Chapter 2: The Sister Behind the Door
I had imagined seeing my sister again a thousand different ways.
In dreams.
In nightmares.
In moments when I stared at the ceiling of my cell and wondered if I was remembering her wrong.
But I never imagined it would happen beneath prison lights, surrounded by guards, with my hands still shaking from a fight.
Her name was Lily.
At least, that was the name I remembered.
The little girl who followed me everywhere.
The little girl who used to hide behind my jacket whenever thunder shook our old house.
The little girl who disappeared fifteen years ago.
Everyone told me she was gone.
Everyone told me to stop looking.
I never did.
And now she was standing in front of me.
Alive.
The woman looked at me carefully.
“Say something.””
My throat felt locked.
“You’re alive.””
A tear formed in her eyes.
“So are you.””
The warden looked between us.
“What is going on?””
Neither of us answered.
Because the truth was too big for a hallway.
Too painful for a room full of strangers.
Officer Miller stepped closer.
“Raven…”
I looked at her.
She looked different now.
Not like a guard.
Like someone who had just realized she had been standing beside a mystery for three days.
“You knew she was in there?”” she asked.
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?””
I looked at Lily.
“Because I didn’t know if she wanted to be found.””
Lily lowered her eyes.
That answer hurt her.
I could see it.
A guard escorted Tasha past us in handcuffs.
She stopped.
“You lied to everyone for years.””
I looked at her.
“You don’t know anything about me.””
Tasha smiled coldly.
“No?””
She glanced at Lily.
“Ask your sister who really gave the police your name.””
My blood turned cold.
Lily looked away.
And that was worse than any accusation.
“Lily,” I said quietly.
She didn’t answer.
“Look at me.””
Slowly, she did.
Her face was filled with guilt.
The warden stepped between us.
“This conversation is over until we understand what happened tonight.””
He turned to Officer Miller.
“Take statements from everyone involved.””
Then he looked at me.
“Especially her.””
I almost laughed.
Eight years in prison, and everyone still thought I was the dangerous one.
Later that night, I sat alone in an interview room.
A cup of untouched coffee sat in front of me.
Officer Miller sat across the table.
The silence lasted almost a minute.
Finally, she spoke.
“I owe you an apology.””
I looked up.
“For what?””
“For thinking I understood this place.””
I looked at the cameras in the corner.
“You still don’t.””
She nodded.
“No. I don’t.””
Then she opened a folder.
“The security footage showed something interesting.””
I waited.
“The attack wasn’t random.””
“I know.””
“You know?””
I nodded.
“Tasha didn’t want the keys.””
Officer Miller leaned forward.
“What did she want?””
I looked toward the door.
“To open Lily’s cell.””
Officer Miller frowned.
“Why?””
Before I could answer, the door opened.
The warden walked in holding another file.
His face was serious.
“Raven.””
I stood.
“What?””
He placed the file on the table.
“This was found hidden in Tasha Bell’s belongings.””
I stared at the envelope.
There was a name written across the front.
Not mine.
Not Lily’s.
A name I had not heard in fifteen years.
My real name.
The warden looked at me.
“Who is Daniel Cross?””
My heart stopped.
Because Daniel Cross was supposed to be dead.
And he was the reason Lily disappeared.
The warden opened the file.
Inside was a photograph.
A photograph of Lily, Tasha, and a man standing outside the prison years earlier.
But the date written beneath the photo was impossible.
It was taken three days before the attack.
And the man in the picture was smiling.
May you like
Waiting.
For me.
