Chapter 12 - Adrian stared at his daughter."My mother died before I was born."
Olivia shook her head.
"That's what I thought."
She held up the file.
"Her name is Eleanor Vale."
Daniel's face went pale.
"No."
"You know her?"
Daniel couldn't answer.
Olivia opened the file.
Inside were photographs.
Eleanor Vale.
Alive.
Older.
Standing beside the old man.
Standing beside Vanessa.
Standing beside Dr. Mercer.
And standing beside young Daniel.
Elena stared at the photographs.
"Your mother is alive?"
Adrian looked at Daniel.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Father said she died."
"You're lying."
"I saw her."
"When?"
"Three years ago."
Adrian grabbed him.
"Where?"
"In the original house."
"What original house?"
Daniel whispered:
"The one that burned down."
Elena remembered.
Her mother had once told her that their family had lost everything in a fire.
But Elena had never remembered seeing flames.
Only smoke.
She suddenly understood.
"There was no fire."
Daniel nodded.
"There was."
"But not the way you think."
He led them to an old map.
A remote property was marked in red.
Elena recognized the address.
"My childhood home."
They left the underground archive just before dawn.
Police vehicles surrounded the estate.
Adrian gave the archive files to the lead officer.
But before they could leave, one officer said:
"Mr. Vale."
Adrian turned.
The officer's expression was strange.
"I checked your family's records."
"And?"
"There is no death certificate for your father."
Adrian froze.
"There was a burial."
"Yes."
"No body."
Silence.
The officer handed him another document.
A transfer order.
Signed eighteen years ago.
Eleanor Vale.
Adrian stared.
"She transferred ownership of a hospital to my father."
Daniel shook his head.
"She didn't own it."
"Then why sign?"
"Because she was trying to save someone."
"Who?"
Daniel looked at Elena.
"Your mother."
They drove to the old house.
The property was abandoned.
Windows boarded.
Walls blackened.
The remains of a burned building stood beneath the trees.
Elena stepped inside.
Every instinct told her to leave.
She remembered the red door.
It was still there.
Untouched.
Adrian stood beside her.
"Do you remember?"
"A little."
She placed her hand on the door.
And the memories came flooding back.
Her mother shouting.
Daniel carrying Claire.
Vanessa screaming.
A doctor.
A baby.
And Adrian.
Young Adrian stood at the end of the hall.
He was holding a box.
Inside it was a key.
Elena opened her eyes.
"I know where the archive started."
"Where?"
"The basement."
They broke through the floor.
Below the rubble was a small room.
Inside were only three things.
A chair.
A tape recorder.
And a photograph.
The photograph showed four women.
Eleanor.
Elena's mother.
Vanessa.
And a fourth woman.
Elena.
At six years old.
But the date on the photograph was the day Elena was supposedly born.
Elena stared.
"That's me."
Adrian looked at the picture.
"No."
Daniel stepped closer.
"It's not."
"What?"
Daniel pointed to the child.
"That's Claire."
Elena felt dizzy.
The photograph had been manipulated.
But why?
Maya examined the edges.
"Digital composite."
Someone had inserted Elena's face onto Claire's body.
Adrian's father had manufactured an entire childhood.
Elena looked at the tape recorder.
She pressed play.
A woman's voice filled the room.
Eleanor Vale.
"Adrian, if you ever hear this, I failed."
Adrian froze.
"I tried to stop your father."
Static.
"He found out."
A pause.
"Your brother survived."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"And the little girl..."
Another pause.
"Elena was not supposed to be part of it."
Elena's breath caught.
The recording continued.
"She was supposed to be the witness."
The tape clicked.
Then Eleanor whispered:
"And if she remembers, he will kill her."
The tape ended.
Outside, a car engine started.
Maya rushed to the window.
A black SUV was leaving the property.
She zoomed in.
Someone was driving.
Adrian's father.
Alive.
And sitting beside him was Eleanor.
Adrian stared after them.
Then his phone rang.
The old man spoke.
"Come alone, Adrian."
Adrian listened.
"I'll give you your mother."
A pause.
"And I'll tell you who Elena really is."
The call ended.
Daniel stepped forward.
"Don't go."
Adrian looked at him.
"I have to."
Elena grabbed his arm.
"No."
Adrian looked at her.
Then came another message.
COME BEFORE MIDNIGHT OR OLIVIA DIES.
Adrian stared at the words.
Olivia suddenly screamed from outside.
May you like
Everyone ran toward the front door.
She was gone.
