Chapter 6: What the Door Saw

Caleb held his phone out at arm's length so the whole family could crowd around.

The screen showed the lodge hall, lit by one small lamp.

At the top corner a clock said 10:38.

A door opened at the far end, and Bianca came out in a robe.

She did not look dazed or sick.

She looked up and down the hall, once each way, and she listened.

Then she took off her robe, folded it, and laid it on the bench by the stairs.

Underneath she was wearing nothing but a bath towel.

Somebody behind me gasped.

On the screen Bianca tucked the towel tighter and walked down the hall on the balls of her feet.

She stopped at our door.

She put her ear to the wood.

Then she said, very softly, so that the little speaker barely caught it:

"Where is he?"

She stood there for a moment, tapping one finger against her lip.

From the empty room came the sound of the shower.

Her face cleared.

"Everything good in this family should be mine," she whispered. "Even him."

Then she smiled and slipped into the empty room.

The video went on, but nobody was watching anymore.

Mom's mouth was open.

My cousin had stepped back and was staring at Bianca.

My uncle crossed his arms over his towel.

"I told you," he said. "She came straight in."

"That's edited," Mom said.

Her voice was thin.

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