Chapter 2: The Voice Hidden Inside
Amanda stared at the black device in my hand like it was something dangerous.
“Where did you get that?””
Her voice was different.
Not angry.
Not annoyed.
Panicked.
I held it closer to my chest.
“Daddy gave it to me.””
Lily stepped back into the kitchen.
“What is it?””
Amanda ignored her.
“Give it to me, Ethan.””
I shook my head.
Dad’s warning came back.
Don’t show anyone unless you feel scared.
Right then, I felt scared.
“I said give it to me.””
She took one step forward.
I moved backward.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
The refrigerator hummed.
Rain tapped against the windows.
The tiny red light kept blinking.
Lily looked between us.
“Mom, why are you scared?””
Amanda’s eyes flashed toward her.
“I’m not scared.””
“You look scared.””
“Go upstairs.””
“But—”
“Now.””
Lily didn’t move.
Amanda’s face hardened.
“Lily.””
She finally walked away.
But before she disappeared down the hallway, she looked back at me.
She mouthed two words.
“Don’t give.””
I waited until I heard her bedroom door close.
Then I looked at the device.
There was one tiny button hidden on the side.
My thumb hovered over it.
“What did Daddy put in here?””
I whispered.
I pressed it.
For three seconds, nothing happened.
Then a small blue light appeared.
A voice came through.
Dad’s voice.
“Ethan, if you’re hearing this, something happened.””
My entire body froze.
I looked toward the hallway.
Amanda heard it too.
Her face changed instantly.
“No.””
She rushed toward me.
I stepped back.
The device continued.
“I need you to listen carefully, buddy.””
Dad sounded tired.
Serious.
“Do not give this to anyone. Not Amanda. Not anyone who tells you they need it.””
Amanda reached for it.
“Turn that off.””
I moved away.
The recording continued.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t explain everything before I left.””
My heart started beating faster.
“What?””
Dad paused.
Then he said something that made my stomach drop.
“I have been worried about what happens when I’m not home.””
Amanda went completely still.
The room felt frozen.
Dad continued.
“Ethan, you are not imagining things. If someone treats you differently when I’m gone, if someone makes you feel afraid, this recording is proof.””
Amanda’s face turned red.
She finally stopped pretending.
“You don’t understand what you’re listening to.””
I looked at her.
“Daddy knew?””
She didn’t answer.
That scared me more.
The recording continued.
“I wanted to believe I was wrong. I wanted to believe there was another explanation.””
A sound came from the device.
Like Dad had taken a deep breath.
“But I found things that didn’t make sense.””
Amanda whispered.
“Stop it.””
I looked at her.
“What things?””
She looked away.
For the first time, I saw something underneath her anger.
Guilt.
The recording ended.
The kitchen became silent again.
Then Amanda grabbed her phone.
“What are you doing?””
She didn’t answer.
She walked into the living room.
I followed slowly.
She pressed a number.
“Call him.””
I stopped.
“Who?””
She looked at me.
And smiled.
Not her nice smile.
A different one.
The kind that made my skin feel cold.
“Your father.””
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then someone answered.
Amanda immediately changed her voice.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
My stomach twisted.
Dad.
She was talking to Dad.
“He’s being dramatic again.””
I couldn’t breathe.
Amanda looked right at me.
“He found that little recorder thing you left him.””
A pause.
Then she laughed softly.
“Yes, I know.””
Another pause.
Her expression changed.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.””
She ended the call.
I stared at her.
“What did Daddy say?””
Amanda put her phone down.
“He said you misunderstood.””
I knew that wasn’t true.
I didn’t know how.
But I knew.
Because Dad had never looked afraid of me misunderstanding something.
He had looked afraid of something happening to me.
That night, I barely slept.
I kept the device under my pillow.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
Around midnight, I heard footsteps outside my bedroom.
My door opened slightly.
Amanda stood there.
For a second, she just watched me.
Then she whispered:
“Ethan.””
I pretended to sleep.
She stepped inside.
“I know you’re awake.””
My eyes opened.
“What?””
She sat on the edge of my bed.
Her expression was almost gentle.
Almost.
“Your father loves you very much.””
I said nothing.
“But sometimes children misunderstand things.””
I held the blanket tighter.
“What did I misunderstand?””
Her smile disappeared.
“You think you’re protecting yourself.””
She leaned closer.
“But you’re actually hurting this family.””
I looked at the doorway.
“Did Daddy tell you to say that?””
Her jaw tightened.
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
She stood.
“Get some sleep.””
When she left, I waited.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Then I heard something.
A sound from downstairs.
A drawer opening.
I quietly got out of bed.
I walked to the hallway.
The light from the kitchen spilled across the floor.
Amanda was standing there.
Holding something.
Something I recognized.
My backpack.
She was searching through it.
My heart pounded.
Then she pulled out a small envelope.
An envelope Dad had hidden inside.
I had never seen it before.
Amanda opened it.
And when she read the name written on the front, all the color drained from her face.
Because the envelope wasn’t addressed to her.
It was addressed to me.
May you like
And underneath my name were five words.
“Open this after you hear the truth.””
