Sean adjusted his blue suit coat as he walked into the foyer of his Dallas villa.
The house was completely quiet except for the hum of the air conditioner.
A massive Christmas tree stood near the front entrance, glowing with white lights.
Sean had just returned early from an unexpected business trip in Chicago.
His new wife Victoria had assured him that his parents were enjoying a luxury cruise.
She said they wanted space after the recent transfer of the family trust fund.
Sean had felt a strange ache in his chest for weeks about the whole arrangement.
He missed his parents and hated how distant they had suddenly become after the wedding.
As he poured himself a glass of water in the kitchen, he heard a faint thud.
The sound came from the heavy wooden door that led down to the stone basement.
Sean frowned and set his glass down on the marble counter with a quiet click.
He walked toward the basement door and noticed the brass handle was slightly unlocked.
He pulled the heavy door open and stared down into the dimly lit stone stairwell.
Sean: Dad? Mom?
His voice echoed against the cold stone walls as he took his first steps down.
He heard a metal rattle near the bottom of the long flight of stairs.
Sean moved faster, his polished leather shoes clicking sharply on every step.
At the bottom of the stairs, a heavy iron cell gate blocked off a small room.
Inside the dark space sat his father Arthur and his mother Eleanor on two folding chairs.
Eleanor raised her hands to her mouth as tears spilled down her pale cheeks.
Mother: Sean! You came home!
Sean dropped to his knees right in front of the thick iron gate.
A heavy steel padlock was clamped tightly over the sliding latch mechanism.
Sean: Why are you down here?
Mother: We thought you would never find us!
Sean grabbed the iron bars with both hands, his knuckles turning completely white.
His heart hammered against his ribs as he stared at his trapped parents.
Arthur stepped forward and pressed his trembling hands against the cold metal bars.
Father: She locked us down here three weeks ago, Sean.
Sean: Who locked you down here?
Before Arthur could answer, the sound of high heels clicked from the top stair landing.
Sean spun around on his knees and looked up into the shadowy stairwell doorway.
Victoria stood at the top of the stairs dressed in an expensive dark red dress.
She held a black leather folder pressed tightly against her ribs like a shield.
Victoria: Sean! You were not supposed to come down here!
Sean stood up slowly, his eyes wide with rising anger and sheer disbelief.
Sean: You told me they went away for Christmas!
Father: Son, there is something you need to know!
Victoria took a small step backward toward the bright light of the main floor.
Sean began marching up the stone steps, his face dark with fury.
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