Chapter 6 - The Voice of the DeadAlexander stopped.
Elena nearly collided with him.
“What are you doing?”
He stared into the darkness.
“You heard that.”
“Heard what?”
“My father.”
Elena’s face changed.
“You're hallucinating.”
“No.”
The voice came again.
“Alexander.”
Mia covered her ears.
Elena gripped his arm.
“Don't answer.”
The tunnel lights flickered.
A speaker hidden in the wall crackled.
Richard Vale’s voice filled the darkness.
“Subject Seven has reached the final corridor.”
Alexander’s face drained.
“Subject?”
Elena pulled him forward.
“He recorded those messages years ago.”
“But he just said—”
“I know.”
The voice continued.
“Do not trust the woman beside you.”
Alexander looked at Elena.
She saw the doubt.
“Alexander.”
“Did my father know you?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I worked for him.”
“When?”
She hesitated.
“Before we met.”
“You knew him before our marriage?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Eight years.”
Alexander stopped.
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
The answer was immediate.
She did not defend herself.
That frightened him more.
“Why?”
Elena looked at Mia.
“Because if I told you the truth, they would know I had failed.”
“What truth?”
Elena whispered:
“You were never supposed to survive childhood.”
Alexander stared.
“What?”
“Your father created a system that could alter human memory. He used it on you because you witnessed an event that could destroy everyone involved.”
“And what did I witness?”
Elena looked terrified.
“Your mother murdering someone.”
Alexander shook his head.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
Suddenly the tunnel lights turned red.
A countdown appeared on the wall.
02:00
Mia screamed.
“What is that?”
Elena pulled a hidden panel open.
“Emergency purge.”
Alexander stared.
“What does it purge?”
“Everything.”
“Meaning?”
“The laboratory.”
“You mean destroy?”
Elena nodded.
“And everyone inside.”
Alexander remembered Evelyn.
They had left her behind.
He turned.
“We go back.”
“No.”
“My mother is in there.”
“She chose to stay.”
“She is still my mother.”
Elena grabbed him.
“Your mother is the reason the doors were unlocked.”
Alexander stared.
“She let them in.”
“No.”
“She did.”
Evelyn’s voice suddenly came through the speakers.
“Elena.”
Both women froze.
“Stop lying to my son.”
Alexander looked at the wall.
His mother's voice continued.
“I didn't kill anyone.”
Elena looked down.
Evelyn said:
“Ask Elena who killed Richard.”
Alexander’s heart stopped.
His father had died of a heart attack.
Everyone knew that.
At least, everyone had said so.
Evelyn continued.
“Your father wasn't sick.”
Alexander whispered:
“Then how did he die?”
Silence.
Then Evelyn answered.
“He was poisoned.”
Elena closed her eyes.
Alexander turned toward her.
“You knew.”
She nodded.
“Who did it?”
Elena began to cry.
“Your wife.”
Alexander stared.
“You?”
“I had no choice.”
“You killed my father?”
“No.”
She shook her head desperately.
“Someone made me believe I did.”
Alexander’s expression changed.
“What does that mean?”
Elena looked at Mia.
Then at the countdown.
01:12
“There isn't enough time.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
Elena finally whispered:
“The woman you call your wife…”
She swallowed.
“…is not Elena Vale.”
The tunnel went silent.
Alexander stared.
“What?”
The voice from the speakers became clearer.
Evelyn shouted:
“Alexander, don't let her touch the girl.”
Mia suddenly looked behind him.
A shadow moved at the far end of the corridor.
May you like
Someone was coming.
And the footsteps sounded exactly like Alexander’s own.
