Daniel stood. He walked over to the seam and pushed on the wall like he’d done so many times from the other side. Nothing happened. Tired and irritable, Daniel was about to give in. He needed some sleep. He could figure out what to do in the morning after he got some rest and was thinking clearer. He tried one more time pushing on the wall. This time on the other side. The door opened. Yes! Daniel snuck inside and closed the door.
He rushed down the long, secret hallway, climbed down the stairs and into the money room. He reached up and pulled the string that turned on the light. He searched the wall that held Abigail on the other side ― No vent, no opening whatsoever. Only a locked door. Daniel sighed and leaned against the wall. He had no idea what to do. He slid down the wall until he was in a sitting position and put his head in his lap.
The key.
There it was again. He was sure it wasn’t him this time. Then again, he was too tired to think straight.
I don’t know where it is.
Seek, and ye shall find.
God, please help me.
Seek, and ye shall find.
I’m so tired.
Seek, Daniel. Seek.
Daniel stood. He walked over to the door and tried the handle. Locked. That would have been too easy. But as Daniel began searching through the desk that stood at the far end of the room, he found a key. Not a key to the outside door, but maybe it opened the one he was standing only a few feet away from. It was his only hope.
He walked over, slipped the key into the lock, and turned. The door clicked open.
Thank you, God.
Silence.
Daniel shrugged, grabbed his flashlight from his back pocket, and went inside. As he flashed it around the room, he found what he was looking for. Abigail lay in the corner on the dirt floor. He shone the light in her face, but she did not move.
“Abigail?” he whispered as he nudged her with his foot.
She did not move. “Abigail.” Daniel bent down over her.
Abigail stirred.
“Hey. I brought you some food.” He shined the light on his bag.
“Daniel?” She sat up. “You should not be here. Your father, he boarded up the hole so that you could not help me. He told me so himself.”
“I know. I saw it.”
“How did you get in here?” Abigail looked around in the darkness. “Am I dreaming?”
“No, you are not. I’m really here. I found the key to the inside door.”
“I’m tired, Daniel. I think you should just let me die. I will never get out of here, and you are just keeping me alive only to suffer longer.”
“No. Don’t say that. Malachi has a plan. He is going to save you.”
“Malachi has not been by in days. He has given up, and you should too.”
“I will not. And Malachi has not given up either.” He hoped he was right.
Abigail did have a point. Neither of them had seen Malachi in almost a week. But he refused to believe Malachi would let Abigail die.
“I brought you some food.” He opened his bag and laid out his latest haul.
“No, thank you, Daniel. I’m just not hungry anymore.”
“Then drink.”
“Daniel, please.”
“Abigail Pence, you must keep your strength up. Only for a little longer. If Malachi comes for you and you are too weak to walk, it will all have been in vain. Please drink.”
Abigail gave up the fight and took the bottle of water. “Thank you, Daniel. I will try to keep my spirits up.”
As Daniel left her and headed back down the passage and into his father’s office, an idea came to mind. The key that opened the front door to his house was the same key that opened the back door. Could he possibly be holding the same key that opened both doors to the room that held Abigail? It was a chance, but he would try it just to find out.
Daniel headed back out and around to the back. He came upon the door, pushed the panel to reveal the knob, and took a deep breath. He slid the key into the lock. It slipped right in. He turned the handle. The lock clicked, and the door opened. Daniel heaved a huge sigh. He had done it. He had found the key.
A small cry came from within.
“It’s just me,” Daniel said. “I found the key.”
“Oh.” Her voice sounded saddened.
“Don’t sound so disappointed.”
“I am not. Thank you, Daniel. For everything.”
Daniel smiled, though she probably could not see it. “There is still hope.”
Daniel closed the door, locked it, and headed back into the house. He finally had the key. His father must have more than one and had not thought to retrieve it from the money room. Daniel planned to keep it. If Malachi did not come soon, he would break Abigail out himself. As foolish as it was, he would try.
Chapter 39 ― Rachel
“Oh, look at him! He looks just like Jacob,” Luna said as she held Rachel’s baby gently in her arms. “He’s got that same pointy nose and crazy blue eyes.”
The baby wriggled in her arms as if offended.
Rachel laughed. “He is cute, isn’t he?”
“Adorable. Can I take him home?”
“No!” Rachel yelled a little too loudly. “Sorry. I just can’t imagine life without him.” Her face heated.
“Yeah, I get it.”
“How’s Jonathan?”
“He’s okay. Broken leg and a couple of bruises. He’s acting like he’s dying though.”
“Who was it?”
“I’m not sure.” Luna looked away. “It all happened so quickly.”
By the way Luna avoided eye
