Chapter 8: The Locked Bedroom
I ran upstairs.
Not walked.
Ran.
“Maya!””
Her bedroom door was locked.
I heard crying.
Then a voice.
Not hers.
My blood turned cold.
“Open the door!””
No answer.
Jordan appeared behind me.
“What’s happening?””
I grabbed the handle.
“Maya!””
The lock clicked.
The door opened.
And my daughter stood in the corner.
Holding a phone.
Alone.
I rushed inside.
“Are you okay?””
She nodded quickly.
But her eyes were fixed on the phone.
“What happened?””
She handed it to me.
There was a message.
*You should have stayed quiet.*
I looked at Maya.
“Who sent this?””
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
Jordan stepped inside.
“Dad.””
I looked at him.
His face was different.
The anger was gone.
Now he looked scared.
“I think I know.””
Everyone turned.
“What?””
Jordan swallowed.
“Someone has been following us.””
I frowned.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I thought it was connected to Maya.””
Maya looked hurt.
“What?””
Jordan shook his head.
“I was wrong.””
He looked at me.
“Three weeks ago, I saw Uncle Marcus outside school.””
My jaw tightened.
“Why didn’t you say anything?””
“Because he gave me something.””
“What?””
Jordan reached into his pocket.
A small flash drive.
“I didn’t know what it was.””
I took it.
“Why hide it?””
Jordan looked down.
“Because I was scared you would think I was involved.””
That sentence hurt.
My son still believed I would doubt him.
I placed my hand on his shoulder.
“I’m sorry.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
We went downstairs.
I connected the flash drive to my computer.
One file appeared.
A video.
Created five years earlier.
I opened it.
Marcus appeared on screen.
Older.
Exhausted.
“Arthur, if you’re watching this, something happened.””
I stared.
Marcus continued.
“I know you hate me.””
I almost laughed.
“You have every reason.””
The video shook slightly.
“I spent my whole life angry.””
He looked away.
“I blamed you for things you never did.””
My chest tightened.
“But then I found the truth.””
The video changed.
Documents appeared.
Hospital records.
Adoption papers.
Financial records.
Marcus’s voice continued.
“Our father wasn’t hiding our adoption.””
I leaned closer.
“He was hiding what he did.””
The video showed a signature.
My father’s signature.
And another name.
Daniel.
I froze.
“Daniel was never just a hospital worker.””
Marcus continued.
“He was working with our father.””
Claire covered her mouth.
“What?””
The video continued.
“They changed records. They moved children around. They controlled families.””
Jordan looked at me.
“Why?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I didn’t know.
Then Marcus said:
“The reason they did it is because of one child.””
The screen showed a baby record.
Maya.
I stopped breathing.
“No.””
Marcus looked directly into the camera.
“Maya Bennett was never supposed to be with Arthur.””
The room went silent.
“She was supposed to disappear.””
I felt rage.
“What does that mean?””
The video ended.
A final message appeared.
*Meet me at the old hospital. Alone.*
Jordan grabbed my arm.
“Dad, don’t go.””
I looked at my children.
At my family.
“I need to.””
Maya shook her head.
“No.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
May you like
Because the answer in her eyes was terrifying.
“Because Uncle Marcus isn’t the only one who knows the truth.””
