Chapter 8 - Dr. ValeDr. Vale had barely aged.
That was the first thing I noticed.
The second was the gun in his hand.
The third was his smile.
"Hello, Evan."
I hated that he knew my name.
Jake stepped forward.
"Stay away from him."
Vale laughed softly.
"You always were protective."
Maya aimed at him.
"Drop the weapon."
Vale looked at her.
"Still wearing that scar?"
Her face hardened.
"You gave me that scar."
"Technically, your father did."
The train lights flickered.
Dad stepped forward.
"Adrian."
Vale's smile vanished.
"Richard."
Two ghosts meeting in an underground railway.
"You look tired," Vale said.
"Kill me and leave them."
I stared at Dad.
Vale laughed.
"You still think sacrifice makes you noble."
He raised the gun.
Jake moved.
A shot rang out.
Jake fell.
"JAKE!"
I dropped beside him.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Maya fired.
Vale disappeared behind the carriage door.
Jake grabbed my arm.
"I'm okay."
He wasn't.
Dad knelt beside him.
"Through and through."
Jake coughed.
"You need to go."
"I'm not leaving you."
"You have to."
"Why?"
He looked at me.
"Because Vale isn't here for me."
I heard footsteps.
Many.
Dad pulled me upright.
"We have seconds."
Maya kicked open an emergency door.
"Jump!"
The train was moving.
I looked at Dad.
"Where?"
"Into the dark."
We jumped.
I hit gravel.
Pain exploded through my leg.
The train vanished.
Silence.
Then Jake groaned beside me.
Maya had landed badly.
Dad helped us up.
"Jake's hurt."
"We need a hospital."
"No hospitals."
I stared at him.
"Why?"
"Halcyon owns three."
Maya looked at the distant lights.
"There's one place they don't control."
"Where?"
Dad hesitated.
"Your old makeup studio."
I blinked.
"What?"
"The studio you built in the city."
"Why would that be safe?"
"Because the owner of the building is a Halcyon enemy."
I stared at him.
"You've been using my life as a hiding place?"
"No."
He looked ashamed.
"I've been using your life as evidence."
"What evidence?"
He removed a tiny memory card from his shoe.
"Everything Halcyon did to our family."
He placed it in my hand.
"This contains the original files."
Maya's eyes widened.
"Where did you get that?"
Dad looked at me.
"From your mother."
Jake whispered:
"Then she knew we would be chased."
A distant helicopter appeared.
Maya looked up.
"They're tracking us."
Dad grabbed my shoulder.
"We have one chance."
I looked at the memory card.
"What happens if they get it?"
May you like
Dad's voice was barely audible.
"They erase the last ten years."
