🚨 CHAPTER 2: THE STEPDAD’S LIE

Someone had triggered internal lockdown protocol without announcing it.
The stepdad was already in the hallway.
Too fast.
Too panicked.
He pulled out his phone—but didn’t call 911.
He called someone else.
“Procedure failed,” he whispered. “They saw it.”
A pause.
Then a voice on the other end:
“Did he talk?”
“No.”
“Then leave him.”
The stepdad stopped walking.
For the first time, his confidence cracked.
“…I can’t.”
Silence.
Then the line cut.
Inside the room, Toby suddenly flinched.
Like he heard everything through the walls.
The nurse noticed.
“You know him?” she asked gently.
Toby nodded once.
Barely.
May you like
And whispered:
“He’s not my real dad.”