Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO WAITED TEN YEARS

The courthouse parking lot was surrounded by police.

Everyone wanted answers.

But Ethan only wanted one thing.

His mother.

Alive.

Somewhere.

Waiting for him.

The judge refused to let him leave without protection.

“You cannot go after her alone.”

Ethan looked at her.

“But she waited ten years.”

His voice broke.

“She thought we were gone.”

The judge softened.

“I understand.”

“No.”

Ethan shook his head.

“You don’t.”

The judge became quiet.

Because she realized something.

This wasn’t a teenager asking for permission.

This was a son trying to find the mother he had already mourned.

Claire approached him.

“I’m coming with you.”

Ethan looked at her.

“My mother trusted you.”

Claire nodded.

“And I failed her once.”

Her eyes filled.

“I won’t do it again.”

Noah grabbed Ethan’s hand.

“I’m coming too.”

Ethan immediately shook his head.

“No.”

“But you said we don’t leave each other.”

The words hit him.

Because Ethan had said that hundreds of times.

When Noah cried.

When Noah was scared.

When they were hungry.

“We don’t leave each other.”

Noah looked at him.

“Then don’t leave me.”

Ethan closed his eyes.

He hated that his little brother was right.

Two hours later, they arrived at an abandoned farmhouse outside the city.

The place looked forgotten.

Broken windows.

Old wooden walls.

Tall grass covering the driveway.

Ethan stepped out of the car.

His heart was racing.

“This is where she is?”

Claire nodded.

“The message came from here.”

They moved slowly.

Every sound felt dangerous.

The front door was unlocked.

Inside was darkness.

“Mom?”

Ethan’s voice echoed.

No answer.

They walked deeper into the house.

Then Ethan saw something.

A wall covered with photographs.

Photographs of him.

Of Noah.

Of their childhood.

His breathing stopped.

“She watched us…”

Claire whispered.

“She never stopped.”

Suddenly, a sound came from upstairs.

A floorboard.

Someone was there.

Ethan turned.

“Mom?”

A figure appeared at the top of the stairs.

A woman.

Older.

Tired.

But unmistakable.

Ethan forgot how to breathe.

The woman covered her mouth.

“Ethan…”

The teenager froze.

Because after all these years…

he knew that voice.

“Mom?”

Laura started crying.

She rushed down the stairs.

But Ethan didn’t move.

He wanted to run to her.

He wanted to hate her.

He wanted answers.

He wanted to be eight years old again.

Instead, he whispered:

“Why did you leave us?”

Laura stopped.

The question destroyed her.

“I didn’t.”

“Then why did we bury you?”

Tears rolled down her face.

“Because someone buried me.”

The room went silent.

Ethan stared.

“What?”

Laura looked toward the door.

Fear returned to her eyes.

“They found me.”

Claire immediately turned.

“Who?”

Laura grabbed Ethan’s arm.

“Someone who knows Noah is alive.”

A loud crash came from outside.

Everyone froze.

The windows shook.

Then the lights went out.

Noah grabbed Ethan.

“Ethan…”

A voice came from outside.

Cold.

Familiar.

“You should have listened.”

Ethan’s blood turned cold.

Because he knew that voice.

Richard Cole.

But Richard was supposed to be in police custody.

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