Chapter 8 - The Minister's SecretThe minister removed his clerical collar.
Beneath it was a small black emblem.
An orchid.
Clara stared.
“You.”
He smiled.
“My name is Gabriel Kane.”
Alexander raised his gun.
Gabriel didn't flinch.
“You're surrounded.”
The church doors slammed shut.
Armed men appeared behind the pews.
Alexander lowered his weapon slightly.
Gabriel smiled.
“That's better.”
Clara looked around.
“You planned the wedding.”
“Yes.”
“The attack.”
“Yes.”
“My mother's disappearance.”
Gabriel paused.
“Yes.”
Clara's voice became cold.
“Why?”
“Because your mother discovered the truth.”
“What truth?”
Gabriel walked toward the altar.
“Black Thorn has spent decades controlling governments, corporations, courts, and financial markets.”
Clara interrupted.
“You said I was the key.”
“I need your memory.”
She froze.
“What?”
“You saw the original Orchid file when you were six.”
“But the memories were erased.”
Gabriel smiled.
“Supposedly.”
Clara's eyes narrowed.
“You wanted me to remember.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the file was never destroyed.”
He looked directly at her.
“You memorized it.”
Clara's heartbeat accelerated.
“No.”
“You were six. Children remember patterns differently.”
He opened a folder.
Inside were pages covered in strange symbols.
“You saw names, numbers, account codes.”
Clara stared.
One symbol looked familiar.
She touched it.
A memory flashed.
Red door.
Black box.
Her mother.
A man's voice.
Remember the numbers.
Clara pulled her hand back.
“I know that symbol.”
Gabriel smiled.
“Exactly.”
Jonathan suddenly stepped forward.
“Enough.”
Gabriel looked at him.
“You should be grateful.”
“For what?”
“For the daughter you sacrificed.”
Jonathan's face hardened.
“I sacrificed everything.”
Gabriel laughed.
“No. You sacrificed her.”
Alexander attacked.
Chaos erupted.
Gunfire tore through the church.
Clara dropped behind the altar.
Jonathan fired at Gabriel.
Gabriel disappeared into the smoke.
Alexander reached Clara.
“Move!”
They ran through a side door.
Jonathan followed.
They escaped into an underground tunnel beneath the church.
After several minutes, they stopped.
Clara turned on her father.
“You're coming with me.”
Jonathan nodded.
“I owe you the truth.”
He reached inside his jacket.
He handed her a key.
“Your mother hid this in case I failed.”
“What does it open?”
“A vault.”
“Where?”
Jonathan looked at Alexander.
Then back at Clara.
“The Vale family bank.”
Alexander froze.
“My family's bank?”
Jonathan nodded.
“The vault contains the original Project Orchid records.”
Clara took the key.
“And Gabriel?”
Jonathan's face turned grim.
“He will do anything to stop you opening it.”
“Can he?”
Jonathan looked at his daughter.
“Yes.”
Then footsteps echoed through the tunnel.
Not one person.
Dozens.
Alexander loaded his gun.
“They found us.”
Jonathan stared into the darkness.
“Run.”
Clara refused.
“No.”
Jonathan grabbed her shoulder.
“Clara, listen to me.”
His eyes were desperate.
“If Gabriel gets the vault, millions of people die.”
Alexander stepped beside her.
“Then we're not letting him.”
Jonathan whispered:
“You don't understand.”
He pointed toward the tunnel.
“Gabriel isn't coming for the vault.”
Clara stared.
“Then what does he want?”
May you like
Jonathan's voice cracked.
“He wants you.”
