The storm refused to stop.
Rain hammered against the old house like thousands of restless fingers, and thunder rolled across the sky in deep, angry waves. The air felt heavy, suffocating, as if the house itself was holding its breath.
Emma stood near the broken window, staring into the darkness outside. Her hands were trembling, and her heart still hadn't calmed down after everything that had happened.
William Carter stood a few steps behind her, silent and still.
Adrian leaned against the wall, watching him carefully. Hena sat on the bed, hugging herself, trying to control her fear.
The silence inside the room was almost unbearable.
Finally, Emma spoke.
"You said you are my uncle."
William did not answer immediately.
He walked slowly toward the center of the room, his footsteps soft against the wooden floor.
"I said you can think of me as family," he replied quietly.
Adrian frowned.
"That's not the same thing."
William looked at him calmly.
"No. It is not."
Emma turned toward him.
"Then tell us the truth."
Thunder roared outside, lighting up the room for a second.
William's face looked older in the flash of lightning.
"Telling the truth is dangerous," he said slowly.
Emma's voice became sharp.
"More dangerous than what is happening right now?"
William stayed silent.
Then he sighed.
"Three years ago, something terrible happened in this house."
Hena's fingers tightened.
Emma stepped closer.
"We know that."
William shook his head.
"No. You know only a part of it."
Adrian crossed his arms.
"Then tell us the rest."
William looked at Emma.
"Do you remember the argument?"
Emma froze.
Her breathing slowed.
Fragments of memory started pushing into her mind.
A hallway.
Broken glass.
Hena shouting.
Jay standing near the stairs.
Emma grabbed her head.
"I… remember shouting."
William nodded.
"You and Jay were arguing."
Emma whispered,
"About my father…"
William's eyes darkened.
"Yes."
The room became silent again.
Hena looked confused.
"What does Emma's father have to do with all this?"
William walked toward the window and looked outside at the storm.
"Everything."
Emma's heart skipped.
"What do you mean?"
William turned back slowly.
"Your father's death was not an accident."
Emma's breath stopped.
The same sentence again.
But this time, it felt heavier.
Adrian stepped forward.
"You said this before."
William nodded.
"And it is still true."
Emma whispered,
"Then why didn't you go to the police?"
William gave a bitter smile.
"Because the police were already controlled."
The room went cold.
Hena whispered,
"Controlled… by who?"
William looked toward the dark hallway.
"Jay's family."
Emma felt her legs weaken.
"So Jay knows everything?"
William nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Adrian spoke firmly.
"Then why is he trying to kill Emma?"
William did not answer immediately.
Instead, he asked a question.
"What did Jay say outside the door?"
Emma's hands trembled.
"He said… I pushed Hena."
William nodded.
"And what do you believe?"
Emma looked at the floor.
"I don't know."
Hena started crying softly.
"I just want the truth."
William stepped closer to her.
"The truth is complicated."
Adrian spoke sharply.
"No. Truth is simple. People make it complicated."
William smiled faintly.
"You are brave, Adrian. But reality is not that simple."
Lightning flashed again.
For a moment, Emma saw something strange in William's eyes.
Fear.
Or guilt.
She couldn't tell.
Emma spoke slowly.
"Did someone push Hena?"
William remained silent.
Emma's voice became louder.
"Answer me!"
William finally spoke.
"No one pushed her."
Hena looked shocked.
"What?"
William continued calmly.
"You fell."
Hena shook her head.
"No…"
William nodded.
"You were trying to stop Emma and Jay."
"You stepped backward."
"You lost balance."
"You fell down the stairs."
Emma's heart pounded.
"So Jay was lying?"
William did not answer.
Adrian asked,
"Then what about the recording?"
William froze for a moment.
It was small, but Emma noticed it.
His fingers tightened slightly.
"It is not complete," William said.
Emma stepped closer.
"What do you mean?"
William spoke slowly.
"Some parts were removed."
Hena gasped.
"Who removed them?"
William looked down.
"I don't know."
Emma stared at him.
He was lying.
She could feel it.
Suddenly—
A loud sound came from downstairs.
The main door slammed shut.
Everyone froze.
Adrian whispered,
"He is back."
Emma's heart started racing.
Footsteps echoed faintly from below.
William looked toward the staircase.
"Time is running out."
Emma looked at him.
"What are you hiding?"
William did not answer.
Instead, he pointed toward the dark staircase leading down.
"If you want the real truth, we must go to the basement."
Adrian frowned.
"Why basement?"
William spoke quietly.
"Because your father left something there."
Emma's breath stopped.
"What?"
William looked directly at her.
"The original recording."
Thunder roared loudly.
The house shook slightly.
Hena whispered,
"What if Jay comes?"
William replied calmly,
"He will come."
Adrian tightened his fist.
"Then we should leave."
William shook his head.
"No."
Emma looked at him.
"Why?"
William spoke in a low voice.
"Because tonight is the only chance to finish this."
The footsteps downstairs became louder.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Emma felt fear crawling up her spine.
Then—
Jay's voice echoed from the darkness.
"Going to the basement is a bad idea."
Everyone froze.
Jay slowly appeared at the end of the hallway.
Rainwater dripped from his clothes.
His eyes were dark and cold.
"But I am glad you are going," he said.
Emma whispered,
Jay stepped forward slowly, his wet footsteps echoing through the silent hallway.
"Going to the basement?" he said calmly.
"Then go."
Adrian frowned.
"You're not going to stop us?"
Jay gave a faint smile.
"No. Because you deserve to see the truth."
Emma looked at him, her voice shaking slightly.
"What truth?"
Jay stared directly into her eyes.
"Your father was not alone on the night he died."
The room fell completely silent.
Hena whispered,
"What do you mean…?"
Jay slowly turned his gaze toward William.
"The person who was with him that night…"
He paused.
"Is still inside this house."
William's face turned pale.
Emma's heart started racing.
"Who?" she asked in a trembling voice.
Jay pointed toward the dark staircase.
"You'll understand when you reach the basement."
Thunder roared outside.
William spoke quietly,
"We have to go now."
Emma slowly walked toward the stairs, one step at a time.
Only one question echoed in her mind—
Who was in the basement that night?
To be continued…