Chapter 1 - The Blue Door
My hands gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned completely white.
The heavy blue door slammed shut behind my mother-in-law and my little girl.
I sat in the driver's seat for exactly two minutes, my heart pounding against my ribs like a trapped animal.
I couldn't just call the police yet, because I had no actual proof of what was happening inside.
I needed to see it with my own eyes.
I stepped out of the car, the morning air suddenly feeling freezing against my skin.
I walked up the concrete steps, trying to control the violent shaking in my hands.
The door was locked, but it was an old house with large, ground-floor windows covered by thick curtains.
I crept along the side of the building, checking every single window for a gap in the fabric.
Near the back of the house, I finally found a window that was slightly cracked open to let in some air.
I pressed my face against the glass and peered into the dim room.
What I saw made my blood run absolutely cold.
There were at least five other little girls in the room, all wearing heavy, inappropriate makeup and strange, glittering costumes.
A tall man with a professional camera was shouting directions at them, his voice harsh and demanding.
Evelyn, my mother-in-law, was standing in the corner, holding a clipboard and counting a thick stack of cash.
Lily was standing on a small stage, her eyes wide with terror as she was forced to pose.
This wasn't just a secret club; it was an illegal, underground child exploitation ring.
May you like
I didn't think about the consequences.
I grabbed a heavy garden stone from the flowerbed and smashed it directly through the window.
