The loud crack of breaking sheetrock echoed through the entire lower level of the house.
Dust and white plaster fragments exploded out across the bright marble floor.
Elena swung the hammer a second time, leaving a large crater in the wall structure.
Arthur heard the thunderous noise from the front hall and froze in total shock.
He sprinted down the long hallway toward the loud crashing sound.
Arthur: What on earth are you doing to my home right now?!
Elena turned around quickly while wiping sweat off her dusty forehead.
Elena: Sir, I heard your daughter crying inside this wall cavity!
Arthur stopped in his tracks, his eyes opening wide in absolute disbelief.
Arthur: What did you just say to me, Elena?
Elena: Lily is trapped behind this drywall, sir, please listen to me!
Arthur stepped closer and heard the faint crying coming from within the dark space.
Little Girl: Daddy! Please get me out of here!
A surge of rage and panic filled Arthur's heart instantly.
He reached out and grabbed the iron handle of the sledgehammer from Elena's hands.
Arthur: Stand back away from the wall right now!
Arthur planted his feet firmly against the marble floor and swung the tool wildly.
The heavy iron head smashed through the wooden studs and plaster sheets.
More dust poured out into the clean air as the hole grew bigger and wider.
Arthur ripped away loose pieces of broken drywall with his bare hands.
Sharp edges scratched his fingers, but he felt no physical pain at all.
Through the dusty gap, he saw a tiny figure sitting on the cold floor inside.
Lily was curled into a ball, wearing her light pink dress covered in grey dust.
Arthur: Hold onto me, sweetie, I have got you now!
Arthur reached his arms deep into the hollow space between the framing wall studs.
He wrapped his arms around his little girl and lifted her out into the light.
Lily clung to her father's neck, sobbing hysterically into his suit jacket.
Little Girl: Daddy! I was so scared in the dark!
Arthur: You are safe now, my darling, Daddy is right here with you.
He pulled her close to his chest and kissed the top of her head repeatedly.
Elena stepped forward with a warm wet towel to wipe the dust from Lily's face.
Suddenly, sharp high heels clicked angrily down the marble floor behind them.
Victoria marched into the corridor, her face pale with extreme anger.
Victoria: What is the meaning of this absolute destruction in my house?!
She glared at Arthur and Elena with cold, furious eyes.
Victoria: How dare you wreck this hallway and ruin my beautiful walls!
Arthur slowly turned around, holding his daughter tightly in his left arm.
His eyes burned with a dark anger that Victoria had never seen before.
Arthur: My daughter was locked inside this wall, Victoria.
Victoria: She must have crawled in there by herself while playing around!
Little Girl: No, Daddy! Stepmother pushed me in and locked the small door!