The morning light poured through the tall windows of the grand estate.
Nine year old Lilly stood quietly near the huge marble staircase.
She held her small doll tightly against her clean white dress.
Her home was always very quiet on Sunday mornings in early fall.
Her father, Arthur, sat in his private office downstairs writing legal letters.
He was a famous custody lawyer who managed huge family trust funds.
Lilly walked softly along the cold marble floor toward the back hall.
A large framed flag hung high above the pristine white walls.
She always felt something was wrong behind the heavy oak paneling.
Her mother, Sarah, had missing weeks ago without a clear answer.
Arthur claimed Sarah went on a sudden vacation to clear her mind.
He told the neighbors that Sarah needed rest far away from home.
Lilly never truly believed her father's quick and simple explanation.
She missed her mother's soft voice during bedtime stories every night.
The little girl walked deeper into the long and empty hallway.
She heard a strange dull sound coming from behind the wall.
It sounded like a faint scrape against heavy steel and wood.
Lilly stopped walking and pressed her right ear against the oak.
The sound came again, soft and trembling like someone gasping low.
Her small heart began to beat very fast inside her chest.
She looked down at the dark wooden paneling near the end wall.
There was a heavy silver padlock hanging off a hidden frame.
It was locked tight against a heavy reinforced wooden vault door.
Lilly reached out her hand and touched the cold metallic latch.
Dust covered the top of the silver lock in thin grey layers.
She heard a quiet tap from inside the heavy sealed room.
Lilly: Is someone behind this big door?
No clear answer came back from inside the dark space.
Only another faint sigh moved through the small lower air vent.
Lilly remembered seeing a heavy steel hammer in the garden shed.
She turned around quickly and ran down the bright white corridor.
Her small shoes made fast tapping noises on the marble floor.
She ran past the large framed flag hanging on the high wall.
She opened the back utility door and grabbed the steel hammer.
The tool felt heavy and cold in her small shaking hands.
She carried the heavy hammer back to the dark wooden door.
Her father's voice suddenly boomed from the main open hallway entrance.
Arthur: Lilly, what are you doing with that hammer?
Lilly turned her head and looked at her tall father squarely.
Lilly: There is someone trapped inside this wall, Dad!
Arthur's pale face changed color fast as he stepped forward quickly.
Arthur: Put that tool down right now and go upstairs!
Lilly raised the heavy steel hammer high into the bright air.
Arthur: Stop right now!
Arthur: Do not touch that heavy lock!
Lilly did not listen to her father's strict angry shouting.
She swung the heavy steel claw hammer down with all force.