bianca opened her mouth.
Nothing came.
Vittorio walked into the darkness.
The passage smelled of damp stone and old wood.
It wasn't part of the modern house.
The walls were rough and uneven, with ancient brick beneath newer layers of plaster. Thin cables ran along the ceiling, disappearing into darkness.
Daniel switched on his flashlight.
The beam caught old photographs hanging crookedly on the walls.
Vittorio stopped.
One showed the Romano estate in the 1980s.
Another showed his father standing beside a younger Matteo.
Then came a photograph of the house during construction.
Vittorio frowned.
“This passage wasn't on the original plans.””
Daniel examined the wall.
“Looks older than the house.””
“How much older?””
“Maybe decades.””
They continued.
Three stone steps became seven.
Seven became twenty.
Then the passage opened into a larger underground room.
Daniel swept his flashlight across it.
A wooden table.
Two chairs.
An old refrigerator.
Several boxes.
And a child's drawing taped to the wall.
Vittorio walked toward it.
His chest tightened.
It was Lucy's handwriting.
A crooked black door.
Two stick figures holding hands.
A third figure stood behind them.
Its face was colored completely black.
Underneath, Lucy had written:
*DADDY, ME, AND THE BAD MAN.*
Daniel stared.
“When did she draw that?””
“Yesterday.””
Vittorio touched the paper.
The ink was still fresh.
Then he noticed something on the table.
A plate.
Still warm.
Daniel's flashlight moved toward it.
“Someone's been here.””
Vittorio touched the plate.
Warm.
Not hot.
But warm enough.
“Lucy?””
A soft sob came from behind the refrigerator.
Vittorio moved instantly.
He pulled it away from the wall.
Nothing.
Only a small opening.
Daniel crouched.
“There.””
A tiny hand appeared through the gap.
Vittorio dropped to his knees.
“Lucy.””
“Daddy.””
He reached inside.
Lucy grabbed his hand.
Her fingers were cold.
“Come on, sweetheart.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because he said you'll hurt him.””
Vittorio froze.
“Who?””
Lucy began crying.
“The man.””
“Where is he?””
“He's hiding.””
Daniel's hand went to his radio.
“Sir, we need to leave.””
Vittorio ignored him.
“Lucy, listen to me. I'm not going to hurt anyone.””
Lucy shook her head.
“He said you always hurt people when you're angry.””
Vittorio's eyes moved toward the drawing.
Who had been talking to his daughter?
Who had taught her to fear him?
“Lucy,” he whispered, “did you see his face?””
“No.””
“What did he sound like?””
She thought.
“He sounded like Grandpa.””
Vittorio stopped.
Daniel stared at him.
“Your father?””
“My father died seventeen years ago.””
Lucy crawled out.
Vittorio pulled her into his arms.
She immediately buried her face against his neck.
“He had Uncle Matteo's ring.””
Vittorio closed his eyes.
“Okay.””
“I don't want him.””
“I know.””
“He said you left Uncle Matteo.””
Vittorio opened his eyes.
“What?””
“He said you let him die.””
Daniel looked toward the darkness.
Then came a sound.
A door slamming somewhere behind them.
Daniel spun.
“Who's there?””
Nothing.
He raised his flashlight.
A second doorway stood open at the far end of the room.
Vittorio handed Lucy to Daniel.
“Take her.””
“Where are you going?””
“To see who opened that door.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
Vittorio stared at him.
Daniel pointed at Lucy.
“She stays with me. You stay with me.””
Vittorio almost argued.
Then he heard footsteps.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Coming from the doorway.
One step.
Pause.
Another.
Vittorio moved in front of Lucy.
A shadow appeared.
Then a man stepped into the light.
Tall.
Gray coat.
Dark gloves.
Black onyx ring.
Vittorio's breathing stopped.
The man's face remained hidden beneath a hood.
But his voice was unmistakable.
“You finally came.””
Vittorio's blood turned cold.
“Matteo?””
The man laughed softly.
“No.””
He lowered the hood.
Vittorio stared.
It wasn't Matteo.
It was someone he had trusted more than almost anyone.
Someone who had been standing beside him at his brother's funeral.
Someone who had helped carry the coffin.
Daniel whispered his name.
“God…”
The man smiled.
“Hello, Vittorio.””
And Lucy screamed.
“That's him!””
The man looked at her.
Then smiled.
“But I'm not the man you should be afraid of.””
Behind Vittorio, another door clicked open.
May you like
And a woman's voice whispered from the darkness.
“Because Matteo is already upstairs.””
