Chapter 7 - They escaped through an underground drainage tunnel.For almost twenty minutes, Nathan said nothing.
Water reached their ankles.
His father's blood stained the sleeve of his shirt.
Finally, Maggie stopped.
Nathan leaned against the wall.
“My father died in front of me.”
“Yes.”
“I didn't even get to ask him anything.”
“He knew he was dying.”
“That doesn't make it better.”
“No.”
Maggie looked at him.
“It doesn't.”
Nathan stared at the silver pendant in his hand.
“Where did he get this?”
“Your mother wore it.”
He opened it.
Inside was a tiny photograph.
His mother.
Holding a newborn baby.
Nathan stared.
His mother's face looked nothing like he remembered.
She wasn't smiling.
She looked terrified.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten sentence.
HE MUST NEVER FIND OUT.
Nathan closed the pendant.
“About Elias?”
“Yes.”
“Why did she abandon him?”
Maggie hesitated.
“She didn't.”
Nathan looked up.
“She tried to protect him.”
“From Arthur?”
“From what he would become.”
They continued through the tunnel.
Above them, distant sirens echoed.
Nathan's phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Arthur's voice came through.
“You killed my brother.”
Nathan froze.
“Your brother?”
“Marcus.”
“You sent the shooter.”
“I sent protection.”
“You murdered him.”
“No.”
Arthur laughed softly.
“Your father knew what would happen when he came back.”
Nathan's grip tightened.
“What do you want?”
“I want my brother back.”
“You mean me?”
“No.”
Arthur's voice dropped.
“I mean Elias.”
Nathan stopped walking.
“What?”
“You think you're the son everyone wanted.”
Arthur laughed.
“You are not.”
Nathan looked at Maggie.
“Tell him.”
Maggie shook her head.
Arthur continued.
“Your mother had two sons.”
Nathan stared into the darkness.
“She gave one son away.”
“You.”
Arthur said,
“And kept the other.”
Nathan's blood ran cold.
“That isn't what the birth certificate says.”
“Because the birth certificate was forged.”
Nathan looked at the document.
Arthur's voice became softer.
“Your father needed an heir.”
Nathan felt dizzy.
“Then who am I?”
Arthur didn't answer.
The call ended.
Maggie grabbed him.
“We have to leave.”
Nathan pulled away.
“Who am I?”
“You're Nathan Vale.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“It is the only answer that matters.”
“No.”
Nathan's eyes filled with anger.
“Everybody has lied to me.”
Maggie said nothing.
Nathan held up the birth certificate.
“Who is my real father?”
She stared at him.
Then whispered,
“Thomas Rowe.”
The world seemed to stop.
Nathan laughed once.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“My name is Vale.”
“Because Marcus adopted you.”
Nathan's face drained.
“Thomas was my father.”
Maggie nodded.
“And Arthur…”
She looked at him.
“Is your half-brother.”
Nathan took a step back.
“This is impossible.”
“Your mother and Thomas had you before Marcus married her.”
Nathan's eyes widened.
“Why would Marcus raise another man's son?”
“Because he loved her.”
“And Thomas?”
“Because he was willing to die for her.”
Nathan looked at Maggie.
“So my entire life is a lie.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Your life is real.”
“But everything I knew about my family…”
“That part wasn't.”
A distant mechanical hum filled the tunnel.
Maggie looked behind them.
“They've opened the drainage gates.”
Water began rushing toward them.
Nathan looked ahead.
“Where do we go?”
Maggie pointed toward a ladder.
“The church.”
Nathan climbed.
At the top was an old stone door.
They emerged inside a forgotten chapel.
Dust covered the pews.
At the front stood a baptismal font.
Maggie walked toward it.
“Arthur was baptized here.”
Nathan looked around.
“What are we looking for?”
Maggie reached beneath the stone basin.
A hidden panel opened.
Inside was a key.
And a photograph.
Nathan picked up the photograph.
It showed a young Arthur.
Beside him was Nathan's mother.
And in the background stood Thomas.
On the back were four words.
ONE SON WAS CHOSEN.
Nathan turned.
“Chosen for what?”
The chapel doors slammed shut.
A man stood at the entrance.
Arthur Cain.
He smiled.
“Not chosen.”
May you like
He raised his gun.
“Created.”
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