Chapter 11 - The Hospital RecordThe abandoned hospital stood at the edge of Blackridge.
Adrian stopped outside.
Evelyn refused to enter.
“I'll stay with the children.”
“Why?”
“Because this place holds memories I don't want them to see.”
Adrian looked at her.
“What happened here?”
She didn't answer.
He entered alone.
The corridors smelled of dust and disinfectant.
Every door hung open.
At the end of the hallway, he found the old archives.
He searched for the date on the photograph.
After twenty minutes, he found a damaged ledger.
The page had been torn.
Only fragments remained.
Female infant.
Transferred.
Male infant.
Transferred.
Then one name.
Eleanor.
Adrian stared.
His mother's name?
No.
A second page fell from behind the cabinet.
He picked it up.
Patient: Elena Vale.
Delivery: twins.
Male: Adrian Vale.
Female: Elara Vale.
Adrian froze.
A sister.
Not a brother.
He read the line again.
“Female.”
His mother had twins.
A boy.
A girl.
Not Lucas.
Then who was Lucas?
He found another record.
Patient: Evelyn Mercer.
Delivery: twins.
Male: Lucas Mercer.
Female: deceased.
Adrian stared at the page.
Evelyn had twins too.
He heard footsteps.
He turned.
Victoria stood in the corridor.
Her face was bruised.
But she was alive.
“You came.”
Adrian rushed toward her.
“Who did this?”
“Daniel.”
“Where is Lucas?”
“Inside.”
Victoria held out a small key.
“Don't use the front entrance.”
“Where does this go?”
“Basement.”
They moved through a service stairwell.
At the bottom was another locked room.
Adrian inserted the key.
The door opened.
A young man sat inside.
Late twenties.
Dark hair.
Gray-green eyes.
He looked up.
Adrian stopped.
He had seen that face before.
In the mirror.
The young man stood.
“Who are you?”
Adrian couldn't answer.
Lucas looked at Victoria.
“She told me you were coming.”
Adrian stared.
“You know me?”
Lucas laughed.
“Of course.”
“How?”
Lucas reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a photograph.
Adrian's father stood beside a young Adrian.
And a baby.
On the back, someone had written:
My two boys.
Lucas looked at him.
“I spent my whole life believing you destroyed us.”
Adrian's voice trembled.
“I didn't.”
“That's what they all say.”
“Your father lied to you.”
Lucas's expression hardened.
“Daniel isn't my father.”
“No.”
“Then who is?”
Adrian looked at him.
“I don't know.”
Lucas stepped closer.
“You do.”
“No.”
“You're afraid.”
Adrian shook his head.
“I'm confused.”
Lucas smiled bitterly.
“Me too.”
Then he opened a folder.
Inside were DNA reports.
Adrian read them.
Father: Unknown.
Mother: Evelyn Mercer.
Sibling match: Adrian Vale.
99.99%.
Adrian stared.
Lucas smiled without warmth.
“Now tell me.”
Adrian's eyes filled with tears.
“You're my brother.”
Lucas said nothing.
Then a voice came over the intercom.
Daniel.
“Finally.”
Adrian turned toward the ceiling.
Daniel laughed.
“You found each other.”
Victoria looked terrified.
Adrian shouted:
“Where are Clara and Mia?”
Silence.
Then Daniel answered:
“Safe.”
Adrian's heart stopped.
“Where?”
“I'll give them back.”
“When?”
“After you bring me Lucas.”
Lucas looked at Adrian.
“Don't.”
Daniel continued.
“Because if Lucas refuses…”
A scream came through the speaker.
Clara.
“Daddy!”
Adrian's blood ran cold.
Then Mia began crying.
Daniel whispered:
“You have one hour.”
The speaker went silent.
May you like
Lucas looked at Adrian.
“Now we find out which one of us he's really afraid of.”
