David stepped out of his sleek black sedan and looked up at his large white mansion.
The bright sun shone brightly over the grand American estate that afternoon.
He felt a strange knot tight inside his stomach as he adjusted his navy necktie.
His wife Sarah had not answered any of his calls for three straight hours.
David always checked on his nine-year-old daughter Emily and baby son Toby around noon.
Today, every single call had gone straight to his wife's voicemail.
He walked up the front marble steps with quick and deliberate strides.
He pulled out his heavy house key and unlocked the thick wooden front door.
The massive entrance hall was entirely silent as he stepped inside.
Usually, young Emily would be laughing in the living room with her little brother.
Emily had been wearing a leg brace since her recent playground injury two months ago.
She was usually very active despite her soft pink crutches resting against the couch.
David set his leather briefcase down on the shiny hardwood hall table.
He listened closely for any sound coming from the upper floor rooms.
A sudden high-pitched scream shattered the quiet atmosphere of the home.
David froze in place as the terrifying sound rang out once again.
It was Emily crying hysterically from the long hallway near the master suite.
David immediately bolted up the grand staircase two steps at a time.
His heart hammered wildly against his ribs as he reached the top landing.
He saw his daughter lying flat on the cold marble tile floor.
Ten-month-old Toby was crawling frantically on top of her back, crying out loud.
Emily's metal leg brace was jammed awkwardly against the door frame.
David gasped in horror and dropped down beside his weeping children.