David stepped through the front door of his large house after another long day at the office.
He straightened his blue suit coat as he walked down the brightly lit hallway toward the kitchen.
The American flag hung neatly on the hallway wall, just like it had for many years.
David loved his quiet suburban life, but lately, something felt slightly strange around the house.
He stopped walking when he saw his eight-year-old daughter, Lily, standing near the end of the hall.
She was holding a small plate with two turkey sandwiches stacked on top of each other.
David looked down at her with a gentle but confused expression on his face.
It was nearly midnight, and Lily was usually fast asleep in her bedroom by this hour.
David: Lily, what are you doing up so late tonight?
Lily: I was just making some food, Daddy.
David: Why are you making two whole sandwiches right now?
Lily: She gets very hungry at night.
David frowned as he looked at his daughter's soft, innocent face.
He thought she was talking about a stuffed animal or an imaginary friend from her dreams.
David: Who gets hungry at night, sweetie?
Lily: The girl who lives under the hallway floorboards.
David let out a small, tired laugh as he shook his head softly.
David: You have a wild imagination, Lily.
Lily: I am telling the truth, Daddy.
David: There is nobody living under our floor, sweetheart.
Lily: Yes there is, Daddy.
David: Did your stepmother Helen tell you a bedtime story again?
Lily: No, Helen told me to stay in my room.
David: Then why are you down here with food?
Lily: Because the girl whispered to me earlier.
David stared at his daughter, noticing how serious her dark eyes looked.
She was not smiling, and her little hands gripped the plate very tightly.
David felt a strange chill run down his back despite the warm air in the house.
He stepped closer to Lily and pointed toward the wooden floor molding against the wall.
David: Show me where you think she is, Lily.
Lily walked over to a dim corner of the long hallway near the basement stairs.
She pointed her finger directly down at the baseboard near the bottom of the wall.
David knelt down on the hard floor, his expensive suit pants pressing against the rug.
He expected to find nothing more than dust and an old house vent.
David: There is nothing down here except wood and paint, Lily.
Lily: Look closer behind the small edge, Daddy.
David reached out his fingers and ran his hand along the bottom edge of the molding.
His fingers suddenly caught on a tiny metal piece tucked away from view.
It was a small brass latch, almost completely painted over to match the white trim.
David felt his heart beat a little faster inside his chest as he touched the cold metal.
He had lived in this house for five years and had never noticed this latch before.
David: How did you find this, Lily?
Lily: I dropped my toy marble yesterday, and it rolled right against it.
David took a deep breath as he rested his thumb against the little metal handle.
He gently pressed down on the brass mechanism until he heard a soft click sound ring out.