Chapter 12 - My Mother Pulled the TriggerEverything slowed.

Linda's gun was pointed directly at Emily.

Emily held Ethan against her chest.

“Put it down,” I said.

Linda shook her head.

“If I do, they kill all three of you.”

“You're not helping.”

“I am.”

“By threatening Emily?”

“They're listening.”

I looked around.

Cameras.

Microphones.

There was probably no corner in the room they hadn't watched.

Linda's voice dropped.

“Daniel, I need you to do exactly what I say.”

“Why?”

“Because they believe Emily is the reason Ethan carries the marker.”

“She isn't.”

Linda looked at her.

“She might be.”

Emily stared.

“What?”

Linda continued.

“Your blood isn't random.”

I stepped between them.

“What are you saying?”

“The first carrier was your father.”

She pointed at me.

“The second was you.”

Then at Emily.

“The third is her.”

I looked at Emily.

She was crying.

“I didn't know.”

Linda's expression softened.

“I know.”

Then the gun fired.

I tackled my mother.

The bullet struck the wall.

Emily ran.

I grabbed Linda's wrist.

“Are you insane?”

She struggled.

“You don't understand!”

“You almost killed her!”

“I was shooting the camera!”

I stopped.

She pointed behind me.

The bullet had shattered a small lens embedded in the wall.

I stared.

Another camera.

Linda breathed heavily.

“They can see us.”

Then her expression changed.

“They can hear us too.”

A speaker clicked.

Victor's voice.

“Excellent.”

My blood turned to ice.

“You're entertaining.”

Linda looked up.

Victor continued:

“Proceed to extraction.”

A loud alarm began.

Red lights flashed.

Doors opened throughout the basement.

People in black tactical gear entered.

I grabbed Emily.

“Run!”

We sprinted through the hallway.

Bullets struck the walls.

Linda fired back.

We reached the elevator.

The doors opened.

We rushed inside.

One of the men fired.

The bullet missed me.

But hit Linda.

She staggered.

I caught her.

“Mom!”

She looked at me.

“Don't stop.”

We reached the upper floor.

Outside, rain hammered the windows.

A car waited.

Emily jumped in.

I carried Linda.

Then Linda whispered:

“Don't go home.”

“Why?”

She looked at Ethan.

“Because they already have someone there.”

I froze.

“Who?”

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Linda's eyes closed.

“The person you trust most.”