The heavy iron hammer swung through the dusty air of the grand mansion, striking the golden wall panel with a terrifying crash. Plaster crumbled like white snow, filling the quiet hallway with tiny clouds of dust. Nana wiped sweat from her eyes, her trembling fingers gripping the wooden handle tightly as another blow shattered the hollow wood. She knew if the security guards found her doing this, she would be thrown in jail before the night was over, but she couldn't stop now. She had heard the tiny, muffled thuds coming from behind the wall for three straight days while dusting the hallway art pieces.

Nana: Hang on, little guy! I am breaking you out right now!

Leo: Nana! Please hurry! I cannot breathe in here!

Nana: Just cover your eyes, sweetie! I am almost through!

She smashed the sledgehammer into the plaster one last time, exposing a dark, cramped alcove hidden behind the ornate wooden frame. A small boy, covered in gray dust and wearing torn clothes, cowered inside the tiny space. His wide eyes blinked against the sudden, bright light of the hallway. Nana dropped the heavy tool and reached her arms into the jagged opening, pulling the shaking child into a desperate embrace.

Nana: Dear God... someone locked a child inside this wall! How could anyone do this to you?

Leo: Nana, please save me! I was so scared in the dark!

Nana: You are safe now, Leo. I have got you. Nobody is ever going to lock you away again.

Before Nana could stand up with the frightened boy in her arms, the loud heel clicks of designer shoes echoed down the polished marble corridor. Eleanor burst around the corner, her silk party dress rustling violently as she froze in terror at the sight of the broken wall. Her face turned pale, her fake smile completely gone as her glance shifted between the shattered wood and the small boy holding onto Nana's shoulder.

Eleanor: What have you done, you stupid maid? Get away from that wall right now!

Nana: He was starving in there, Mrs. Eleanor! You locked your own stepson behind a hidden partition!

Eleanor: Shut your mouth! You have no idea what you are interfering with! He was never supposed to be found!

Eleanor lunged forward, her long acrylic nails reaching toward Nana's face to shove her away from the hole, but a heavy hand suddenly grabbed Eleanor's silk shoulder and shoved her back against the opposing wall. Victor stood in the entryway, his expensive tuxedo jacket rumpled, his eyes wide with absolute fury as he stared at his wife and then at the dirt-smudged child standing beside the maid.

Victor: What is the meaning of this? Eleanor, why is my son standing here alive?

Eleanor: Victor... sweetie, listen to me! I can explain everything! It is not what it looks like!

Victor: You told me my boy died in the hospital six months ago! You showed me the death certificate!

Leo: Daddy... she lied to you. She trapped me here so I couldn't tell you what she did.

Leo reached into his tiny, dirt-stained pocket and pulled out a small black recording device with a blinking green light, looking up at his stepmother with a quiet, knowing smile that made her entire body tremble in place.