The hallway was freezing cold as the evening winter wind blew hard against the front windows.
Little Emily clutched a small slice of white bread in her trembling hands while listening carefully.
She dropped to her knees on the hard wooden floor right next to the metal vent.
Her little brother Toby was crying softly on the other side of the heavy dark wall.
Emily: Don't cry, brother.
Emily: I brought you fresh bread today.
She pushed the small pieces of bread carefully through the narrow slots of the metal vent cover.
The young boy reached out with his tiny fingers to grab the precious food from his sister.
Toby: Thank you, Emily.
Toby: I am so dark and scared in here.
Emily wiped a tiny tear from her cheek and forced a brave smile for her little brother.
Their father Arthur had left for a long business trip three whole days before this terrible night.
Their new stepmother Victoria had locked Toby inside the dark utility room right after Arthur left home.
Victoria wanted full control of the vast family inheritance that Arthur promised to his biological children.
She believed she could break the children's spirit and force Arthur to sign over the entire estate.
Emily promised her little brother that she would protect him no matter what Victoria did to them.
Suddenly, heavy designer heels clicked loudly against the polished floorboards further down the dark hallway.
Emily gasped in panic as she tried to stand up and hide the remaining bread crusts behind her back.
Victoria marched into the dimly lit hallway wearing a shiny burgundy dress with glaring silver sequins.
Her eyes were fierce with rage as she saw Emily kneeling near the low wall vent again.
Victoria: What are you doing near that wall?
Victoria: I told you not to feed him, you brat!
Victoria grabbed Emily by the upper arm and pulled her harsh voice into the young girl's face.
Emily dropped the rest of the bread while trying to pull away from the cruel woman's grasp.
Emily: He is hungry, Victoria!
Emily: You cannot leave him locked in the dark!
Victoria sneered coldly and pointed her sharp acrylic fingernail straight at the crying girl's face.
Victoria: Go to your room this instant before I make things much worse for both of you!
Emily stumbled back against the wall, her heart pounding wildly inside her fragile young chest.
She knew she had to stay strong until her father came home from his long travel away.
Toby whimpered from behind the metal wall vent as Victoria kicked the remaining bread crumbs away completely.
The house felt like a prison under Victoria's dark rules, but Emily refused to lose all hope.
She backed away slowly down the long corridor while keeping her tearful eyes fixed on her stepmother.
Victoria smiled wickedly, believing that nobody could ever stop her plan from succeeding completely tonight.