Chapter 3: The Secret Room

Lily woke up the next morning, but she refused to speak. She only drew pictures of a "man with no face" and a "shiny key." Clara, desperate for answers, began searching their own house. In the basement, hidden behind a loose drywall panel, she made a chilling discovery: a small, secret room. Inside were stolen family photos, a spare set of their house keys, and a journal detailing Lily's daily routine. The final entry read: “The test is complete. Next Sunday, she disappears for good.” Sunday was October 14th. The countdown on the bracelet was real.