Chapter 3 — Voices Behind the Dark Room

I squatted down, wanting to lower her hand. But the child refused. That small hand seemed to have used all its strength, pointing straight towards the balcony. Luong Duc Hai's face was unsightly. "Have you still learned how to snitch?" A very small sound came from Duong Duong's throat. "Don't." The living room immediately fell silent. The vegetable leaves in Luu Ngoc Mai's hand fell into the pot. Luong Thua Trach walked out of the room, his steps stopped at the door. I was stunned, not even daring to breathe. This was the first time in two years that Duong Duong made such a clear sound. Even if it's just one word. But it's not a meaningless sound. The baby is talking. I grabbed my child's shoulder. "Duong Duong, don't what?" Duong Duong stared at Luong Duc Hai. The baby's lips parted. This time, the voice was even lower. “Lock up.” My heart suddenly sank. Luong Duc Hai placed the teacup firmly on the table. "Nonsense." Duong Duong was scared by that sound and cowered, his whole body threw himself into my arms. I hugged my child, my hand pressed against her back. The child's whole body trembled violently. Luong Thua Trach walked over, frowned and asked: "Did she talk just now?" Luu Ngoc Mai immediately said: "Children pronounce things haphazardly, how can they be counted?" I raised my head to look at her. "She said don't lock her up." Luu Ngoc Mai's eyes avoided for a moment. Very quickly, she showed that hurt look again. "An Ninh, you're too stressed." "The child just had a little reaction, don't think in a bad way." Luong Duc Hai smiled coldly. "Her mind is not good, do you believe anything she says?" I picked up Duong Duong. "Whether her mind is good or not, it's not up to dad to decide." Luong Thua Trach pulled my arm. "What do you want to cause trouble again?" I looked at him. "I didn't hear you. Why?" He paused. "I just heard her make a vague sound." I suddenly felt very cold. In this house, Duong Duong had difficulty opening a crack in the door. Their first reaction was not joy. It's denial. I don't argue anymore. I carried Duong Duong back to my room and locked the door. The girl huddled in the corner of the bed, her hands covering her mouth. I sat in front of my child, slowly spreading my hands out. "Duong Duong, I won't ask anymore." "You don't need to say." "You just need to remember that no matter what happened, it's not your fault." She looked at me, her eyes red. A long time later, she let go of one hand and grabbed my finger. That night, Duong Duong slept restlessly. In the middle of the night, she woke up startled three times. Every time she wakes up, she looks towards the bedroom door. I hugged my child, saying over and over that mom was here. It was almost morning when the baby fell asleep. And I kept my eyes open until dawn. In the morning, when I arrived at the rehabilitation center, I told Ms. Manh about last night. After hearing this, Ms. Manh was silent for a long time. "She can say 'don't' and 'lock up', proving that these two words are very important to her." I asked: "What should I ask my child?" Ms. Manh shook her head. "Don't force her to remember for now." "Let her feel safe, then slowly guide." "At the same time, you need to pay attention to the spaces in the house." "She said 'locked up', it could be related to a certain place." That sentence was like a needle piercing my heart. After returning home, I did not notice any abnormalities. Luu Ngoc Mai is chopping meat in the kitchen. Luong Duc Hai sat on the balcony listening to the radio. As soon as Duong Duong entered the house, he hid behind me. I took her hand and slowly walked from the living room inside. As she passed the small storage room next to the balcony, she suddenly stopped. My fingers are cold. I bowed my head to look at my child. The girl stared at that narrow wooden door, her eyes slowly opening wide. That door is normally always locked. Inside was filled with old electrical appliances and cardboard boxes. I've never been in there more than a few times. I squatted down and asked: "Duong Duong, are you upset?" She doesn't

speak. Just hugged the rabbit until it was almost deformed. Luong Duc Hai coughed loudly on the balcony. Duong Duong immediately backed away sharply, his back hitting my leg. Luu Ngoc Mai poked her head out of the kitchen. "What are you doing standing there?" I looked towards the storage room. At a very low position on the door frame there are a few small scratches. Like scratched by a child's fingernails. Next to the lowest mark are two faint words, written crookedly. Don't.05Those two words are very small. It's like someone used a crayon to paint over it, then tried to erase it. I squatted in front of the storage room door, my fingertips touching the door frame. There are tiny chips on the wood. The scratches weren't deep, but they were crowded together. It was like someone inside was scratching over and over again. Duong Duong hid behind me, breathing rapidly and trembling. Liu Ngoc Mai walked quickly, blocking the door. "It's full of dust here, don't let children touch it." I raised my head to look at her. "Why is this door always locked?" Liu Ngoc Mai froze. "The storage room is unlocked, what if rats get in?" I said: "Where is the key?" Her expression was unnatural. "At your father's place." Luong Duc Hai turned from the balcony. "What do you want to search for?" I stood up. "I'm looking for an old heater." "It's cold, Duong Duong's feet get cold when he sleeps at night."