The bright hallway of the grand estate always smelled like expensive roses and furniture polish.
Young Lily walked slowly down the long white corridor toward her father's private study.
Her soft shoes made almost no sound on the smooth marble floor.
She carried a small wooden box filled with old photographs of her missing mother.
Every evening for two long years, her father claimed her mother had left town forever.
He told everyone in the family that her mother wanted a completely new life away from them.
Lily had never truly believed his smooth and cold explanation.
She missed her mother's gentle hand and her soothing bedtime songs every single night.
As Lily passed the large American flag hanging near the study wall, she heard a sound.
It was a faint tap underneath the heavy wooden trim near the baseboard.
She froze in place and pressed her ear flat against the cold marble floor.
A tiny whimpering voice sounded right underneath the thick floorboards.
Lily: Is someone down there right now?
The tapping sound suddenly became faster and much louder.
Mother: Lily, is that really you darling?
Lily felt her entire heart jump straight into her throat.
Lily: Mom! I can hear your voice!
She dropped her photo box, scattering old memories across the polished floor.
She pulled back the heavy oriental rug near the large flag.
Hidden under the thick fabric was a heavy wooden trapdoor with a thick iron lock.
The padlock was rusted and sealed tight with a dark iron chain.
Lily: How do I get you out of there?
Mother: Find a heavy tool before your father comes back home!
Lily turned around quickly and ran straight toward the back utility hallway.
She snatched a heavy steel claw hammer off the maintenance shelf.
Her small hands shook as she hurried back to the trapdoor.
Maid Martha: Lily, what are you doing with that tool?
The old maid came rushing down the hallway with wide terrified eyes.
Lily: My mother is locked beneath this floor!
Maid Martha: Put that hammer down before your father catches you!
Lily: Step back right now, Martha!
Lily swung the heavy steel hammer down against the solid iron padlock.
A loud metallic bang echoed down the grand empty hallway.
Tears rolled down Lily's cheeks as she raised the hammer once again.
Maid Martha: Stop! You must not open that door!
Martha grabbed Lily's small arms to pull her away from the hatch.
Lily pulled herself free with all the strength left in her body.
Lily: I am saving my mother today!
She swung the hammer a third time with total determination.
The heavy iron lock snapped in half and dropped onto the marble.