Chapter 3 - The Broken Screen
The glass screen of the phone was spiderwebbed with thin, silver cracks.
A bright blue light illuminated the tears tracking through the dust on Lily’s round cheeks.
Lily lifted her arm, holding the heavy device out toward Julian’s face.
Her thumb hovered over a tiny green play icon on the display.
"Dad, it shows the truth."
The child’s voice was barely a whisper, yet it echoed clearly through the silent, vaulted ballroom.
Julian didn't reach for the device immediately.
His eyes lingered on the small plastic charm dangling from the phone's charging port—a yellow duck with a missing wing.
It was the same toy his late wife had bought Lily at a hospital gift shop three years ago.
Vanessa took a fast step forward, her white train sweeping up spilled wine from the floor.
"Julian, don't look at that," she whispered, her hands rushing to cover his ears from behind.
"It’s just a silly game she downloaded! She’s trying to ruin our day!"
Julian gently pushed Vanessa’s wrist away without looking up.
His fingers brushed against Lily’s small, cold hand as he took the phone.
He pressed the center of the screen.
A low, grainy audio recording began to play through the phone’s tiny speaker.
The sound of heavy rain hitting a car windshield filled the space between them.
May you like
Then, a woman's laugh—sharp, cold, and entirely unfamiliar.
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