Chapter 5 - WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR FATHERDavid refused to go into the basement.
At least, he tried.
But Stella had already started walking.
“Where are you going?”
“To find out what happened.”
“We're calling the police.”
“They won't understand.”
“They have to.”
Stella turned.
“Mom is dead.”
David couldn't answer.
She continued.
“And whatever killed her is still here.”
The basement smelled of earth and rust.
An old light bulb flickered overhead.
At the bottom of the stairs stood a wooden chest.
David recognized it.
His father had owned it.
He hadn't seen it since childhood.
Stella opened the chest.
Inside were dozens of photographs.
Their father.
Adrian.
Their mother.
And people David didn't recognize.
In every photograph, Adrian looked exactly the same.
Same face.
Same age.
Same cold smile.
David picked up one picture.
It was dated twenty-eight years ago.
He stared.
“That's impossible.”
Adrian looked exactly as he did today.
Stella found another photograph.
This one showed their father standing in front of the old house.
Next to him was a young woman.
The dead woman from the mirror.
David stared at her face.
“Who is she?”
Stella turned the photograph over.
A name was written.
Evelyn Vale.
“Vale?”
“Adrian's wife?”
They searched the chest.
At the bottom was a diary.
Their father's handwriting filled the pages.
David read.
Adrian promised us wealth.
He said we would never suffer again.
But the gift demanded blood.
At first, one death.
Then another.
I thought I could stop.
I was wrong.
David turned the page.
The writing became frantic.
If you are reading this, Adrian has returned.
Do not trust Stella.
David stopped.
Stella stared at him.
“What does it say?”
He hesitated.
Then he showed her.
Her face collapsed.
“That's not possible.”
Another page.
My daughter was born under the contract.
The moment she turns thirty, the debt transfers to her.
David looked at Stella.
“How old are you?”
She whispered:
“Twenty-nine.”
A sound came from behind them.
Slow applause.
Adrian stood at the basement entrance.
“You finally understand.”
David charged toward him.
Adrian raised one finger.
David was thrown backward.
His body slammed against the wall.
Stella screamed.
Adrian walked closer.
“Your father borrowed wealth from me.”
“You killed him.”
“No.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“He killed himself.”
“Why?”
“Because he discovered the final condition.”
David stared.
“What condition?”
Adrian smiled.
“The debt can only be canceled by a willing sacrifice.”
Stella stepped forward.
“You mean me?”
“No.”
Adrian looked at David.
“Your brother.”
David froze.
“My brother?”
“You had another sibling.”
David shook his head.
“No.”
“You did.”
Adrian reached into his coat.
He pulled out a photograph.
A baby.
Held in their father's arms.
On the back was one sentence.
THE FIRST SON WAS NEVER BURIED.
David stared at the baby.
Something inside him broke.
Because the baby's face looked exactly like his own.
Then Adrian whispered:
“His name is Samuel.”
The basement door slammed shut.
May you like
And somewhere above them...
a man began screaming.
Related Stories
