Chapter 9 - SARAH'S LAST MESSAGE
The heat was unbearable.
Daniel covered his mouth with his sleeve.
Smoke filled the office.
The wooden shelves started cracking.
“Robert!”
Daniel slammed against the locked door.
“Open this door!”
Outside, Robert’s footsteps slowly moved away.
No answer.
Daniel looked around.
The room that held his family’s history was becoming his grave.
Then he remembered the box.
Sarah’s box.
He grabbed it.
The necklace inside had a strange design.
A small silver key.
Daniel stared.
A key.
He looked around the room.
Then he saw it.
A tiny lock hidden beneath the desk.
His hands moved quickly.
He inserted the key.
CLICK.
A secret compartment opened.
Inside was a small recording device.
Daniel pressed the button.
Static filled the room.
Then…
Sarah’s voice.
Daniel stopped breathing.
“Daniel…”
His eyes filled with tears.
It was her.
After two years.
Her voice.
“If you’re hearing this, something went wrong.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Sarah…”
The recording continued.
“I need you to listen carefully. Don’t trust Robert. Don’t trust anyone who tells you I betrayed you.”
Daniel looked toward the door.
His anger grew.
Sarah continued.
“Your father discovered I found his records.”
The recording paused.
Then her voice became softer.
“I also discovered something about Lily.”
Daniel looked at the necklace.
“Lily was never the problem.”
A loud crack came from the ceiling.
Daniel ignored it.
“She was proof.”
Proof.
Of what?
Sarah continued.
“Your father was involved in illegal adoption deals.”
Daniel froze.
“He changed identities. He moved children through fake records.”
Daniel felt sick.
“No…”
“Lily was one of the children he tried to hide.”
The room spun.
“She was supposed to disappear.”
Daniel looked at the photograph.
The one showing Sarah alive.
“He didn’t know I found her.”
Daniel’s eyes widened.
“Found her?”
Sarah’s voice trembled.
“Lily was never abandoned.”
A tear rolled down Daniel’s face.
“She was taken.”
The fire grew stronger.
But Daniel didn’t move.
Because every word was destroying the life he thought he knew.
Sarah continued.
“I brought Lily to you because I knew you would protect her.”
Daniel whispered:
“I did.”
“I knew you would love her.”
The recording became quieter.
“But someone else found out.”
A pause.
Then Sarah said:
“Daniel, if Robert is still alive, it means he already knows the truth.”
Daniel looked at the locked door.
His mind raced.
Sarah’s final words came through the speaker.
“Don’t let them take Lily.”
The recording ended.
Daniel grabbed the device.
Then suddenly…
The office window shattered.
Someone climbed inside.
Daniel turned.
A woman stood there.
Breathing heavily.
“Come with me.”
Daniel raised his fists.
“Who are you?”
The woman looked at the burning room.
Then at him.
“I’m the person Sarah sent to save you.”
Daniel stared.
“Sarah sent you?”
The woman nodded.
Then she said the one thing Daniel never expected.
“Because Sarah isn’t dead.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
The woman looked directly into his eyes.
“She’s alive.”
Outside the burning mansion…
A car waited.
And inside that car…
Someone was watching.
Someone who had been waiting two years for Daniel to discover the truth.
May you like
Sarah.
TO BE CONTINUED...
