Chapter 88 - THE ORIGINAL HOUSE
The old church stood empty beneath the rain.
We entered through the side door.
A staircase led underground.
At the bottom was a stone corridor.
I recognized the symbol carved into the wall.
The Circle.
My key fit the first lock.
Then the second.
Then the third.
The final door opened.
Inside was a room filled with photographs.
Hundreds of them.
My mother.
My grandmother.
My father.
Julian.
Me.
And Noah.
One photograph stopped me.
It showed Noah as a baby.
Behind him stood Lucas.
The date was written beneath it.
Three days after Noah was born.
Julian stared.
“Lucas knew him.”
“Yes,” Eleanor said.
“Why?”
“Because Lucas was assigned to watch him.”
I turned.
“Why would he?”
Eleanor hesitated.
“Because someone believed Noah was the heir.”
“Of what?”
“The original trust.”
Then we heard a child's voice.
“Mom?”
I spun around.
“Noah!”
He stood behind a glass partition.
Lucas was beside him.
But Lucas was no longer holding a weapon.
He was crying.
“I'm sorry,” he said.
Julian rushed toward the glass.
Lucas raised one hand.
“Don't.”
“Let my son go.”
“I will.”
“Then open the door.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
Lucas looked at me.
“Because the door only opens when the Director gives the final order.”
I stared at the control panel.
Three buttons.
RELEASE.
TRANSFER.
TERMINATE.
My blood went cold.
Lucas whispered:
“They designed it so the Director must choose.”
I looked at Noah.
He pressed his small hand against the glass.
“Mom.”
I stepped closer.
“I'm here.”
He nodded.
Then he smiled.
And whispered something I couldn't hear.
I moved closer.
He repeated it.
“Look behind you.”
I turned.
Julian was standing beside me.
But Eleanor wasn't.
May you like
And neither was Victoria.
The two women had disappeared.
