Chapter 8 - The Living Ghost
The little girl stood up quickly,
her small face suddenly fierce,
defending the person she loved most,
refusing to accept the dark words.
"No!"
she shouted loudly,
her tiny voice filled with defiance,
ringing clear across the silent ballroom.
"My mommy is alive!"
she screamed,
tears spilling over her eyelids again,
"She is not dead!"
"She is waiting for me!"
Vanessa stood completely rigid,
her breath catching in her throat,
her hands clenching the fabric of her wedding gown,
her lips parting slightly,
but no sound came out.
"..."
Vanessa remained silent,
her pale face betraying her guilt,
her eyes wide with panic,
looking like a criminal caught in the act.
Julian noticed her silence,
he noticed her sudden terror,
and a dark suspicion began to grow,
festering in his mind,
poisoning his trust.
He turned back to the little girl,
his expression turning firm,
yet his heart was breaking into pieces,
"Tell me the truth!"
he begged,
"Who is your mother?"
"Where is she?"
The little girl reached out,
pointing her small finger at the locket in his hand,
May you like
saying the words that would shatter his world completely,
"She said you'd recognize the locket."
