Chapter 6 - They left within ten minutes.Dr. Cross came with them.
Emily was furious.
"I can take care of myself."
David looked at her.
"No."
"You've been lying to me all day."
"I know."
"Then stop making decisions for me."
David had no answer.
She was right.
Everything he believed about himself was collapsing.
His marriage.
His identity.
His memories.
Even his name.
They drove to the abandoned hospital just before sunset.
The building stood behind a chain-link fence.
Windows shattered.
Walls covered in vines.
The hospital looked dead.
But David knew better.
Dead things had a way of hiding the ugliest secrets.
They entered through the basement.
Dr. Cross led them through a maze of corridors.
"Room 17 is beneath the original surgical wing."
Mark checked his weapon.
"Why was it never demolished?"
"Because the records were falsified."
They reached a metal staircase.
At the bottom was a steel door.
A small number was engraved into it.
David stared.
His hand began to tremble.
Something about the door felt familiar.
He reached for the handle.
A sudden flash hit him.
White lights.
Straps around his wrists.
A woman's voice.
"Daniel, don't fight it."
A needle.
Pain.
Then darkness.
David staggered.
Mark caught him.
"What happened?"
"I've been here."
Dr. Cross whispered:
"You remember."
The door opened.
Inside was a massive underground chamber.
Machines.
Cables.
A central chair.
Screens.
Medical equipment.
And dozens of storage containers.
Mark walked to one.
Each had a name.
DAVID WHITMORE.
JAMES HOLLOWAY.
ALAN MERCER.
REBECCA WHITMORE.
Emily.
David's heart stopped.
"Why is my daughter's name here?"
Dr. Cross looked away.
David opened the container.
Inside was a folder.
Emily's birth records.
Then something worse.
A second birth certificate.
Same name.
Different date.
Different hospital.
David looked at Rebecca's file.
"She was involved."
Dr. Cross shook her head.
"Not at first."
"Then when?"
"When she discovered what they'd done to you."
David stared.
"She tried to save me."
"Yes."
"Then why did she marry me?"
Dr. Cross's expression softened.
"Because she loved you."
A voice suddenly came from the speakers.
"That was not why she married you."
Everyone froze.
The screens turned on.
A man appeared.
Dr. Alan Mercer.
David's doctor.
The man who had declared him dead.
Mercer smiled.
"Hello, Daniel."
David stepped toward the screen.
"Where is my wife?"
"Alive."
"You shot her."
"I ordered someone to frighten her."
"She is in intensive care."
"She'll survive."
David clenched his fists.
"What do you want?"
Mercer smiled.
"Your memories."
"You already stole them."
"No."
Mercer's smile disappeared.
"We only hid them."
David's blood ran cold.
Mercer continued.
"Your memories contain something that belongs to us."
"What?"
"You know where the Black Ledger is."
David stared.
"I don't know what that is."
"You do."
"No."
Mercer looked amused.
"Then perhaps your daughter does."
David turned toward Emily.
She looked confused.
Mercer spoke again.
"Ask her about the red box."
Emily's face changed.
David noticed.
"Emily?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
"What's the red box?"
"I don't know."
Mercer smiled.
"You will."
The screens shut off.
David stared at Emily.
She began to cry.
"Why is he talking about me?"
David softened.
"We'll figure it out."
Dr. Cross suddenly grabbed his arm.
"No."
David looked at her.
"What's wrong?"
"You can't stay here."
"Why?"
She pointed at the floor.
A low vibration began beneath their feet.
Mark looked around.
"What's that?"
Dr. Cross whispered:
"The system is still active."
The machine in the center of the room turned on.
Lights illuminated the chair.
A monitor displayed:
SUBJECT DANIEL VALE.
MEMORY ACCESS READY.
David backed away.
"No."
The machine spoke.
"Please sit."
Mark raised his weapon.
"Destroy it."
David stared at the machine.
Then something happened.
The screen showed a live image.
Rebecca.
Still in the hospital.
Then the camera moved.
A masked man stood beside her bed.
He leaned toward Rebecca.
And whispered something.
Rebecca looked at him.
Her eyes filled with terror.
The screen changed.
A countdown appeared.
David stared.
"What is this?"
Dr. Cross whispered:
"They're activating Room 17 remotely."
David looked at the chair.
The countdown continued.
May you like
Then one final message appeared.
MEMORY EXTRACTION BEGINS IN 60 SECONDS.
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