Chapter 12 - THE DISAPPEARANCE

The phone slipped from Daniel’s hand.

“What did you say?”

The nurse’s voice came through the speaker.

“Mr. Carter, your son is missing.”

My heart stopped.

“What do you mean missing?”

Daniel looked at me.

His face had lost all color.

“The hospital said Ethan is gone.”

I grabbed his arm.

“No.”

We rushed out.

The entire drive felt like it lasted forever.

Daniel didn’t say a word.

He just held the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.

When we arrived at the hospital, doctors and nurses were already searching.

“He was sleeping,” the nurse explained.

“I stepped out for less than two minutes.”

Daniel looked around.

“Who entered the room?”

Nobody answered.

Then a doctor handed him something.

A piece of paper.

Daniel opened it.

Three words were written.

YOU WERE WARNED.

My knees almost gave out.

“No…”

Daniel’s phone rang.

Unknown number.

Everyone became silent.

He answered.

“Where is my son?”

A voice laughed.

Robert.

“Always straight to the point.”

Daniel’s anger exploded.

“If you touch him—”

“You still don’t understand.”

“Where is Ethan?”

Robert ignored the question.

“You found the drive.”

Daniel froze.

“How do you know?”

“Because Evelyn never learned how to keep secrets.”

Daniel looked at his mother.

She looked terrified.

“What do you want?”

Robert’s voice became cold.

“The evidence.”

“You took my son for a flash drive?”

“No.”

A pause.

“I took your son because you need to understand something.”

Daniel’s breathing became heavier.

“What?”

“Your family has been destroying lives for generations.”

“That doesn’t give you the right to hurt a child.”

Robert became silent.

Then said:

“You’re right.”

The answer shocked everyone.

“I made mistakes.”

Daniel tightened his grip on the phone.

“Where is Ethan?”

Robert sighed.

“Somewhere safe.”

“I want proof.”

A few seconds later, a video arrived.

Daniel opened it.

Ethan was sitting in a chair.

Scared.

But alive.

“Daddy…”

Daniel almost broke.

“Ethan! Buddy, I’m coming.”

Robert’s voice appeared behind the camera.

“You have twelve hours.”

“To do what?”

“Bring me the drive.”

Daniel looked at Evelyn.

Then at the screen.

“And if I don’t?”

Robert answered calmly.

“Then you lose your son.”

The call ended.

Nobody spoke.

Then Evelyn stepped forward.

“I know where he took him.”

Daniel looked at her.

“You do?”

She nodded.

“I always knew Robert would come back.”

“Where?”

Evelyn looked toward the door.

Her face was filled with fear.

“The old Carter property.”

Daniel frowned.

“The abandoned one?”

She nodded.

“The place where your parents died.”

A cold silence filled the room.

Because everyone understood.

Robert hadn’t just taken Ethan.

He had brought him to the one place where the family’s darkest secret began.

And Daniel knew one thing.

This time…

He wasn’t fighting for answers.

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TO BE CONTINUED...