Chapter 38 - Samuel’s DecisionDaniel escaped into the lower halls with Samuel.
Victor entered Orchard House despite Marcus’s orders.
He found a series of rooms built to resemble the Hale mansion.
Ethan’s nursery.
The red room.
The marble hall.
Samuel had been raised inside a copy.
Daniel’s voice came through the speakers.
“Samuel knows your house better than Ethan does.”
Victor followed the sound to a locked playroom.
Samuel sat inside.
Daniel had left him behind.
Victor opened the door.
Samuel watched him without emotion.
“Are you Victor?”
“Yes.”
“Daniel says you will take me to doctors.”
“Only doctors you agree to see.”
“He says Celeste will hate me.”
“She has been searching for you since she learned you exist.”
Samuel looked at the camera.
“He is listening.”
Victor covered the lens with his hand.
“You do not have to perform for him.”
Samuel’s composure broke.
“Who am I supposed to be?”
“Samuel.”
“That was the name he gave me.”
“Then choose another.”
The boy stared.
Victor sat on the floor.
“You can keep Samuel. You can change it tomorrow. You can change it ten times. No one gets to seal you inside a name again.”
Footsteps approached.
Daniel appeared in the doorway holding a detonator.
Samuel moved toward him automatically.
Daniel extended his hand.
“Come home.”
Samuel looked at Victor.
Then at Daniel.
He took one step toward Daniel.
A second.
Daniel smiled.
Samuel reached for the detonator.
He pulled it from Daniel’s hand and threw it through the broken window.
Marcus tackled Daniel.
Samuel backed against the wall.
Victor did not touch him.
After a moment, Samuel walked forward on his own.
“What happens now?” he asked.
May you like
Victor opened the door wider.
“You meet your brothers.”
