Chapter 3 - The Hidden Room
Later that evening, after the household had quieted down, Ethan searched for the little girl who had saved him. The grand mansion, with its soaring ceilings and crystal chandeliers, had always felt more like a pristine museum than a home. It was designed to impress outsiders while isolating those within.
Guided by a soft, rhythmic hum, Ethan walked down a remote corridor in the east wing—a area he rarely visited. At the end of the hallway, behind a heavy oak door left slightly ajar, he found Lily’s room. Unlike the rest of the cold mansion, this room was cluttered with colorful drawings, stacks of children's storybooks, and medical equipment. Lily sat on the edge of her bed, quietly administering her evening treatment. She looked small against the vast, empty room. Ethan stepped inside gently, careful not to startle her. Sitting on a wooden chair nearby, he looked at her with newfound reverence. He realized then that while the adults in this house spent their days competing for power and wealth, this forgotten child was fighting every single day just for the basic right to breathe.
