Chapter 12 - The Key to the Cellar
"Where is the key to the basement?" Clara demanded, stepping around the quartz island toward Julian.
Julian hesitated, his eyes flicking toward the hallway. "Clara, don't go down there. You don't want to see it. It's... it's not a place for you."
"Where is the key?!" she shrieked, reaching out and grabbing Julian by the collar of his navy shirt, hauling him up out of his chair with a strength born of pure adrenaline.
"In my pocket," Julian choked out, pointing to his trousers. "The silver electronic keycard. It unlocks the steel door beneath the stairs."
Clara shoved her hand into his pocket, ripped out the heavy silver keycard, and stepped back. She looked at Julian, then at Eleanor.
"Neither of you move," Clara warned, her voice dropping into a dark, terrifying register. "If either of you steps toward the living room, or toward the front door, I will pull the fire alarm, trigger the automated distress beacon, and have the local authorities tear this house down brick by brick."
Clara turned on her heel and walked out of the kitchen, her sneakers squeaking against the polished concrete floor. She walked into the living room, where Lily was still wrapped in the wool blanket, her large blue eyes watching her mother with quiet trust.
"Lily, baby," Clara said softly, kneeling beside the couch. She reached out and took her daughter's small hands. "I need you to do something very important for Mommy. I need you to stay right here, keep this blanket around you, and count to one hundred out loud. Can you do that for me?"
Lily nodded slowly. "Is Daddy in trouble?" she asked softly.
Clara’s heart broke into a thousand pieces, but her face remained granite. "Daddy and Grandma are going away for a very long time, sweetie. Now start counting."
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"One... two... three..." Lily began her soft, rhythmic count.
Clara stood up, swiped the silver keycard against the electronic lock hidden behind a decorative panel under the main staircase, and watched as the heavy steel door clicked open with a deep, pneumatic hiss.
