Chapter 79 - THE ORIGINAL VAULT
The vault was beneath the old clinic.
We found the entrance behind a wall.
The key opened it.
Inside were hundreds of files.
But one file was placed separately.
V-001.
I opened it.
The first document was dated sixty-three years earlier.
The founder of The Circle.
My great-grandfather.
The next pages contained names.
Bankers.
Lawyers.
Politicians.
Business owners.
Judges.
Then I saw the most recent page.
CURRENT DIRECTOR: LUCAS REED.
Julian stared.
“He's the leader.”
Clara nodded.
“But there's one more name.”
She pointed to the bottom.
SECONDARY DIRECTOR: UNKNOWN.
I looked at Elena.
“Who?”
She shook her head.
“We never discovered it.”
Then the lights turned on.
A projector activated.
An old recording began.
My great-grandfather appeared on screen.
“If you are watching this, The Circle has survived.”
He paused.
“But survival requires succession.”
He mentioned the original trust.
Then the family.
Then my name.
“Emily Reed is the final key.”
I froze.
“What?”
The recording continued.
“The trust cannot be transferred until Emily willingly accepts responsibility.”
I looked at Julian.
“That happened.”
“No,” Elena whispered.
“What?”
“You didn't accept the trust.”
I remembered.
I had rejected it.
Then who controlled it?
My father suddenly looked at the document.
“Someone else.”
The screen changed.
A new line appeared.
SUCCESSOR: LUCAS REED.
Julian stepped backward.
“No.”
Then another line appeared.
CONDITION: ELIMINATE EMILY REED.
My heart stopped.
May you like
The vault door slammed shut.
Someone had locked us inside.
