Blurb：
When Maya whispers that Duke died for sneaking chips, her mother dismisses it as a scary story—until she notices Duke using his right hand in a photo. The new teacher, Ms. Evans, is praised for turning children into polite angels, but Maya’s account of a cartoon mascot-headed figure taking Duke during nap time reveals a horrifying secret. As Duke’s mom arrives glowing with pride, the mystery deepens: Is Duke really alive, or has something sinister replaced him? Dive into a tale where preschool innocence masks terror, and every parent’s praise hides a deadly fear. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers and supernatural suspense.Content：
A new teacher started at my daughter’s preschool, and the parents’ WhatsApp group was buzzing with praise. Everyone said their kids had become polite, well-behaved, and less picky with food.But that night, my daughter Maya whispered a secret to me:
“They’re only good because they’re afraid to die.”
She said Duke was taken away and killed for sneaking chips during nap. “When he died, his mouth was stuffed with chips and his belly was bloated.”
Her serious tone chilled me. I quickly messaged Duke’s mom, who lives nearby.
【Hey, heard about Duke… please take care.】
She replied instantly with a photo of Duke sitting nicely and eating quietly:
【What are you talking about? He’s been an angel lately!】
I felt relieved, then annoyed at Maya for the scary story—until she pointed at the photo:
“That’s not Duke. He’s left-handed. Why is he using his right hand?”
1
My heart skipped a beat.
I zoomed in on the photo. Duke was, indeed, expertly scooping food with his right hand.
Our families lived in the same complex, our kids were in the same class; we knew each other well. Just last week, over dinner, his mom had been complaining to me. She was at her wit's end, she’d said, because she couldn’t get him to stop using his left hand.
And now, just a few days later, he was completely switched?
I turned to my daughter, my voice firm. “Maya, I need you to tell me the truth. Were you joking before?”
She blinked her big, innocent eyes. “I really saw Duke die, Mommy. I’m not lying.”
Hearing such terrifying words from my own child’s mouth, I felt a deep, unsettling cold. I had raised Maya myself; I knew she wasn’t the type to make up cruel jokes.
But if what she was saying was true…
A thought occurred to me. A child Maya’s age doesn’t fully grasp the concept of death. Maybe what she called “death” was just seeing someone lying on the ground, still and with their eyes closed.
I chose my words carefully. “Maya, honey, you know there’s a difference between being dead and being asleep, right?”
She nodded without hesitation. “I’m not a baby, Mommy. My storybooks explained what death is. I get it.”
The knot of anxiety in my chest tightened. “Okay, then tell me everything. How did you see Duke get taken? And how did you see him… die?”
Download the MotoNovel app, Search 【 239743 】reads the whole book.
The End