Chapter 8 - Room 17 had no number outside.It was hidden beneath the old maternity wing.
Raymond led Emily there.
The corridor was abandoned.
Dust covered the floors.
The walls were marked with faded numbers.
But no 17.
Raymond stopped.
“It's behind this wall.”
Emily touched the bricks.
“Why was it sealed?”
“After your mother's disappearance.”
“Who sealed it?”
“Richard Hayes.”
Emily stepped back.
“Why?”
Raymond looked at her.
“Because what happened inside was never supposed to become public.”
Security removed several panels.
A hidden door appeared.
Inside was darkness.
The room smelled of disinfectant.
Emily switched on a flashlight.
There was a crib.
A surgical table.
Several old monitors.
And shelves full of files.
One file sat in the center.
Emily opened it.
The heading read:
PROJECT BLACK ROSE: SECOND GENERATION
Her stomach tightened.
There were photographs of pregnant women.
Dozens of them.
Each woman had a code instead of a name.
One page contained the words:
Objective: identify genetically compatible offspring for long-term succession program.
Emily whispered:
“What is this?”
Raymond looked sick.
“Human experimentation.”
She turned another page.
A photograph of Margaret.
Pregnant.
The date was seventeen years ago.
Emily stared.
“The pregnancy…”
Raymond nodded.
“This was before you were born.”
The report continued:
Subject M.C. refused termination.
Emily looked at him.
“Termination?”
Raymond's jaw tightened.
“They wanted your mother to end her pregnancy.”
“Why?”
“Because they discovered your genetic profile.”
Emily looked at the next page.
A red stamp marked it:
EXCEPTIONAL MATCH
She felt dizzy.
“What does that mean?”
Raymond didn't answer.
The monitor on the table suddenly turned on.
A video began playing.
Margaret appeared.
Older.
Tired.
But alive.
Emily rushed toward the screen.
“Mom.”
Margaret looked directly into the camera.
“If you are watching this, then they failed to stop you.”
Emily began crying.
Margaret continued.
“Emily, I need you to understand something.”
She took a breath.
“Your child is not valuable because of money.”
“Your child is valuable because of blood.”
Emily stared.
“Your father carries a genetic mutation that can unlock the Black Rose program.”
Raymond looked shocked.
Margaret continued:
“Your baby inherited it.”
Emily covered her mouth.
“They aren't after your money.”
“They are after your child.”
The video changed.
A laboratory.
A scientist.
And a DNA chart.
The chart contained Emily's name.
Then another.
ADRIAN SHAW
Then:
UNKNOWN MALE
Emily stared.
The unknown male's genetic profile matched hers.
The screen displayed:
COMPATIBILITY: 99.9%
Raymond whispered:
“That's impossible.”
Emily looked at him.
“Who is it?”
The door suddenly slammed shut.
A voice came through the intercom.
“Someone who has been watching you for twenty years.”
Emily spun around.
A man appeared on the monitor.
His face was hidden in shadow.
He smiled.
“Hello, Emily.”
Raymond moved in front of her.
“Show yourself.”
The man laughed.
“Still playing protector.”
Emily stepped beside Raymond.
“Who are you?”
The man leaned toward the camera.
“You've already met me.”
“I haven't.”
“You just don't remember.”
A second screen switched on.
Childhood footage appeared.
Emily was five.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
Always surrounded by the same man in the background.
At a birthday party.
At a hospital.
At school.
Always watching.
Emily's blood ran cold.
Then the man stepped into the light.
Emily stared.
She knew him.
Every day.
He had been someone she trusted.
Someone who had been beside her for years.
Someone who had hugged her, advised her, and comforted her whenever she was afraid.
Emily whispered his name.
“Uncle Raymond…”
Raymond turned.
The man on the screen smiled.
“Not Raymond.”
The lights went out.
A voice whispered from behind Emily.
“Your real uncle is standing right here.”
Emily spun around.
A second Raymond was standing in the room.
Identical.
Same face.
Same suit.
Same eyes.
May you like
But the man beside Emily slowly raised a gun.
And smiled.
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