Chapter 8 - The Truth Lily Was Never Supposed to Hear
Alex sat with Lily in the library.
He didn't show her the document.
He couldn't.
She was six.
There were truths adults struggled to understand.
He didn't want to place them on her shoulders.
Instead, he asked gently.
“What else did Mommy tell you?”
Lily looked at her doll.
“She said I should remember the blue room.”
“What blue room?”
“The room with the stars.”
Alex frowned.
There was no blue room in the house.
At least none he knew.
“Where is it?”
“Behind Grandma's room.”
Alex stood.
Teresa appeared at the door.
“No.”
Alex turned.
“You know what she's talking about.”
Teresa looked exhausted.
“I didn't know Clara told her.”
“Told her what?”
“That there was a room.”
“What room?”
Teresa finally whispered.
“The room where your father kept his records.”
Alex stared.
“Dad?”
Teresa nodded.
“Your father built it years ago.”
“Why?”
“To keep secrets.”
Alex's stomach tightened.
Arthur was wheeled into the hallway.
He looked at Teresa.
Then at Alex.
He slowly nodded.
Alex opened the hidden door behind Teresa's bedroom.
A narrow staircase descended.
The walls were painted blue.
Small stars covered the ceiling.
Lily had described it exactly.
Alex entered.
Shelves lined the walls.
Documents filled them.
Old photographs.
Bank statements.
Property records.
Medical reports.
And dozens of files bearing Clara's name.
Alex opened one.
It contained photographs of Victor.
Another contained photographs of Teresa.
A third contained photographs of Derek.
The fourth contained photographs of Alex.
Alex stared at himself.
Someone had been watching him for years.
He opened another folder.
Inside was a single letter from Clara.
Alex,
If you're reading this, I failed to keep you away from the truth.
But I need you to understand something.
I never betrayed you.
I never abandoned Lily.
And I never died.
Alex's hands began shaking.
He read the final line.
The person who ordered my disappearance is closer to you than you think.
The lights suddenly went out.
Lily screamed.
Alex grabbed her.
“Stay behind me.”
A door slammed upstairs.
Then footsteps.
Someone was coming down.
Alex reached for his phone.
No signal.
The footsteps stopped.
A voice came through the darkness.
“Alex.”
He knew that voice.
It was Derek.
Alex shouted.
“Derek!”
“Don't move.”
“Where are you?”
“Behind you.”
Alex turned.
Derek stood at the bottom of the stairs.
His face was bruised.
His hands were trembling.
He whispered.
“I found Clara.”
Alex's heart stopped.
“Where?”
Derek looked at Lily.
“Not here.”
May you like
Then he looked at the files.
“And we have less than an hour before they come for all of us.”
