Chapter 9 - We followed the instructions.Not because I trusted my father.
Because Lily was six years old.
And I would have crawled through fire to get her back.
Michael drove.
Sarah followed in an unmarked vehicle.
We left the house before dawn.
The address from the message led us to an abandoned pharmaceutical warehouse on the edge of the city.
It had been empty for years.
The loading gates were chained.
The windows were broken.
But one side door stood open.
Michael looked at me.
“Once we're inside, stay close.”
I held Claire's necklace.
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I've spent years surviving without knowing.”
He looked at me.
“You think I wanted this?”
I didn't answer.
We entered.
The warehouse was silent.
Too silent.
Then a speaker clicked on.
“Daniel.”
My father's voice.
“Bring the necklace to the center of the room.”
I stepped forward.
A spotlight came on.
“Where's Lily?”
“Safe.”
“Let me hear her.”
A small voice came through the speaker.
“Daddy?”
My knees nearly gave way.
“Lily!”
“I'm here.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
A man's voice interrupted.
“Enough.”
The lights changed.
Screens lit the walls.
Claire appeared on one.
She was sitting in a chair.
Alive.
Her face was pale.
Beside her stood Vanessa.
I stared.
“What is she doing with Claire?”
Michael whispered:
“She's protecting her.”
“From whom?”
The answer came from the speaker.
“From me.”
My father stepped out from the darkness.
Older than I remembered.
But alive.
He looked directly at me.
“Hello, Daniel.”
I couldn't speak.
Sarah raised her weapon.
“Put your hands where I can see them.”
My father smiled.
“You've brought police.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Sarah frowned.
He looked toward her.
“You should record this.”
“Everything.”
I stepped forward.
“Where is Lily?”
“Down the hall.”
“Release her.”
“First, the necklace.”
I held it up.
“Why?”
“Because Claire stole something from us.”
“What?”
“A key.”
I looked at Michael.
He closed his eyes.
My father continued.
“She used it to enter the family archive.”
“What did she find?”
“The truth about Lily.”
I stared.
“What truth?”
My father walked toward me.
“Your daughter is not your biological child.”
Silence.
The warehouse seemed to vanish around me.
I looked at Michael.
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
My father smiled.
“Now you understand.”
My hands began to shake.
“No.”
“Claire lied to you.”
“No.”
“She needed you to protect the girl.”
“Shut up.”
“She knew we would come for Lily.”
“I said shut up.”
“She married you because you were the one person we couldn't control.”
I lunged.
Michael grabbed me.
My father didn't move.
He only smiled.
Then Claire's voice came through the speakers.
“Daniel, don't believe him.”
I turned.
Her image changed.
A second camera showed Claire standing.
She looked directly at me.
“Lily is yours.”
My father laughed.
“Claire.”
She continued.
“Daniel, remember the night Lily was born.”
I closed my eyes.
Hospital corridor.
Rain.
Claire exhausted.
My hand around hers.
The nurse carrying Lily to us.
Claire whispering:
“She has your eyes.”
I opened my eyes.
My father was staring at me.
He looked almost amused.
“Do you really believe memories are proof?”
Then Michael stepped forward.
“There is a DNA report.”
Everyone turned.
He pulled a folded document from his coat.
My father suddenly changed.
“Michael.”
Michael held it up.
“Lily is Daniel's daughter.”
I grabbed the report.
It was real.
My father's face hardened.
“Where did you get that?”
“From Room One.”
My father reached inside his coat.
Sarah raised her gun.
“Don't.”
He stopped.
Then smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
“What?”
“DNA only tells you who the father is.”
He looked at me.
“It doesn't tell you why Lily was chosen.”
A loud metallic click sounded behind us.
The warehouse doors slammed shut.
Smoke began filling the room.
Michael shouted:
“Get down!”
I dropped.
People rushed from the shadows.
Sarah fired.
Glass shattered.
Someone grabbed me from behind.
I fought.
Then I heard Lily scream.
“DAD!”
I twisted toward her.
She was being dragged down a corridor.
Vanessa stood beside her.
For one second our eyes met.
I saw terror in Vanessa's face.
Then she mouthed two words.
Trust me.
The corridor doors closed.
May you like
And Claire's voice screamed through the speakers:
“Daniel, don't follow Vanessa!”
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