Chapter 10 - The Old Station
They reached the old station just before midnight.
Nora refused to stay behind.
Julian argued.
It could be a trap.
She looked at him.
Everything is a trap now.
David finally agreed.
The station had been abandoned for years.
Broken windows.
Dusty benches.
Old signs.
Nora walked beside Julian.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then she asked.
Do you regret marrying me?
Julian stopped.
Never.
Even now?
Especially now.
She looked at him.
Why?
Because now you know who I am.
Nora looked away.
I don't know who anyone is anymore.
Julian gently said.
You know me.
Do I?
Yes.
Even when I lied about my name?
I lied because I was afraid.
She looked at him.
That doesn't make it right.
No.
But it doesn't make my love for you false.
Nora said nothing.
A light appeared at the end of the station.
A woman stepped from the shadows.
Eleanor.
Nora froze.
The woman smiled.
You have your mother's eyes.
Nora could barely speak.
Aunt Eleanor?
Eleanor nodded.
I am sorry you had to meet me like this.
Nora ran toward her.
Eleanor held her tightly.
For the first time in twenty years, Nora heard someone call her by the childhood nickname only her grandmother had used.
My little Nora.
Nora began crying.
Why did you let me believe you were dead?
Because Charles would have killed you too.
Nora pulled back.
Why?
Because you were the one thing he could never control.
Eleanor looked at Julian.
And he was the one person he could never predict.
Julian asked.
Where have you been?
Running.
From Charles?
From everyone.
Eleanor handed Nora a small metal key.
Your grandmother gave me this.
Nora stared.
My grandmother?
She knew everything.
What does it open?
Eleanor looked at David.
The archive beneath Montgomery House.
David frowned.
That archive was destroyed.
Eleanor shook her head.
The visible one was.
Then she looked at Nora.
The real one is behind your father's bedroom wall.
Nora tightened her grip around the key.
What is inside?
Eleanor's face became serious.
Proof.
Proof of what?
Eleanor looked toward the darkness outside.
Proof that Charles was not the person who started this.
Nora felt a chill.
Then who did?
Eleanor opened her mouth.
A car screeched outside.
The windows shattered.
May you like
David shouted for everyone to get down.
When Nora looked up again, Eleanor was gone.
