Chapter 4: The First Step
The next morning, Daniela woke up with a sense of purpose she hadn’t felt in days. The doctor had reluctantly agreed to discharge her, but only under strict conditions: she had to rest, avoid any physical strain, and return for regular check-ups. Daniela nodded along, but her mind was already racing ahead. She had a plan, and it started with getting out of the hospital.
Ethan had left his number in the notebook, and Daniela wasted no time calling him. He picked up on the second ring. “Daniela? Are you okay?”
“I’m getting out of here today,” she said, her voice steady. “I need your help. Can you meet me?”
There was a brief pause before Ethan responded. “Of course. I’ll be there.”
By the time Ethan arrived, Daniela was dressed and ready to go. She had packed the few belongings she had, including Ethan’s notebook, which she now carried like a lifeline. The nurse handed her a stack of discharge papers and reminded her to take it easy, but Daniela barely heard her. Her focus was on the door, on the freedom that lay just beyond it.
Ethan greeted her with a small smile, though his eyes were filled with concern. “You sure you’re ready for this?” he asked as he helped her into his car.
“I don’t have a choice,” Daniela replied, buckling her seatbelt. “If I stay here, I’ll never find out the truth.”
Ethan nodded, starting the engine. “Where do you want to start?”
Daniela thought for a moment. “The storeroom. I need to see it for myself. Maybe there’s something there that everyone missed.”
Ethan hesitated. “Daniela, the building was pretty badly damaged. It might not be safe to go inside.”
“I don’t care,” she said firmly. “I have to try.”
The drive to the wedding venue was quiet, the tension between them palpable. When they arrived, Daniela’s heart sank. The once-beautiful building was now a charred shell, its walls blackened and crumbling. Yellow caution tape fluttered in the breeze, and the air still carried the faint smell of smoke.
Ethan parked a safe distance away and turned to Daniela. “Are you sure about this?”
She nodded, her jaw set. “I have to see it.”
They approached the building cautiously, stepping over debris and broken glass. The storeroom was at the back, its door hanging off its hinges. Daniela’s stomach churned as she stepped inside, the memories of that day flooding back. The heat, the smoke, the panic—it all came rushing back.
Ethan stayed close, his hand hovering near her arm in case she needed support. “What are we looking for?” he asked.
“Anything,” Daniela replied, her eyes scanning the room. “Something that doesn’t belong. Something that might explain what happened.”
They searched in silence, their footsteps echoing in the empty space. Daniela’s ribs ached with every movement, but she pushed through the pain. She couldn’t afford to stop now.
After what felt like hours, Ethan called out. “Daniela, over here.”
She hurried to his side, her heart pounding. He was crouched near a pile of rubble, holding something in his hand. It was a small, charred piece of fabric, barely recognizable.
“What is it?” Daniela asked, leaning closer.
Ethan turned it over, revealing a faint pattern. “It looks like part of a glove. And there’s something else…” He brushed away the ash, revealing a small metal object. “A key.”
Daniela’s breath caught. “A key? To what?”
Ethan stood, his expression serious. “I don’t know. But it’s not something you’d expect to find in a storeroom.”
Daniela’s mind raced. A glove and a key—what did it mean? Was it possible someone had been here before the fire? Someone who didn’t want to be seen?
“We need to find out where this key goes,” she said, her voice filled with determination.
Ethan nodded. “I’ll take it to a locksmith. Maybe they can tell us more.”
As they left the building, Daniela felt a flicker of hope. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. For the first time since the fire, she felt like she was moving forward instead of being trapped in a nightmare.
But as they drove away, Daniela couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting to see someone following them. The streets were empty, but the unease lingered.
“Ethan,” she said quietly, “do you think someone’s still after me?”
He glanced at her, his expression grim. “I don’t know. But until we figure this out, you need to be careful. Whoever set that fire… they’re not done yet.”
Daniela nodded, her hands tightening around the notebook in her lap. She knew the road ahead would be dangerous, but she was ready to face it. She had to. Because the truth was out there, and she wouldn’t stop until she found it.
For now, though, all she could do was take it one step at a time. And with Ethan by her side, she felt like she might just have a chance.
But deep down, she knew the hardest part was yet to come.