Chapter 28 - The Brother at the GateVictor returned to the mansion ruins before dawn.
Marcus and the police searched the grounds.
Noah was not there.
But fresh footprints led toward the east garden.
Ethan had insisted on coming until Victor firmly refused. Lily remained with him at the hospital.
Near the ruined greenhouse, Victor found a wooden box.
Inside was a voice recorder.
A child spoke.
“Grandfather says you know I exist now.”
Victor pressed the recorder closer.
“He says you will come alone because fathers always choose the child they failed first.”
A second voice entered the recording.
August.
“Bring Ethan’s key to Station Orchard. Noon.”
The recording ended.
Marcus wanted to send a tactical team.
Victor agreed.
“But I go in first.”
Station Orchard appeared on no modern map.
Adrian found it beneath the city’s abandoned central railway platform.
At eleven fifty, Victor descended the service stairs carrying Ethan’s gold key.
The station lights turned on one by one.
Noah stood at the far end of the platform.
He wore a gray coat and held a red emergency switch.
Victor stopped ten feet away.
“Hello, Noah.”
The boy studied him.
“You look like me.”
“You look like your mother.”
“Grandfather says she gave me away.”
“She was told you died.”
“He says that is a lie.”
Victor crouched.
“Then let me show you the records.”
Noah’s fingers tightened around the switch.
A train moved inside the dark tunnel.
It should not have been operating.
August’s voice came through the station.
“The key, Victor.”
Victor placed it on the ground.
Noah looked toward the tunnel.
For the first time, fear appeared on his face.
“Grandfather said the train would stop.”
May you like
It did not.
It accelerated toward him.
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