Chapter 7 - ST. CATHERINE'SSt. Catherine's Hospital had been abandoned for fifteen years.
Its windows were broken.
Its corridors were black.
The maternity wing still contained old medical equipment covered in dust.
Daniel and Lena entered through a side door.
No police.
No backup.
Only silence.
“This is a trap,” Lena whispered.
Daniel nodded.
“I know.”
They reached the old maternity ward.
A light flickered in the distance.
Then a woman's voice called from the darkness.
“Daniel.”
He knew the voice.
Sarah.
His wife.
Dead for eleven years.
Daniel stopped breathing.
Then a woman stepped into the light.
Not Sarah.
A recording played from an old speaker.
Sarah's voice.
“I don't know if you'll ever hear this.”
Daniel's chest tightened.
“It was recorded twenty-eight years ago.”
Lena looked at him.
The voice continued.
“I had two daughters.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“When Lily was born, a man came to the hospital.”
Sarah's voice trembled.
“He offered me money.”
Daniel clenched his fists.
“I refused.”
A long pause.
“Then he showed me photographs.”
Daniel's face changed.
“Photographs of you, Daniel.”
Lena stared at him.
Sarah continued.
“He said if I didn't cooperate, you would die.”
Daniel whispered.
“No.”
“He told me one baby would be taken temporarily.”
Lena's eyes widened.
“He promised the child would be returned.”
Daniel looked around desperately.
“Sarah.”
The recording crackled.
“He lied.”
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“Amira helped me hide Lily.”
Lena whispered.
“Then who was taken?”
The recording answered.
“Our second daughter.”
Daniel stared.
The recording continued.
“Her name is Mara.”
Silence.
Lena covered her mouth.
Daniel couldn't breathe.
Sarah had hidden Lily.
Amira had protected her.
And another baby had been taken.
Mara.
The second daughter.
A child Daniel had never known existed.
The recording suddenly changed tone.
“If you are hearing this, Daniel, it means they failed to erase everything.”
A pause.
“Do not trust Adrian Cross.”
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“He was the man behind it.”
The lights suddenly came on.
Marcus Vale stood at the end of the hallway.
His hands were empty.
Daniel raised his fists.
“You.”
Vale looked exhausted.
“I know where Mara is.”
Daniel's anger erupted.
“You knew for twenty-eight years.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because they threatened Lily.”
Daniel froze.
Vale stepped closer.
“I spent twenty-eight years protecting one daughter while pretending to help you find her.”
Daniel's face hardened.
“You're a monster.”
“I know.”
“Where is Mara?”
Vale's eyes filled with regret.
“She never died.”
Lena grabbed Daniel's arm.
“What does that mean?”
Vale looked directly at her.
“Mara is alive.”
Daniel stared.
“Where?”
Vale hesitated.
Then the old hospital doors slammed shut.
A voice came over the speaker.
“Marcus.”
Vale went pale.
The voice was calm.
Male.
Familiar.
Adrian Cross.
“You've had your chance.”
The lights went out.
May you like
And someone behind Daniel whispered:
“Run.”
