Chapter 8 - The Mother in the DarknessThe words echoed through Isabella's mind.
Your mother is still alive.
For nine years, she had believed Helena Vale had died.
She had grieved her.
Visited her grave.
Spoken to her photograph.
Now everything she knew had collapsed.
Helena was alive.
Nathan helped carry Celine into a hidden room.
Arthur, barely conscious, treated the wound.
Celeste stood against the wall.
She looked destroyed.
“My whole life was a lie.”
Isabella looked at her.
“So was mine.”
Nathan approached.
“Isabella.”
She stepped away.
“Don't.”
“I need to explain.”
“Later.”
She looked at Celeste.
“What is the room beneath the lake?”
Celeste's expression changed.
“There is an underground reservoir beneath the estate.”
“Then we go there.”
“We don't know what's waiting.”
“I don't care.”
Arthur spoke weakly.
“I do.”
Everyone turned.
He opened his eyes.
“Your father built that room before you were born.”
“What is it?”
“A prison.”
Isabella's heart sank.
“Who was imprisoned there?”
Arthur looked toward the ceiling.
“Helena.”
Silence.
“But I saw her body.”
“No.”
Arthur shook his head.
“You saw a coffin.”
The distinction made Isabella dizzy.
“Then who was buried?”
Arthur didn't answer.
He reached inside his shirt and pulled out a key.
“Your mother arranged everything.”
He handed it to Isabella.
“She knew Father would come for her.”
“How long has she been alive?”
“Nine years.”
Isabella stared.
Nine years.
Her mother had been alive for nine years.
While Isabella had mourned her.
While Richard had controlled the family.
While Celeste had been lied to.
A sound suddenly echoed above them.
Footsteps.
Heavy boots.
Multiple people.
Richard's men.
Celeste grabbed the documents.
“We need to move.”
They raced through the tunnel.
The underground passage opened into a forgotten greenhouse.
From there, they reached the lake.
Fog covered the water.
Nathan found an old stone staircase leading downward.
At the bottom stood an iron door.
Isabella inserted the key.
The lock clicked.
The door opened.
A dim corridor stretched beneath the lake.
They followed it.
At the end was a glass chamber.
Inside sat an elderly woman.
Her hair was silver.
Her face was thin.
But her eyes were unmistakable.
Isabella stopped breathing.
“Mom?”
The woman slowly looked up.
“Isabella.”
The world disappeared.
Isabella ran forward.
She fell into her mother's arms.
Helena held her tightly.
“I knew you would come.”
Isabella sobbed.
“Why did you let me believe you were dead?”
“Because your father would have killed you.”
“Why didn't you leave?”
“I tried.”
“Then why are you still here?”
Helena looked toward the door.
“Because there is something you don't understand.”
“What?”
Helena took Isabella's face in her hands.
“Your father didn't build this prison for me.”
Isabella stared.
“Then for who?”
Helena whispered:
“For the woman I was forced to become.”
Before Isabella could ask what that meant, the lights flickered.
Then Richard's voice came through the speaker.
“Hello, Helena.”
She closed her eyes.
Richard continued.
“I've been waiting for this reunion.”
Helena looked at Isabella.
“Run.”
The doors locked.
And somewhere behind the walls, a countdown began.
Ten.
May you like
Nine.
Eight.
