Chapter 1: The Door
"Ethan, stop!""
Mom's scream hit me before I even understood what I was seeing.
Dad had one fist twisted into the back of her hair, forcing her face toward the kitchen sink while cold water blasted over her hands. My backpack slid from my shoulder and landed on the tile.
"You should've kept your mouth shut, Sarah," Dad said.
I froze.
For one second, everything looked ordinary—the yellow kitchen light, Mom's blue mug beside the coffee machine, my math worksheet sticking halfway out of my backpack.
Then Mom looked at me.
Her lip was bleeding.
"Emily," she gasped.
Dad jerked her backward.
"Go upstairs.""
I didn't move.
"Let go of my mommy!""
I ran toward him.
I was thirteen years old, small for my age, and Dad was twice my size. I knew that. I knew I couldn't possibly pull him away.
But that was my mother.
I wrapped both arms around his waist and pulled with everything I had.
"Let her go!""
Dad spun around.
His palm struck my cheek so hard that the room seemed to tilt.
I hit the floor beside my backpack.
For a moment, I heard nothing.
Then the ringing started.
I touched my cheek.
My fingers were shaking.
Mom shoved herself between us.
"Emily, run!""
Dad grabbed her hair again.
"Don't you dare—"
I scrambled backward, then ran.
I took the stairs two at a time. Behind me, Mom screamed my name.
I slammed my bedroom door and locked it.
My hands wouldn't stop trembling.
Dad's footsteps came closer.
One.
Two.
Three.
Then they stopped outside.
"Emily.""
His voice was calm now.
That was worse.
"Open the door.""
I backed away.
"Emily, I said open it.""
I looked at my bed.
The mattress.
Something inside my head clicked.
Mom had hidden the phone there.
Six months earlier, she'd made me promise never to touch it unless I was scared.
Not worried.
Not upset.
Scared.
I'd thought it was strange.
Now I understood.
I dropped to my knees and shoved my fingers beneath the mattress.
There.
A small black phone wrapped in an old pillowcase.
I pulled it out.
Dad hit the door.
"Emily!""
I nearly dropped the phone.
I crawled behind my bed and switched it on.
The screen showed one contact.
Only one.
CALL IF DAD HURTS US.
Mom had made me memorize the name beside it.
Ryan.
My thumb hovered over the button.
Downstairs, something crashed.
Mom screamed.
I pressed Call.
One ring.
A man's voice answered.
"Emily?""
I swallowed.
"He's doing it again.""
Silence.
Then the man's voice changed.
"Is your mother alive?""
"Yes.""
"Can she speak?""
"I don't know.""
"Listen to me. Don't hang up.""
Dad slammed his shoulder against my bedroom door.
The frame shook.
"Who are you talking to?"" he shouted.
I pushed my desk against the handle.
The man on the phone heard it.
"Emily, where are you?""
"Upstairs.""
"Bedroom?""
"Yes.""
"Good. Stay there.""
Another crash downstairs.
Then Mom screamed.
"Emily!""
I covered my mouth.
Ryan's voice became dangerously quiet.
"He's going to come through that door.""
I whispered, "What do I do?""
"Nothing. Stay away from the door.""
Dad kicked it.
The wood cracked.
"Open it!""
Ryan said, "Emily, I'm sending people to the house.""
"Who?""
"Police.""
Another kick.
"And others.""
I looked toward the window.
Outside, our quiet suburban street was empty.
Then headlights appeared at the end of the road.
One vehicle.
Then another.
Then four more.
Red and blue lights began flashing.
Dad stopped kicking.
His breathing was loud on the other side of the door.
Then he whispered something I had never heard him say before.
"Oh, God.""
I heard Mom crying downstairs.
Ryan said, "Emily?""
"I'm here.""
"Open the window.""
I moved toward it.
"Why?""
"Because I need you outside before they breach the house.""
I unlocked the window.
Then Dad spoke through the cracked door.
"Whoever is on that phone...""
He sounded terrified.
"...you told him where we live?""
I stared at the phone.
Ryan answered before I could.
"Ryan, step away from that door.""
Dad went completely silent.
The color drained from his face.
And when I looked down at the street again, I realized the black vehicles weren't police cars.
They had arrived behind them.
And every single one had a man standing beside it, wearing the same dark suit.
Ryan whispered into the phone.
"Emily, whatever happens next, don't let your father see the phone.""
Then someone downstairs shouted,
"Sarah Walker, federal agents! You're safe now!""
Dad whispered,
"No...""
May you like
And Mom answered from the kitchen.
"Emily... I'm sorry.""
