Chapter 8 - The Girl Behind the Red Door
Adrian ordered a helicopter prepared for Haven House.
Elena refused to remain behind.
“If that clinic contains records about Julian, I am going.”
“It may not be safe.”
“Neither is this mansion.”
Mateo also insisted on joining them until Elena threatened to remove the wheels from his chair.
“You were kidnapped twelve hours ago.”
“That makes me experienced.”
“It makes you injured.”
Julian stayed at Blackthorn Manor under the protection of two agents Adrian trusted from his years abroad. Elena hated leaving him, but the mountain clinic was no place for a child.
Before she boarded the helicopter, Julian gave her the wooden horse.
“For luck,” he said.
“I repaired that for you.”
“You need it more.”
He looked toward Adrian.
“Bring back the girl.”
Elena crouched.
“What girl?”
“The one in the red room.”
She stared at him.
“Did you dream about her?”
Julian nodded.
“She knows my name.”
The flight lasted forty minutes.
Haven House sat beyond a frozen lake, surrounded by pine trees and high fences. From the air, it looked abandoned. Snow covered the parking area. Several windows were boarded shut.
Adrian’s security team landed first.
No movement was detected inside.
Elena followed Adrian through the main entrance.
The lobby smelled of dust and antiseptic. Child-sized chairs stood against one wall. Faded paintings of clouds covered the ceiling.
Adrian opened doors while agents searched each corridor.
Every room was empty.
In the basement, they found filing cabinets stripped of documents and computer servers smashed with hammers.
“Someone knew we were coming,” Adrian said.
Elena examined the floor.
Fresh tracks marked the dust.
Small footprints.
They led toward a red metal door at the end of the corridor.
The door was locked electronically. Adrian’s men attempted to override the panel.
Elena heard a sound from the other side.
A child singing.
The melody was the lullaby her mother used to sing in Spanish.
Elena stepped toward the door.
“Hello?”
The singing stopped.
A girl whispered, “Gabriel?”
Elena’s heart jumped.
“No. My name is Elena.”
The girl said nothing.
Adrian forced the lock with a metal bar.
The red door opened.
A narrow room lay beyond it. There was a bed, a lamp, shelves of books, and drawings taped to the walls.
A girl about eight years old stood near the window.
She had long dark hair and pale skin. Her eyes were gray.
Adrian’s eyes.
She held a photograph against her chest.
When she saw Adrian, she backed away.
“Don’t let Vanessa take me.”
Adrian lowered himself carefully.
“She won’t.”
“You’re lying. Grown-ups always lie.”
Elena entered slowly.
“What is your name?”
The girl looked at her.
“Clara.”
“Who brought you here?”
“Dr. Shaw.”
“Where is she now?”
“Vanessa took her away.”
Adrian exchanged a glance with Elena.
“Do you know Julian?” Elena asked.
Clara nodded.
“He was here when he was a baby.”
“How could you know that?”
The girl held out the photograph.
It showed two newborns lying beside each other in identical hospital blankets.
One had a blue identification band.
The other had a red one.
On the back were two names.
Gabriel Marquez.
Clara Vale.
Elena sank onto the edge of the bed.
“Who is Clara Vale?”
“I am.”
Adrian took the photograph.
“Vale was the false surname I used when I met Elena.”
Clara stared at him.
“My mother said you chose it because it belonged to someone you loved.”
“Who is your mother?”
The girl pointed to one of the drawings.
A woman with dark hair stood beside a black house. A tall man held her hand.
Adrian looked at the picture.
His face changed.
“That is my mother.”
Elena turned.
“You said she would be in her sixties.”
“She would.”
“Then she cannot be Clara’s mother.”
Clara folded her arms.
“She is not my birth mother. She says she rescued me.”
“From whom?” Elena asked.
“The Blackthorn men.”
Adrian flinched.
An alarm sounded upstairs.
One of the agents shouted through the radio.
“Fire in the north wing. Evacuate.”
Smoke pushed beneath the basement door.
Adrian lifted Clara into his arms.
Elena grabbed the photographs and the few documents lying on the desk.
They ran toward the stairs.
Halfway up, an explosion shook the building.
The ceiling collapsed behind them.
They escaped through a side entrance as flames consumed the clinic.
Clara clung to Adrian’s neck.
Near the helicopter, Elena noticed a woman standing among the trees.
Older.
Dark-haired.
Wearing a long black coat.
Adrian saw her too.
“Mother?”
The woman turned and disappeared into the forest.
Adrian started after her.
A rifle shot cracked across the lake.
The bullet struck the helicopter’s side.
Security agents dragged Adrian and Elena behind the vehicle.
The woman in the trees was gone.
Clara pointed toward the burning clinic.
“She warned me this would happen.”
“Who?” Elena asked.
“The woman who rescued me.”
“What is her name?”
May you like
Clara looked at Adrian.
“Evelyn Blackthorn.”
