Chapter 7 - The Cry Behind the WallThey searched the mansion room by room.
Nothing.
No infant.
No hidden room.
No secret nursery.
Maisie insisted she had heard a baby crying.
“It came from here.”
She pointed to the west wing.
Adrian opened the door.
The room had been unused for years.
Dust covered the furniture.
Old paintings hung on the walls.
At the back stood a massive fireplace.
Maisie walked toward it.
“Behind there.”
Adrian stared.
“There is nothing behind the fireplace.”
She shook her head.
“My mom said this house has doors that don't look like doors.”
Adrian remembered the hidden staircase.
He examined the stone.
One block had a faint scratch.
He pressed it.
Nothing.
Another.
Nothing.
Then he heard it.
A tiny sound.
A cry.
Adrian's blood ran cold.
“Everyone out.”
Security surrounded the hallway.
Adrian pushed the third stone.
The fireplace shifted.
A narrow opening appeared.
Behind it was a small room.
There was a crib.
A bottle.
Blankets.
Medical equipment.
And photographs.
Dozens of them.
Adrian stepped inside.
His heart broke.
Someone had been living here.
Recently.
The crib moved slightly.
He approached.
Empty.
Only a stuffed rabbit remained.
On the mattress was a note.
YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO FIND THIS ROOM.
Adrian picked it up.
Behind the note was a photograph.
A newborn baby.
Same dark hair as Owen.
But the eyes were unmistakably Adrian's.
He stared.
“This…”
Natalie entered.
She saw the photograph.
Her face went white.
“Oh God.”
Adrian turned.
“Who is this?”
Natalie shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Maisie pointed toward a monitor.
“There.”
Adrian switched it on.
The screen showed multiple camera feeds.
Nursery.
Kitchen.
Garage.
Hospital.
One feed showed Owen in his hospital room.
Another showed the mansion basement.
And another...
A woman holding a baby.
Adrian leaned closer.
The woman was his mother.
Alive.
Older.
Weak.
Holding an infant.
The feed timestamp was today.
Adrian stared.
“My mother.”
Natalie whispered:
“She was supposed to be dead too.”
Adrian's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
His mother's voice came through.
“Adrian.”
He froze.
“Mom?”
“Listen to me.”
“Where are you?”
“No questions.”
“Where are you?”
“If you go to the hospital, they will take Owen.”
“I need to know where you are.”
“They already have the child.”
“What child?”
Silence.
“Mom.”
“The baby in your house…”
She began crying.
“That baby is not yours.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“Then whose is he?”
“Mine.”
Adrian's breath stopped.
“What?”
“I gave birth to him.”
The line went dead.
Natalie stared at Adrian.
“What did she say?”
Adrian couldn't answer.
The monitor suddenly switched feeds.
A man entered the hospital room.
Adrian recognized him.
His father.
But the hospital camera showed something stranger.
Owen was not in the crib.
The crib was empty.
The man carried the baby away.
Adrian ran for the door.
“We're going to the hospital.”
Daniel called again.
“Don't.”
Adrian stopped.
“Why?”
“Because I'm looking at the hospital security system.”
“What?”
“The man who took the baby wasn't your father.”
Adrian's stomach dropped.
“Who was he?”
Daniel hesitated.
“I don't know.”
“Then what do you know?”
The line went silent.
Then Daniel whispered:
“Adrian…”
“What?”
“The hospital just lost power.”
A scream erupted through the phone.
Then another voice came on the line.
A man's voice.
Calm.
“Mr. Vale.”
Adrian froze.
“Your son is safe.”
“Who are you?”
“You've been asking the wrong question.”
“What question?”
The man laughed softly.
“Not who wants the baby.”
May you like
A pause.
“Ask who gave birth to him.”
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