The vast hallway of the suburban mansion felt cold despite the bright morning sun that poured through the tall windows.
Seven-year-old Lily moved quietly across the pristine white marble floor so she would not make any noise.
She held a small crust of toasted bread tightly inside her shaking right hand.
Lily knelt near the heavy metal ventilation grate built directly into the base of the grand hallway wall.
She leaned her tiny head down close to the iron slatted opening.
Lily: Don't cry... I brought bread, sister.
Lily pushed the thin piece of bread through the narrow opening with extreme care.
From the shadows behind the wall grate, small dirty fingers reached out quickly to grab the food.
A soft muffled crying sound drifted out from the dark space hidden inside the house structures.
Lily stroked the cold metal grate gently to comfort the hidden child on the other side.
Suddenly heavy footsteps echoed loudly off the hard walls of the wide hallway behind her.
Her stepmother Victoria stepped into the corridor wearing a striking emerald green silk dress.
Victoria stared down at the small child with absolute anger filling her icy eyes.
Victoria: I told you never to come near this wall!
Victoria marched forward quickly and grabbed Lily sharply by her pink dress collar.
She pulled the little girl away from the vent and knocked the remaining bread to the floor.
The dry toast tumbled across the marble and landed near a large indoor decorative flag stand.
Lily began to cry hysterical tears as she reached back toward the dark ventilation opening.
Lily: Please mommy, she's hungry down there!
Victoria gripped the girl's shoulder tightly to force her away from the iron frame.
Victoria: You have no sister, Lily!
Victoria: You will go to your bedroom this instant and forget this nonsense!
Before Victoria could drag the child toward the staircase, a deep voice thundered from the front foyer.
Lily's father Marcus stood at the main entryway holding his heavy leather briefcase.
He dropped the bag onto the rug as he witnessed his wife gripping his young daughter tightly.
Marcus ran down the long corridor toward them with growing worry on his face.
Marcus: What is going on here, Victoria?
Lily: Daddy, save her!
Lily broke free from Victoria's grip and ran straight into her father's protective arms.
She pointed a trembling finger directly at the lower wall ventilation grate near the floor.
Lily: My sister is locked in the dark space!
Marcus dropped to his knees on the cold marble floor beside his frightened child.
He looked at the iron grate and saw tiny fingers extending out toward the dropped bread crusts.
Marcus gasped in pure shock as he realized someone was truly trapped behind the house wall.
He looked up at Victoria with horror rising in his heart.
Marcus: Who is inside my home's wall, Victoria?!