William: "What... what is that?!"[cite: 1]
Victoria: "William, don't look at it! Step away from there right now!"
William: "Is someone down there?!"
The gaunt fingers strained against the iron grating, squeezing through the slatted gaps as a weak, rasping voice echoed up from the dark, dusty crawlspace[cite: 1].
Trapped Woman: "William... I'm here! Please help me!"[cite: 1]
William gasped, dropping to one knee while keeping Lily wrapped tightly in his right arm[cite: 1]. He leaned closer to the vent, his heart pounding frantically against his ribs[cite: 1]. Through the narrow metal slats, he saw two red, tear-filled eyes looking back up at him from the blackness below[cite: 1].
William: "Clara?! Is that... is that you?!"
Trapped Woman: "Yes! It's me! Please, William, get me out of here!"
William: "My God! You've been missing for eight months!"
Victoria: "William, don't listen to her! She's crazy!"[cite: 1]
William slowly turned his head toward Victoria, his face pale with utter shock and growing horror[cite: 1]. Victoria's face was flushed red with anger, her jaw clenched tight as she glared down at the vent[cite: 1].
William: "Victoria... what is my sister doing in the crawlspace?!"
Victoria: "You did this! Don't listen to whatever lies she's telling!"[cite: 1]
William: "I did this?! Are you insane?!"
Victoria: "She broke in! She crawled down there to spy on us! She's trying to destroy our marriage!"
Trapped Woman: "She locked me down here, William! She locked the sub-basement access door from the outside!"
Victoria's eyes darted toward the hallway as panic set in[cite: 1]. She dropped quickly to her knees on the polished wooden floor, backing away in a frantic rush from the vent[cite: 1].
Victoria: "She's lying! She's out of her mind!"[cite: 1]
William: "Stay where you are, Victoria!"
Victoria: "I'm not staying here so you can blame me for your crazy sister!"
Victoria scrambled back up to her feet and turned around, rushing toward the front entrance[cite: 1]. William didn't hesitate[cite: 1]. Holding Lily securely on his hip, he lunged forward, reaching out with his free hand and grabbing Victoria's arm right before she reached the double doors.
William: "You aren't going anywhere!"
Victoria: "Let go of me, William! You're hurting my wrist!"
William: "Where is the key to the sub-basement?!"
Victoria: "I don't have a key! I don't know what you're talking about!"
Lily whimpered, wrapping her arms around William's neck as he held Victoria firmly in place[cite: 1].
Lily: "Daddy... the lady under the floor was hungry... I gave her my bread..."[cite: 1]
William: "You gave her bread, sweetie?"
Lily: "She talked to me through the floor... she said she was thirsty..."
William looked back at Victoria, his eyes filled with absolute disgust[cite: 1].
William: "My two-year-old daughter had more humanity than you! You knew she was down there!"
Victoria: "William, please! You don't understand the whole story!"
William: "I understand that my sister was reported missing eight months ago, and you've been living above her while she starved!"
Trapped Woman: "William... please... the air is running out..."
William: "I'm coming, Clara! Hang on!"
William shoved Victoria backward into the foyer closet, slamming the door shut and turning the heavy brass deadbolt key from the outside.
Victoria: "William! Let me out! You can't lock me in here!"
William: "You'll stay in there until the police arrive!"