Chapter 8 - THREE MINUTESThe first explosion shook the walls.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Gabriel grabbed Eli.
“Where?”
His mother pointed toward the emergency tunnel.
“Basement.”
Hannah ran ahead.
Gabriel carried Eli despite the boy's protest.
“I can move.”
“I know.”
“Then let me.”
Gabriel stopped.
He lowered him carefully.
Eli crawled.
Gabriel stared.
For the first time, he didn't pick his son up.
He let him move himself.
They reached the tunnel.
Behind them, another explosion thundered.
The laboratory ceiling cracked.
“Go!”
They ran.
At the end of the tunnel was a steel elevator.
Gabriel pressed the button.
Nothing.
Hannah opened the panel.
“Power is cut.”
His mother reached into her coat.
She pulled out a key.
“Your father built a manual release.”
She inserted it.
The elevator opened.
They entered.
Then a voice came through the tunnel.
“Gabriel.”
Julian.
Gabriel turned.
Julian stood in the smoke.
Gun in hand.
“You've finally remembered.”
Gabriel stepped forward.
“Are you Eli's father?”
Julian smiled.
“Yes.”
Eli looked at him.
Julian's expression softened.
“I've been trying to get you away from them.”
Gabriel's voice was furious.
“You murdered Claire.”
Julian shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
“Your father.”
“He's dead.”
Julian's eyes narrowed.
“That isn't what I said.”
Gabriel froze.
Julian pointed toward his mother.
“Ask her what she did the night your father died.”
Gabriel looked at his mother.
She remained silent.
Julian laughed.
“Everybody has a secret.”
Then he raised the gun.
Hannah stepped in front of Gabriel.
Julian pulled the trigger.
The shot missed.
Gabriel slammed the elevator button.
The doors closed.
The bullet struck metal.
The elevator descended.
Eli looked at his father.
“Why does everyone know things except you?”
Gabriel didn't answer.
His mother did.
“Because your father erased his memories.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“What?”
“You were becoming dangerous.”
“To whom?”
“To the family.”
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
An underground garage waited below.
A black car stood alone.
Gabriel approached.
Then he stopped.
The license plate.
He knew it.
It belonged to Claire.
His wife had driven that car the day she died.
Gabriel opened the trunk.
Inside was a phone.
Still functioning.
A recording began automatically.
Claire's voice.
“Gabriel, I knew you'd find this.”
Gabriel closed his eyes.
“I need you to listen carefully.”
Static.
Then:
“Julian isn't the person you should fear.”
Gabriel frowned.
Claire continued:
“The person closest to Eli is.”
Hannah's face went pale.
Gabriel turned toward her.
Claire said one final sentence.
“If Hannah is with you, don't trust her.”
The recording ended.
Silence.
Gabriel stared at Hannah.
She slowly stepped backward.
“Gabriel…”
“Who are you?”
Hannah swallowed.
“I told you.”
“No.”
Gabriel's voice hardened.
“You lied about everything.”
Eli looked between them.
Hannah's eyes filled with tears.
Then she said:
“Your wife told me to lie.”
Gabriel paused.
“To whom?”
“To you.”
She looked at Eli.
“Because she knew you would eventually become the most dangerous person in the mansion.”
Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
“What did I do?”
Hannah hesitated.
Then she whispered:
“You signed the order that killed Claire.”
Gabriel's face went blank.
“No.”
Hannah held up a document.
His signature.
His authorization.
His handwriting.
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And at the bottom:
ELIMINATION APPROVED.
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