The morning sun shone brightly into the marble bathroom of the large mansion.
Mark walked down the quiet hallway with a stack of legal papers in his hand.
He had lived in this house for years to protect his young niece, Lily.
Ever since his brother died, Mark looked after the girl like his own daughter.
Victoria was the stepmother who took control of the large family estate last year.
She always acted like a gentle person whenever guests or lawyers were present nearby.
Mark heard a sharp metallic click coming from behind the closed bathroom door today.
He stopped walking immediately and listened closely to the strange sound inside.
Lily was supposed to be getting ready for her private school classes right now.
Mark set his legal papers down on a side table near the large American flag.
He placed his hand on the cold brass door handle and turned it slowly.
The door was locked from the inside, which was very unusual for that time.
Mark knocked firmly on the wooden surface and called out for his niece.
Mark: Lily, are you in there right now?
There was no answer from inside the bathroom for several long seconds.
Mark heard a small, soft cry that sounded like a scared little child.
His heart started beating fast as he took a step back from the door.
He put his heavy shoulder against the wood and pushed with all his weight.
The lock snapped with a loud crack, and the door swung wide open instantly.
Mark froze when he saw Victoria standing near the back wall of the room.
She was wearing an expensive robe and holding a glowing lighter in her hand.
Lily was cornered near the sink, crying softly with her arms raised up high.
Mark: What are you doing with that fire?
Victoria: Stay back, Mark, this child is completely out of control today!
Mark: Put that lighter down on the floor right now!
Victoria flicked the wheel again, creating a small flame near the little girl.
The bright daylight made the flame shimmer against the white marble tiles underfoot.
Mark sprinted forward across the slick room to protect his young family member.
He grabbed Victoria by the wrist before the heat could touch the girl's skin.
The heavy lighter slipped from her fingers and crashed hard onto the floor tiles.
It bounced twice near the wall, leaving a dark smudge on the clean surface.
Victoria stumbled backward into the corner and raised both of her hands high.
She began to sob loudly, pretending to be the victim of a sudden attack.
Victoria: Thank God you came in! She went crazy and tried to hurt me!
Mark did not listen to her wild words or her dramatic hand gestures.
He dropped to his knees and pulled Lily into a warm, protective hug.
Mark: Are you okay, sweetie? I have got you now.
Lily: I did not do anything wrong, Uncle Mark.
Mark held the trembling child close as he looked down at the shiny floor.
His eyes caught something unusual about the small metal lighter lying near them.
The object was not an ordinary tool used for lighting candles in the home.
It bore a custom engraved family emblem that belonged to his late brother.