Daniel pulled his truck into the long driveway of his family house.
The afternoon sun was shining brightly across the front yard grass.
He had been away on a business trip for three long days.
His heart beat fast because he missed his small daughter Lily.
Lily was only six years old and meant everything to him.
Since his first wife passed away, Lily was his whole world.
A year ago, Daniel had married a woman named Rachel.
Rachel seemed very sweet and kind when they first started dating.
She smiled often and promised to be a great stepmother.
Daniel: I am finally home, sweetheart.
He whispered the words to himself as he parked the car.
He picked up a small stuffed bear from the passenger seat.
It was a surprise present he bought for Lily at the airport.
He walked up the wooden porch steps with a bright smile.
Daniel: Lily, look what Daddy brought for you today!
He opened the front door and stepped inside the main hallway.
The house was unusually dark and completely silent inside.
He expected to hear Lily playing with her colorful plastic blocks.
Instead, a heavy feeling of fear sudden settled in his chest.
He placed his car keys on the small table near the entrance.
Daniel: Rachel? Lily? Where is everybody right now?
No one answered his call from the upper floor bedrooms.
He walked toward the kitchen to check for a note on the table.
Then he heard a sudden muffled cry coming from down the hall.
It sounded like a child sobbing behind a closed door.
Daniel stopped in his tracks and listened very carefully.
Lily: Please stop, I want my daddy back home!
The high voice belonged to his little daughter Lily.
Daniel dropped the toy bear straight onto the floorboards.
He ran down the hallway toward the back living room area.
His heart was pounding heavily inside his broad chest.
He grabbed the double doors and pushed them open forcefully.