Chapter 2: The Red Light
I drove to Daniel’s house before sunrise.
I hadn't slept after his call.
Not for one minute.
The entire ride, one question kept circling through my mind.
Why would Jessica ask about a camera?
When I reached the house, Daniel was already waiting outside.
He looked exhausted.
His wedding tuxedo was gone.
He wore gray sweatpants and an old black shirt, as if he'd changed without even thinking about what he was putting on.
He opened the passenger door.
“Get in.””
I climbed inside.
“What happened?””
“Jessica is at her sister's.””
“Did you ask her about the camera?””
His hands tightened around the steering wheel.
“I did.””
“And?””
“She said she didn't know what I was talking about.””
I looked at him.
“Do you believe her?””
He didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Daniel started the car.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked, “Why did you call me last night?””
He swallowed.
“Because I found something.””
“What?””
He reached into the center console and pulled out his phone.
He unlocked it.
“I couldn't sleep.””
“Neither could I.””
“I kept replaying what happened.””
He turned the phone toward me.
There was a photograph of the bridal suite.
The vanity mirror was visible.
Above it, almost hidden inside the decorative molding, was a tiny black camera.
A small red light glowed beneath it.
I stared.
“I never saw that.””
“Neither did I.””
“Who installed it?””
“I don't know.””
“Jessica?””
“Maybe.””
The word hung between us.
Daniel pulled into an empty parking lot and stopped.
“Mom, there's more.””
He opened a video.
At first, the screen showed the bridal suite from a high angle.
The mirror.
The vanity.
The flowers.
The velvet chair where Jessica had been sitting.
The audio was faint, but clear enough.
Then I heard my own voice.
“Jessica, this necklace has been in my family for three generations.””
I closed my eyes.
There it was.
The conversation.
Everything.
Except the part that happened after I left.
Daniel paused the video.
“I found the camera feed through the venue's security system.””
“You watched all of it?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I wasn't ready.””
“Ready for what?””
He looked at me.
“To hate myself.””
My chest tightened.
“Daniel…”
He pressed play.
The footage continued.
I watched myself walk out.
The door closed.
Jessica remained in the room.
For several seconds, she didn't move.
Then she slowly stood.
Her tears disappeared.
Completely.
She wiped her face with one hand.
Then she looked directly at the camera.
And smiled.
I felt sick.
Daniel whispered, “Keep watching.””
Jessica walked to the mirror.
She removed one of her earrings.
Then the other.
She took off her veil.
She stared at herself.
And then she spoke.
Not crying.
Not shaking.
Calmly.
“She's gone.””
I looked at Daniel.
He didn't blink.
The video continued.
Jessica reached beneath the vanity and pulled out a second phone.
Not the phone Daniel had seen her using during the wedding.
A different one.
Small.
Black.
She unlocked it.
A message appeared.
*IS SHE OUT?*
Jessica typed.
*Yes. He believes me.*
I covered my mouth.
Daniel's face went white.
“She lied,” he whispered.
The phone buzzed again.
*AND DANIEL?*
Jessica smiled.
*He's exactly where I need him.*
I stared at the screen.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know.””
The video continued.
Jessica typed another message.
*His mother will be gone by tonight.*
A reply came almost immediately.
*GOOD. NOW DO WHAT WE AGREED.*
Daniel stopped the video.
“Who is that?””
“I don't know.””
“She said she wanted me gone.””
“I know.””
He leaned back against the seat.
His breathing became uneven.
“Mom, I accused you.””
“You were trying to protect her.””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“I was trying to protect the woman I thought I loved.””
I reached across the console.
“Daniel.””
He pulled away.
Not from me.
From himself.
“I told you to leave.””
“You didn't know.””
“I saw you standing there and decided you were guilty.””
“You were shocked.””
“I watched her cry and assumed you were the monster.””
His eyes filled with tears.
“I should have asked you what happened.””
I squeezed his shoulder.
“You're asking now.””
He looked down.
“I don't know how to fix this.””
“Start by finding out who she was talking to.””
He nodded.
We drove to the wedding venue.
The ballroom was empty.
The flowers were still there.
White roses lined the aisle.
The wedding cake stood untouched beneath a glass cover.
The sight made my stomach twist.
A celebration frozen in place.
Daniel walked directly toward the bridal suite.
The door was unlocked.
He pushed it open.
The room looked exactly as it had the day before.
The torn dress was gone.
The mirror was spotless.
The vanity had been cleared.
Daniel pointed upward.
“There.””
I looked at the tiny camera.
A red light blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then went dark.
Daniel stopped breathing.
“Mom?””
“What?””
“The camera is still connected.””
“To what?””
He pulled out his phone.
A notification appeared.
*DEVICE DISCONNECTED.*
Then another.
*REMOTE ACCESS DETECTED.*
Daniel's face changed.
“Someone knows we're here.””
Suddenly, the door behind us clicked shut.
We both turned.
Nobody was there.
Daniel rushed to it.
He grabbed the handle.
Locked.
“Mom, step back.””
“Daniel…”
“Back.””
He pulled his phone from his pocket and called venue security.
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It showed me and Daniel standing inside the bridal suite.
Taken from above.
Taken seconds ago.
I stared at it.
Daniel leaned over my shoulder.
His face went pale.
“Someone is watching us.””
Another message appeared.
*YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED HOME, MARGARET.*
I looked at my son.
“How do they know my name?””
Before Daniel could answer, the phone buzzed again.
This time, the message contained only four words.
*ASK YOUR SON ABOUT 2019.*
Daniel went completely still.
I turned toward him.
“What happened in 2019?””
He didn't answer.
“Daniel?””
His eyes remained fixed on the screen.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“That's the year my father died.””
