Chapter 6 - I ran toward the SUV without thinking.“Madison!”
Michael stepped out.
“Stop.”
I froze.
He held both hands in the air.
“She's not here.”
My heart hammered.
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“You kidnapped my daughter.”
“I didn't.”
“Then where is she?”
Michael smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
“Understand what?”
“Daniel is using you.”
I laughed.
It came out broken.
“My husband just survived being buried alive.”
“He wanted you to find the red box.”
“Yes.”
“He wanted you to believe I was responsible.”
“You admitted drugging him.”
“I did drug him.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“Because he was going to expose everything.”
“What everything?”
Michael looked at the house.
“Your family.”
“My family?”
“Your father started Orpheus.”
I stared at him.
“My father died when I was twelve.”
“He didn't.”
The world shifted.
“My father died.”
“No.”
Michael's voice was quiet.
“He disappeared.”
I felt a cold pressure in my chest.
“Then who died?”
“Someone they wanted you to believe was your father.”
I couldn't speak.
Michael opened the SUV door.
Inside was a file.
He tossed it toward me.
I opened it.
The first page contained an old photograph of my father.
The second showed a list of names.
The third contained a medical report.
Then I saw Daniel's name.
And beside it:
SUBJECT 14.
I looked up.
“What does Subject 14 mean?”
Michael's face hardened.
“Daniel wasn't investigating Orpheus.”
“What?”
“He was part of it.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“He was one of the people who helped build it.”
I stepped backward.
“You're lying.”
“Ask him.”
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
“Where are you?”
“With Elena.”
“Is Madison safe?”
“Yes.”
“Michael says you're part of Orpheus.”
Silence.
“Daniel.”
Finally, his voice came.
“I was.”
My stomach dropped.
“But I left.”
“When?”
“Before you remembered me.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because the moment you remembered, they would come for you.”
“You made me forget.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to me for years.”
“I saved your life.”
“You drugged me.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
He said nothing.
Then I heard Madison's voice in the background.
“Mommy?”
I started crying.
“Put her on.”
“Renee…”
“Put my daughter on!”
A phone was handed over.
“Mommy.”
“Madison, are you safe?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you?”
“With Daddy.”
My heart shattered.
“Can I talk to him?”
Madison paused.
“He says you shouldn't come.”
“Why?”
“Because Uncle Michael found us.”
I looked up.
Michael was gone.
Only his SUV remained.
Then I heard something outside the house.
A crash.
Glass shattered.
My mother screamed.
Men in black masks rushed into the room.
I pulled Madison's backpack from the SUV and ran.
Behind me, gunfire erupted.
Someone grabbed my arm.
I screamed.
Then a voice whispered:
“Renee, it's me.”
Lucas.
The forensic accountant.
He pulled me through a side door.
“Move.”
“Where's Madison?”
“She's safe.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Daniel asked me to protect her.”
We ran into an alley.
Lucas stopped beside a black sedan.
“Get in.”
I refused.
“You're part of this too.”
“Yes.”
My eyes widened.
“Then why should I trust you?”
“Because I was the man who exposed Orpheus.”
“Why?”
Lucas looked at me.
“Because my wife was one of its victims.”
I climbed into the car.
He started the engine.
Then he handed me a photograph.
I looked down.
It showed six people standing around a table.
Daniel.
Michael.
My father.
Lucas.
A woman I didn't know.
And me.
I stared.
“I was there.”
May you like
Lucas nodded.
“You were the one who created Project Orpheus.”
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