Chapter 6: The Person Anna Feared
The video froze.
The person’s face was barely visible.
But David knew the jacket.
He knew the walk.
He knew the way that person held their shoulders.
“No.””
Maya looked at him.
“Who is it?””
David didn’t answer.
He walked closer to the screen.
The image moved again.
The figure entered Anna’s hospital room.
The camera angle changed.
A few seconds later, the person walked back out.
Holding something.
The envelope.
David’s breathing became shallow.
“David?””
Maya touched his arm.
“Tell us.””
He couldn’t.
Because saying the name would make it real.
The video ended.
The room went dark.
Lauren whispered:
“She knew.””
David turned.
“Who?””
Lauren looked at him.
“Anna knew someone was trying to take something from her.””
“What?””
“Something she had hidden.””
David looked at the black box.
“The letter?””
Lauren nodded.
“But not only the letter.””
Maya frowned.
“What else?””
Lauren looked at David.
“The truth about the accident.””
The words stopped him.
“What accident?””
Lauren looked confused.
“You don’t know?””
David’s face changed.
“Know what?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Lauren slowly sat down.
“Anna never told you?””
“Told me what?””
Lauren covered her mouth.
“Oh my God.””
David stepped closer.
“Lauren.””
She looked terrified.
“David, the night Anna died…”
He waited.
“She wasn’t supposed to be driving.””
The room went silent.
His heart felt like it stopped.
“What?””
“Anna didn’t leave the house alone.””
Maya whispered, “What are you saying?””
Lauren looked at the floor.
“I’m saying someone convinced her to go.””
David shook his head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“No.””
He backed away.
“The police said it was an accident.””
“They were wrong.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I didn’t know everything.””
“Then what do you know?””
Lauren looked at him.
“Anna was afraid before she died.””
David’s voice became quiet.
“Of what?””
Lauren hesitated.
Then:
“Your brother.””
The words hit harder than expected.
David froze.
“My brother?””
Lauren nodded.
“Daniel.””
Maya immediately looked at David.
“No.””
David shook his head.
“That’s impossible.””
“Is it?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel loved Anna.””
Lauren’s expression changed.
“Did he?””
David remembered.
Daniel had always been close to Anna.
Too close, maybe.
He had been the one who helped after the funeral.
The one who called Sophie every weekend.
The one who told David he needed to move forward.
But now…
Now memories looked different.
“He was at the hospital.””
Lauren nodded.
“Yes.””
“How do you know?””
“Because I saw him.””
The room went quiet.
“You were there.””
“Yes.””
“And you saw Daniel?””
Lauren nodded.
“He argued with Anna.””
David felt sick.
“About what?””
“I don’t know.””
“Then why are you telling me this?””
“Because Anna told me one thing.””
Lauren’s eyes filled.
“She said if Daniel ever came looking for the box, I needed to stop him.””
David looked at the black box.
“And you took it?””
Lauren looked ashamed.
“Yes.””
“From where?””
“My room.””
“No.””
His eyes narrowed.
“You had it all this time?””
“I protected it.””
“You hid it.””
“Yes.””
“Same thing.””
Lauren looked down.
“I was scared.””
David stared.
“For four years?””
“Yes.””
“Why come forward now?””
Lauren looked at him.
“Because Daniel knows.””
A chill moved through the room.
“What?””
“My phone.””
She picked it up.
The message screen was still open.
David looked.
Another message had arrived.
Unknown number.
Only six words.
You found the box. Too late.
Maya stepped closer.
“Who sent that?””
Lauren whispered:
“Daniel.””
David grabbed his coat.
“No.””
Maya stopped him.
“David.””
“He knows Sophie is here.””
Lauren stood.
“David, wait.””
But he was already moving.
The wedding guests downstairs had no idea.
The flowers were still arranged.
The doors were still closed.
Everyone was still waiting for a groom who was never coming.
David reached the hallway.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
“David.””
His blood turned cold.
“Daniel.””
His brother laughed softly.
“You finally opened it.””
David tightened his grip on the phone.
“Where are you?””
Another pause.
Then Daniel said:
“I’m where Anna left the last piece of the truth.””
David looked back at the broken locket.
At the box.
At Sophie.
“What did you do?””
Daniel’s voice lowered.
“Ask yourself a better question.””
“What?””
“Why did Anna record a goodbye video…”
A pause.
“…but never record one for you?””
The call ended.
And David realized something terrifying.
The video had not been interrupted.
Someone had stopped it.
May you like
Someone had removed the rest.
And whoever did it had been waiting four years for David to find out.
