Leah couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

  Derrick had given her an answer, but it didn’t sit right with her. His explanation had been too casual, too dismissive—like he was trying to wave away her curiosity without truly addressing it. And that moment of hesitation, the way his body stiffened for just a fraction of a second before he answered... It had been enough to send a chill down her spine.

  For the next few days, she kept up the act, pretending that she had accepted his explanation. She smiled when he smiled, laughed at his jokes, kissed him goodnight as if nothing had changed. But inside, her mind was racing, the weight of her unanswered questions pressing down on her like a vice.

  If it was just storage, why was it locked? And what was making those noises?

  Leah knew she needed to get inside that room. But she had to be smart about it.

  One evening, while Derrick was in the shower, she quietly searched his nightstand, careful to put everything back exactly as she found it. Nothing. The office yielded similar results—papers, business cards, a locked drawer she dared not try to force open. She checked the kitchen, the living room, even the coat pockets in the closet, but no key.

  It wasn’t in any obvious place. Which meant Derrick really didn’t want her finding it.

  Her frustration grew with each passing day. Every time she walked past that door, it felt like it was mocking her. The more she fixated on it, the more it consumed her thoughts. Even in her sleep, she dreamed of it—dark, looming, whispers seeping through the cracks, calling her name. She would wake up breathless, her heart pounding, drenched in sweat.

  By the fifth day, she decided she had waited long enough.

  Derrick had mentioned leaving for a business dinner that evening. It would be her first real chance to thoroughly search without the risk of being caught. As soon as he left, she sprang into action, methodically going through every place she hadn’t checked before.

  Her hands trembled with anticipation as she sifted through his desk drawers once more. She ran her fingers under the bottom of shelves, checked the pockets of his suit jackets, even lifted the cushions on the couch. Nothing. Frustrated, she sat back on her heels, biting her lip.

  And then she thought of something she hadn’t considered before.

  His car.

  Derrick kept a set of spare keys by the front door, and her heart pounded as she grabbed them and slipped out into the parking garage. The sleek black vehicle sat in his reserved spot, its surface gleaming under the dim lighting. Taking a deep breath, Leah unlocked the driver’s side door and slipped inside.

  Her hands moved quickly, searching the glove compartment first. It was filled with paperwork, receipts, and a pair of sunglasses, but no key. She tried the center console next. Her fingers brushed against something metallic, and she sucked in a sharp breath as she pulled it out.

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  A key.

  Her heart thudded against her ribs as she examined it. It was small, plain, but something about it made her pulse quicken. She didn’t even hesitate—clutching the key tightly, she hurried back upstairs, locking the car behind her.

  Inside the apartment, she stood in front of the locked door, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Her fingers trembled as she slid the key into the lock. It fit. She hesitated for only a moment before turning it.

  A soft click echoed in the silence, and the door creaked open an inch.

  Leah swallowed hard, her throat dry. The air that seeped from the room was stale, carrying a faint musty scent. It was dark inside. She reached for the light switch on the wall, flicking it on.

  The room was small, windowless. Dust motes danced in the dim yellow glow from the single ceiling light. Shelves lined the walls, filled with old boxes, books, and stacks of papers. It looked… ordinary. Harmless.

  And yet, something felt off.

  She stepped inside cautiously, her eyes scanning the shelves. Some of the boxes were labeled with dates. 2015. 2017. 2019. She frowned and reached for one, pulling back the lid.

  Inside was a collection of photographs, all neatly stacked. She picked one up, turning it over in her hands. It was of a woman she didn’t recognize—smiling, standing in front of a scenic backdrop. Leah flipped through more. Different women, different places.

  Her stomach twisted. Who were they?

  She moved to the next box, opening it carefully. This one held something stranger—jewelry. Necklaces, rings, bracelets. Each piece unique, yet eerily similar. Like a collection.

  Her fingers brushed against something soft. Fabric. She pulled it out, and her breath hitched in her throat.

  It was a wedding dress.

  Not just one. Several, stacked on top of each other, neatly folded.

  A cold wave of nausea rolled over her. Leah took an unsteady step back, the weight of what she was seeing settling into her bones. This wasn’t just storage. These weren’t just old things Derrick had forgotten about.

  These belonged to someone. To multiple someone's.

  A metallic tang filled the air, and Leah’s gaze snapped to the corner of the room. A wooden chest sat there, slightly ajar. Her feet carried her toward it before her mind could stop her.

  With a deep breath, she lifted the lid.

  The smell hit her first. A mixture of dust, decay, and something she couldn’t quite place. Her stomach churned as she looked inside.

  Photos. More of them. Letters. Old love notes, written in careful cursive. A delicate lace glove, yellowed with age. Leah’s fingers trembled as she picked up a small, velvet-covered box.

  She knew what was inside before she even opened it.

  An engagement ring.

  Her vision blurred, her breathing shallow and rapid. She dropped the box, stumbling back against the shelves. The room seemed to close in on her, the air too thick, too heavy.

  And then she heard it.

  The unmistakable sound of the front door unlocking.

  Derrick was home.

  Panic surged through her veins as she scrambled to close the boxes, shoving everything back where she had found it. Her hands fumbled with the key as she locked the door behind her, pressing her back against it as footsteps approached.

  “Leah?” Derrick’s voice called from the hallway.

  She forced herself to breathe, wiping her clammy hands on her jeans before stepping away from the door. She had to act normal. She had to pretend like she hadn’t just uncovered something deeply, horribly wrong.

  Derrick rounded the corner, his eyes landing on her immediately. He smiled. “Hey, sweetheart.”

  Leah swallowed hard, forcing a smile. “Hey.”

  He studied her for a moment, his gaze unreadable. “Everything okay?”

  She nodded quickly, too quickly. “Yeah. Just… tired.”

  Derrick stepped closer, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was gentle, warm. “You sure?”

  Leah willed herself not to flinch. “Yeah.”

  He smiled again, but there was something in his eyes this time. Something that sent a shiver down her spine.

  “Good,” he murmured. “Because I’d hate for you to think there’s anything to be afraid of.”

  Her breath hitched.

  He knew.

  And now, she was trapped.