Chapter 13 - THE LAST FLIGHT TO CHICAGOWe reached the airport in nineteen minutes.
Private jet.
Same plane I had canceled that morning.
The irony was almost cruel.
My pilot stared at the group.
“You said the trip was canceled.”
“It was.”
“Then why are we going?”
I looked at Lily.
“Because my daughter is the only person who can stop a war.”
The pilot didn't ask questions.
We boarded.
Ethan sat across from me.
David was checking weapons.
Noah watched Lily through the window.
“What happens if they catch us?”
David answered honestly.
“They won't.”
“Why?”
“Because they're expecting one thing.”
“What?”
“That Daniel Mercer is still afraid of remembering.”
I looked at him.
“I remember everything.”
“Then we're dangerous.”
The plane climbed.
Halfway to Chicago, Lily fell asleep.
I watched her.
She looked peaceful.
Almost ordinary.
“David.”
“Yes?”
“Tell me the truth.”
“I've given you nothing but truth today.”
“Is my wife alive?”
He looked away.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Chicago.”
“Who took her?”
“Victoria.”
“Why?”
David hesitated.
“Because Sarah is the only person who knows how to shut down the network.”
I stared at him.
“And she wasn't always trying to stop it.”
David nodded.
“She helped create it.”
My chest tightened.
“Why?”
“To save you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone says they betrayed me to save me.”
David looked at me.
“Sometimes that's exactly what happened.”
The plane shook.
The pilot shouted from the cockpit.
“Turbulence!”
The lights flickered.
Then the engine alarm screamed.
Ethan jumped up.
“What happened?”
“Engine two is gone.”
My stomach dropped.
“Sabotage?”
“Probably.”
The aircraft banked sharply.
Lily woke up.
“Daddy?”
I grabbed her.
“I'm here.”
She looked out the window.
Then whispered:
“They found us.”
“What?”
“There are three planes.”
I looked.
She was right.
Three black aircraft surrounded us.
David stared.
“They shouldn't have air support.”
Ethan went pale.
“They don't.”
“Then who does?”
A voice came through the cockpit radio.
“Daniel.”
Victoria.
“You have something that belongs to me.”
I grabbed the radio.
“You're not getting Lily.”
Victoria laughed.
“You still think this is about Lily.”
“What else would it be about?”
“You.”
My stomach tightened.
“You're the final key.”
“I don't understand.”
“You will.”
She paused.
“Ask yourself why they chose you.”
The radio went silent.
Then our instruments suddenly changed.
The navigation system had been overridden.
The destination wasn't Chicago anymore.
The plane turned north.
I looked at the coordinates.
Maine.
David's face went white.
“No.”
“What?”
“She's taking us to the original facility.”
“Why?”
“Because that's where they keep the backup.”
“Backup of what?”
David looked at Lily.
Then at me.
“Your mind.”
The plane descended.
Snow-covered mountains appeared below.
A runway emerged from the forest.
We landed.
Armed men surrounded the jet.
The doors opened.
Victoria stood outside.
Beside her was Sarah.
And behind them was my father.
Alive.
He walked toward me.
“You finally came home.”
I stepped off the plane.
“Where is my wife?”
Victoria smiled.
“You've been asking the wrong question.”
She pointed at Lily.
Then at me.
“You should be asking which one of you is the real threat.”
My father raised a tablet.
On its screen was a live feed.
Chicago.
Millions of people.
The countdown had begun.
T-MINUS 04:17.
Victoria leaned close.
“By the time you leave this mountain, nobody will remember who Daniel Mercer was.”
May you like
Then she smiled.
“Not even your daughter.”
