Chapter 10 - Two Girls With the Same EyesVictoria could not move.
There were two girls.
One stood beside Eleanor.
Rosie.
The other stood several feet behind her.
Eight years old.
Barefoot.
Thin.
Terrified.
Same eyes.
Same face.
Victoria covered her mouth.
Charles whispered:
“Rosalind.”
The second girl looked at him.
She immediately stepped backward.
“I know you.”
Victoria turned toward Charles.
“You know her.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I saw her once.”
“Where?”
“In the hospital.”
Rosalind looked at Victoria.
“Mama?”
Victoria's heart broke.
She rushed forward.
The girl flinched.
Victoria stopped.
“It’s okay.”
The child stared.
“You are Victoria?”
“Yes.”
“Mama said you would come.”
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“Who is your mama?”
“Claire.”
Victoria understood.
Claire had hidden Rosalind.
Eleanor had raised Rosie.
Two girls had been separated to protect them.
One carried the identity of the other.
And the world had buried the wrong child.
Victoria dropped to her knees.
“Rosalind.”
The girl slowly stepped closer.
Victoria reached out.
The child touched her hand.
A tiny scar crossed her palm.
Victoria remembered.
She had kissed that scar when Rosalind was a baby.
Her daughter.
Alive.
Victoria pulled her into her arms.
Rosalind began crying.
“I thought you forgot me.”
Victoria sobbed.
“Never.”
Charles turned away.
Eleanor watched silently.
Daniel spoke.
“We need to leave now.”
Too late.
A car engine roared outside.
Brakes screamed.
The station doors burst open.
Four men rushed inside.
Eleanor raised her weapon.
“DOWN!”
Gunfire exploded.
Daniel tackled Victoria.
Charles grabbed Rosie.
Rosalind screamed.
A bullet shattered the ceiling.
Eleanor fired twice.
The men retreated.
“MOVE!”
They ran into the tunnel.
Victoria held Rosalind's hand.
Daniel carried Rosie.
Charles followed behind.
A bullet struck the wall beside him.
They kept running.
At the end of the tunnel was a locked gate.
Daniel kicked it.
Nothing.
Charles pulled out the key.
“What are you doing?”
“Trust me.”
He unlocked it.
They entered an old maintenance room.
Daniel locked the door.
Everyone was breathing hard.
Victoria turned on Charles.
“You knew Rosalind was alive.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Eight years.”
Victoria stared.
“You knew.”
“I protected her.”
“You let me suffer.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice.”
Rosalind suddenly spoke.
“Mr. Charles is lying.”
Everyone looked at her.
Charles froze.
“What?”
Rosalind stared at him.
“You told Claire that if she didn't give you the ledger, you would let Mama die.”
Charles went pale.
Victoria looked at Eleanor.
“Is that true?”
Eleanor nodded.
Charles closed his eyes.
“I was forced.”
Victoria whispered:
“By whom?”
A voice came from the other side of the locked door.
“By me.”
Everyone turned.
Victoria knew that voice.
Her father had been dead seven years.
But his voice was unmistakable.
The old intercom crackled.
Then the voice said:
“Hello, Victoria.”
Victoria stared at Charles.
“What is this?”
Charles looked horrified.
The speaker came alive again.
“You buried my secrets once.”
May you like
A pause.
“Now you will bury your daughters.”
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