Chapter 9 - Émilie couldn't move.The man walked closer.
Marianne stepped in front of her.
“Don't.”
He stopped.
“Marianne.”
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I could say the same.”
Gabriel raised a weapon.
The man laughed.
“Still loyal to the wrong people, Gabriel?”
“Stay away from her.”
“Her?”
He looked around Gabriel.
“You still don't understand.”
He pointed at Émilie.
“She isn't the daughter I lost.”
Émilie stared.
“Then why do you keep calling me your daughter?”
He smiled.
“Because you look exactly like her.”
Marianne whispered:
“Don't listen.”
The man's gaze shifted to her.
“You've spent twenty years teaching her a lie.”
“She was safer that way.”
“For you.”
“For her.”
He stepped closer.
“Tell her what happened on March 17.”
Marianne said nothing.
He smiled.
“Tell her who died.”
Émilie looked at her mother.
“What happened?”
Marianne's eyes filled with tears.
“Your sister died.”
“No.”
“Lucie died.”
“No.”
“She died the night we escaped.”
Émilie shook her head.
“Then who's the girl in the photograph?”
No answer.
The man laughed.
“You want the truth?”
Marianne said:
“No.”
But Émilie stepped toward him.
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
He pulled a folder from his coat.
Inside were medical records.
Birth certificates.
Death certificates.
Photographs.
DNA reports.
He handed them to Émilie.
She read.
The first report said:
SUBJECT: LUCIE MOREAU.
Deceased.
Age six.
The second:
SUBJECT: ÉMILIE MARTIN.
Adopted.
Age six months.
Émilie looked at Marianne.
“This says I was adopted.”
Marianne nodded.
“Why did you raise me?”
“Because I promised.”
“To whom?”
Marianne closed her eyes.
“To your mother.”
Émilie stared.
“My mother?”
“Your biological mother.”
The entire story shifted again.
“You knew her?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Marianne whispered:
“She died protecting you.”
“Then who is he?”
She pointed toward the older man.
“Your father.”
Émilie turned.
His face had changed.
He looked almost sad.
“My name is not Victor.”
He removed his coat.
“My name is Daniel Moreau.”
Gabriel stared.
“You lied to all of us.”
Daniel smiled.
“Of course I did.”
Émilie backed away.
“Where is Lucie?”
Daniel's expression became strange.
“She is closer than you think.”
Atlas growled.
Daniel looked at the dog.
“Still protecting her.”
Then he said something that made Émilie's blood freeze.
“Ask the old man why Atlas stopped waiting for Lucie.”
Émilie turned toward the hospital.
“The old man.”
Daniel nodded.
“He is awake now.”
They rushed back.
Room 317 was empty.
The bed had been stripped.
The monitor disconnected.
Claire stood in the hallway.
Her face was pale.
“What happened?”
“He left.”
“When?”
“Ten minutes ago.”
“Who took him?”
“No one.”
“What?”
Claire pointed toward the security monitor.
The screen showed the old man walking out of the hospital by himself.
He wasn't weak.
He wasn't confused.
He walked confidently.
He carried a small bag.
And beside him was Atlas.
Émilie stared.
The timestamp read:
3:17 AM.
She looked at Gabriel.
“He was never a patient.”
Gabriel nodded slowly.
“No.”
May you like
Claire whispered:
“He came here to make you follow him.”
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