Chapter 2
The wail of sirens grew louder, shattering the quiet above the courthouse.
William held me so tightly that his arms felt like iron bands, and it almost hurt.
But I didn't struggle.
I knew he was scared.
Several police officers walked in, led by a serious-looking middle-aged man, Edward Lewis.
The judge quickly explained the situation, and with every word, Edward's face grew darker.
Finally, his eyes settled on me.
His gaze was sharp, but not like the judge's. He wasn't judging me. It was more like he was searching my face for answers.
"Hey there, boy. Are you Lucas Cooper?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Is what you said now true?" he asked.
I nodded again.
"You're not lying, are you?" he pressed.
"My teacher says good kids don't lie," I answered seriously.
Edward swallowed hard, then turned to the officers behind him and gave his orders. "Team One, separate Helen and William and bring them in for questioning.
"Team Two, come with me to their house. Notify the tech team and forensics. We need them on scene now."
Dad didn't want to let go of me. His eyes were red as he said to Edward, "My son's still a kid. He can't be alone."
"He'll be with me," Edward cut him off. "We need him to show us where it happened."
Mom was being held up by two female officers. She wasn't crying anymore. Her face was gray and lifeless, her eyes hollow.
As she passed by me, she suddenly fought to break free, locking her gaze on me with a piercing intensity.
"Lucas, why did you say that? Why would you drag me into this mess?" Her voice was dripping with venom.
Dad roared back, "Helen, shut up. What the hell did you do to Lucas?"
The courtroom erupted into chaos again.
Edward motioned, and Mom was quickly escorted out of the courtroom.
Dad was taken away as well, but he kept glancing back over his shoulder every few steps, his eyes filled with worry.
The courtroom slowly emptied out, but everyone was still shaken to the core. The events of today would become a nightmare they'd never forget.
I got into Edward's police car.
The car was quiet, except for the occasional crackle from the radio.
"Lucas, can you tell me where you live?" Edward asked, his voice gentle.
I gave him the address.
The car cruised smoothly down the road, the world outside flying past the window.
"Who is the boy you mentioned?" Edward asked.
"He's a little older than me," I replied.
"What's his name?" he pressed.
I shook my head. "I don't know. Mom wouldn't let me ask."
Edward's frown got deeper. "How long has he been in the freezer?"
"A really long time." I thought for a bit. "From winter until summer."
The air inside the car felt noticeably colder.
Soon, we pulled up in front of my house.
It was an old apartment complex, and our apartment was up on the third floor.
Downstairs, a bunch of police cars were parked, and police tape was already cordoning off the whole area.
The neighbors were poking their heads out, whispering and gossiping.
Edward put a hat and mask on me, shielding me in his arms as we made our way through the crowd.
The forensic guys unlocked the front door.
Everything inside was exactly the same as when I left.
On the coffee table in the living room, there was still a half-empty glass of water Mom had left unfinished.
Our family photo was hanging on the wall. Mom, Dad, and I were all grinning happily.
But I knew it was all a lie.
This home had lost its warmth a long time ago.
A few officers filed in, gloved and booted, moving with practiced efficiency.
Edward crouched down so he was at my eye level. "Lucas, where's the freezer you mentioned?"
My heart was pounding a little faster.
I pointed to the corner of the balcony.
There, in the corner, was a white chest freezer, about as tall as me, and the biggest energy hog in the house.
Mom always said it was packed with meat for the holidays, and we weren't supposed to open it unless we had to, or all the cold air would leak out.
On the freezer's side, there was a lopsided cartoon sticker.
I was the one who put it there.
Everyone's eyes were locked onto that freezer.
It stood there, humming quietly, like a silent beast lurking in plain sight.
Under the summer sunlight, that white shell seemed to radiate a bone-chilling cold.
Edward stood up and nodded to the forensics team and technicians behind him.
One officer stepped forward, took out his tools, and got ready to pry open the small, rusty lock on the freezer.
Another officer went around to the back of the freezer and bent down to check the plug. "Captain Lewis, the power's still on."
Edward took a deep breath and waved his hand. "Open it."