Page 153 of Bound By Crimson
She lifted a hand and tapped lightly.
Thud.
She paused.
Tapped again, a little to the left.
Thud. Hollow.
Her heart kicked harder.
Her fingertips began to trace the surface, barely brushing the paper.
There—beneath the layers—bumps. Edges. A shape.
She stilled.
No.
It couldn’t be.
Her fingers hovered over the faint outline of hinges.
A door.
She recoiled, stepping back in disbelief.
For a moment, she just stood there, breathing shallowly, before turning toward the bedroom door. She cracked it open—peeking into the hallway.
Empty. Still.
She shut it and locked it tight.
Her hands trembled as she returned to the wall.
Crouched down. Slid a nail under the paper near the baseboard.
Just one edge.
Just to look.
The wallpaper lifted too easily. Almost eagerly.
She froze.
Her pulse thundered in her ears.
They covered it up for a reason. If she opened it, she would be digging up whatever they meant to keep buried.
Her fingers started to let go.
But then Mrs. Thornwick’s voice came again, as clear as if she were in the room:
“You’re just waddling around here exhausted… he can’t possibly look at you the same.”
Lyric’s jaw locked.
Her lips parted.
