I reached the panel to my room, crawled out, closed it, and pushed the wardrobe against the wall….-HONGNGOC

From angles I had never seen.

Photos of my bedroom.

My bed.

Photos of me.

Sleeping.

My stomach knotted.

This wasn’t just an “unknown brother.”

It was someone watching me.

Someone drugging me.

Someone entering my room while I couldn’t defend myself.

My hand shook and the flashlight flickered.

On the desk inside the room was an open folder.

I read the title.

“PROPERTY — INHERITANCE — DOCUMENTS”

And beneath it… a sheet with my full name.

My name.

With a blank space for a signature.

I heard Daniel speak again, closer now.

“We have to finish this before she suspects.”

Another voice answered.

Deep.

Not from the house.

“What if she refuses to sign?”

Daniel laughed softly.

“She’ll sign while she sleeps.”

Just like Mom.

My blood ran cold.

I covered my mouth to keep from making any sound.

Mom.

That meant she didn’t just die.

Suddenly the metal door creaked.

It was opening from inside.

I backed into the darkness and tripped on the stairs.

The flashlight went out.

Total darkness.

I pressed myself against the wall as the door opened and a line of yellow light spilled into the passageway.

Daniel’s shadow emerged.

And behind him… another man.

Daniel stopped.

“Who’s there?” he asked.

That was no longer my brother’s voice.

It was the voice of someone willing to do the worst.