Chapter 8 - Saint MercySaint Mercy had been abandoned for decades.
Broken stained-glass windows.
Cracked stone walls.
A bell tower that leaned toward the forest.
Stone and the riders arrived just before dawn.
No lights.
No movement.
Too quiet.
Daniel stepped forward.
“They're here.”
“How do you know?”
“I know Elias.”
Stone looked at him.
“You mean Evelyn.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
He looked toward the church.
“You haven't met the real architect yet.”
Stone raised his weapon.
They entered.
The church was empty.
Pews covered in dust.
Candles burned near the altar.
Stone heard crying.
“Noah!”
A voice answered.
“Stone!”
He rushed forward.
Noah stood beside a pillar.
Unharmed.
His wrists were tied loosely.
Stone cut him free.
“Where’s Clara?”
Noah looked terrified.
“They took her.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
Mara was tied nearby.
Stone freed her.
“Where is Clara?”
Mara shook her head.
“They wanted Noah to tell them about the blue box.”
“Did he?”
“No.”
Stone looked toward Noah.
“You did good.”
Noah began crying.
“I tried.”
“I know.”
Then Daniel walked toward him.
Noah froze.
The boy stared.
His mouth opened.
“Dad?”
Daniel stopped.
Noah ran into his arms.
The reunion lasted only seconds.
Because Evelyn's voice came over the church speakers.
“Beautiful.”
Stone looked around.
“I knew you'd come.”
“Show yourself.”
“Not yet.”
A screen above the altar flickered on.
Video appeared.
Clara.
She was sitting in a small room.
Alive.
Frightened.
But watching the camera.
Evelyn spoke.
“You have two hours.”
Stone stepped closer.
“For what?”
“The blue box.”
Daniel whispered:
“No.”
Evelyn continued.
“Bring it to the old Voss estate.”
Stone shouted:
“Or what?”
Evelyn paused.
Then answered:
“Clara learns what happened to her father.”
The screen went black.
Daniel looked devastated.
Stone turned toward him.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel said nothing.
“Daniel.”
“I lied to you.”
“About what?”
“Clara's father wasn't me.”
Noah looked confused.
Daniel continued.
“She is my daughter legally. But not biologically.”
Mara closed her eyes.
Stone stared at her.
“Who is her father?”
Before Mara could answer, a gunshot shattered a stained-glass window.
The riders ducked.
Another bullet struck a pillar.
Stone shouted:
“Sniper!”
Jax dragged Noah behind cover.
Mara fell to the floor.
Daniel shielded her.
Stone looked toward the bell tower.
Then he saw movement.
Someone was running.
He chased.
Up the stairs.
Past broken wood.
Past the ringing bell.
At the top, a man dropped his rifle and jumped through the opening.
Stone reached the window.
Too late.
But the sniper had left something behind.
A photograph.
Clara, as a baby.
On the back:
SHE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO SURVIVE.
Stone stared at the words.
Then he heard Daniel shouting from below.
“Stone!”
Stone ran down.
Daniel was holding another photograph.
His hands were shaking.
“The man in this picture…”
Stone looked.
It showed a younger Elias Voss standing beside a much younger Samuel Mercer.
Stone's father.
And between them stood the woman in white gloves.
But she wasn't Evelyn.
She was much older.
May you like
Daniel whispered:
“That's Clara's real mother.”
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