Chapter 7 - THE SECRET UNDER THE HOUSE

The police arrived twenty minutes later.

But Daniel was gone.

No footprints.

No weapon.

No evidence.

Almost like he was never there.

Exactly what someone wanted.

Rhea sat on the couch.

Silent.

For the first time since I met her…

she looked afraid.

I stood in front of her.

“You’re going to tell me everything.”

She looked up.

“I was trying to protect you.”

“By lying?”

“By keeping you alive.”

I shook my head.

“You kept my son in a hidden room.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I know.”

“Why?”

She looked toward Perrin.

“Because Daniel threatened me.”

The room became quiet.

“What?”

“He told me if I didn’t follow his instructions, Perrin would disappear.”

My anger slowed.

Not because I forgave her.

Because I finally understood.

Everyone was trapped.

Everyone except Daniel.

“Where is Elena?”

Rhea looked at Victor.

Then back at me.

“She’s close.”

“How close?”

Rhea swallowed.

“Under this house.”

I stared at her.

“What?”

“There is another entrance.”

My heart sank.

The hidden wall.

The secret room.

The strange construction.

It all connected.

I followed her into the basement.

Behind old shelves was another hidden door.

But this one was different.

It had scratches.

Hundreds of them.

Like someone had tried to escape.

My hands shook.

“Open it.”

Rhea entered the code.

The door unlocked.

Inside was a small underground room.

A bed.

A table.

A lamp.

And on the table…

photos.

Photos of me.

Perrin.

Our old family.

And a note.

I picked it up.

The handwriting was familiar.

My heart nearly stopped.

It was Elena’s.

The note said:

“James, if you found this, it means I failed to protect you.”

I couldn’t breathe.

I read the next line.

“But before you hate me, remember one thing…”

My hands trembled.

“I never stopped loving you.”

A noise came from behind us.

Everyone turned.

A woman stood at the entrance.

Older.

Tired.

But alive.

Perrin gasped.

“Mom?”

The woman covered her mouth.

And started crying.

“Perrin…”

My son ran.

Straight into her arms.

And I stood there frozen.

Because after three years of believing she was gone…

my wife was standing in front of me.

Alive.

But before I could say a word…

Elena looked at me with fear in her eyes.

“James…”

She whispered.

“You have to leave.”

“Why?”

She looked toward the door.

“Because Daniel knows you found me.”

Then the lights went out.

And a voice came from upstairs.

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Daniel had returned.