The address led Daniel to an abandoned house beside an old cemetery.
He recognized the building immediately.
It was the place where his brother had supposedly died.
Daniel entered through the broken front door.
“Lily?”
“Daddy!”
Her voice came from the basement.
He rushed downstairs and found her sitting beside Emily.
For the first time, Emily looked solid enough to touch.
Daniel reached for her.
She smiled sadly.
“You came back.”
“I never knew,” he whispered. “I swear I never knew about our daughter.”
Emily nodded.
“I know.”
Behind them, a door slammed.
Michael emerged from the darkness.
He no longer looked like Daniel’s brother. His face appeared pale and unfamiliar, and his shadow stretched across the wall in the wrong direction.
“You should have stayed away,” Michael said.
Daniel stepped between him and Lily.
“Tell me the truth.”
Michael laughed.
“The truth? You were always the favorite. Emily loved you. Our family trusted you. Even after death, you were given another chance.”
Daniel looked at Emily.
She lowered her eyes.
Michael had been jealous of Daniel for years. His obsession had destroyed their family, separated Daniel from Emily, and stolen the chance for Lily to know her father.
But one question remained.
“Why are you still here?” Daniel asked.
Michael’s smile disappeared.
Emily took Daniel’s hand.
“Because he isn’t the only one who died that night.”
A loud crash shook the basement.
The walls began to crack.
And Lily screamed.
