Chapter 12 - The Empty Office
The Vermont office had been abandoned for years.
Dust covered the windows.
The locks were broken.
Inside, the furniture remained.
Sofia walked slowly through the rooms.
She recognized the desk.
The bookshelves.
The old lamp.
Everything felt strangely familiar.
Then she saw the wall.
There were photographs pinned across it.
Her childhood.
Her mother.
Elena.
Teresa.
Javier.
Mariana.
And herself.
Sofia stepped closer.
Someone had been watching the family for years.
Elena whispered,
“This wasn't Daniel's office.”
Sofia turned.
“What?”
“He never photographed people like this.”
Sofia examined the photographs.
Several had dates.
Some were recent.
One showed Sofia at the bus station.
Taken that same night.
Her face went cold.
“He knew where I was.”
Javier looked at the picture.
“So whoever took these followed you.”
Sofia nodded.
Then she noticed something behind the photographs.
A metal panel.
She opened it.
Inside was a small recorder.
She pressed the button.
A man's voice played.
Daniel.
Sofia froze.
My daughter,
If you are hearing this, then you have finally reached the place I couldn't return to.
Sofia closed her eyes.
I need you to understand one thing.
The person you fear is not the person you should fear.
The recording paused.
Then Daniel continued.
Teresa was never the architect.
Sofia opened her eyes.
Elena looked at her.
“Keep listening.”
Daniel's voice returned.
She was only following instructions.
The real architect is someone closer to you than you think.
The recording stopped.
Javier stared at the device.
“Who?”
Sofia pressed the button again.
Nothing.
Then a second recording activated automatically.
This time, there was no voice.
Only a date.
Tomorrow.
And a location.
The Pines.
Sofia looked at Elena.
“Someone wants us to go back.”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
Sofia stared at the address.
“We're not being invited.”
“What then?”
May you like
Sofia's expression hardened.
“We're being summoned.”
