Chapter 11 - The MotherThe old Bennett estate had been abandoned for three years.
Clara entered through the back gate.
No guards.
No lights.
No cameras.
Too quiet.
Inside, dust covered the furniture.
Then she heard piano music.
One slow note at a time.
She followed the sound.
A woman sat at the piano.
Older.
Elegant.
Silver hair falling over one shoulder.
Clara stopped breathing.
Her mother turned.
"Clara."
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Clara crossed the room.
She slapped her.
Her mother didn't resist.
"Why?"
The woman lowered her eyes.
"I deserve that."
"You let me believe you were dead."
"I had to."
"You watched me lose everything."
"I tried to protect you."
"You failed."
"I know."
Clara's voice broke.
"Tell me the truth."
Her mother stood.
"Your father founded Black Meridian."
Clara closed her eyes.
"Why?"
"Because he believed money was the only thing powerful enough to control governments."
"And you?"
"I helped him."
Clara's expression hardened.
"Until I discovered what he was doing."
She continued.
"He started financing wars."
"Corrupting elections."
"Buying judges."
"Destroying competitors."
Clara looked sick.
"Then why did you stay?"
"Because I was trying to dismantle it from inside."
Her mother walked to a cabinet.
She removed a red notebook.
Clara recognized it instantly.
The notebook from her memory.
"This contains the names of every Black Meridian member."
Clara reached for it.
Her mother pulled it away.
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because if you open it, they will know."
"Who?"
Her mother looked toward the window.
"Everyone."
Suddenly the glass shattered.
Gunfire erupted.
Her mother pushed Clara to the floor.
Three bullets tore through the wall.
Daniel returned fire from outside.
Clara grabbed the notebook.
Her mother shouted.
"Run!"
They fled through a hidden corridor.
But halfway down the tunnel, Clara stopped.
A terrible realization had struck her.
"The notebook."
Her mother looked at her.
"What?"
"It's fake."
Her mother froze.
Clara held up a second notebook.
"The real one."
Her mother's face changed.
"When did you..."
"While you were talking."
For the first time, Clara saw genuine fear in her mother's eyes.
"Who are you?"
Her mother whispered.
"Your daughter."
"No."
She stared at Clara.
"You're not just my daughter."
Clara's heart pounded.
"Then what am I?"
Her mother answered:
"You're the final beneficiary of Black Meridian."
Clara stared.
"Why?"
"Because your father designed the entire system around you."
The tunnel fell silent.
Then a voice echoed from behind them.
"She's telling you the truth."
Clara turned.
Victoria stepped into the tunnel.
She was holding a gun.
And beside her stood Adrian.
Alive.
Clara's mother whispered:
"They're here."
May you like
Victoria smiled.
"Now the real game begins."
