Chapter 13 - THE WOMAN IN ROOM 17
Julian handed Leo to Marcus.
“I’m going.”
Marcus grabbed him.
“The building is burning.”
“My children get outside.”
“What about you?”
Julian looked down the smoke-filled corridor.
“I’ve already buried Claire once.”
He ran.
Elena followed.
“Go back!”
“She’s my sister!”
They found Pike near Room 17.
The door was locked.
Julian kicked it.
Once.
Twice.
On the third hit, it broke.
A woman lay on a narrow bed.
Thin.
Weak.
Dark hair streaked with gray.
Julian stopped.
Four years disappeared.
“Claire.”
Her eyes opened.
Green.
The same eyes.
She stared at him through smoke.
“No.”
He moved closer.
“It’s me.”
She began shaking.
“No, he said you weren’t coming.”
“Who?”
“Richard.”
Julian’s face twisted.
“He lied.”
Claire cried.
“You knew.”
“No.”
“You knew about Lily.”
“No.”
“You knew about Leo.”
“I swear to God, Claire, I knew nothing.”
She stared at him.
Then Elena stepped forward.
“Claire.”
Claire’s mouth opened.
“Anna?”
Elena broke.
She dropped beside the bed.
“I’m here.”
Claire touched her face.
“You look different.”
“So do you.”
They laughed and cried at the same time.
Pike shouted, “We need to move!”
Julian lifted Claire.
She was frighteningly light.
They reached the hall.
Fire blocked the way they had entered.
“Stairs!” Pike yelled.
They moved toward an emergency exit.
A section of ceiling collapsed.
Pike shoved Elena aside.
The burning beam struck him.
He screamed.
Julian tried to lift it.
“Go!” Pike shouted.
“We can get you out!”
“No!”
Flames crawled closer.
Pike looked at Claire.
“I’m sorry.”
She cried.
“For what?”
“For being a coward.”
He looked at Julian.
“Get them out.”
Julian hesitated.
“Go!”
They ran.
Behind them, Pike disappeared into smoke.
They reached the rear doors seconds before windows exploded.
Outside, Julian collapsed onto wet grass with Claire in his arms.
Leo ran toward them.
Claire looked up.
Her face changed.
“My baby.”
Leo stopped.
He stared at her.
Claire began humming.
The secret lullaby.
Leo’s eyes filled with tears.
He walked forward.
Claire opened her arms.
He fell into them.
“Mama Song.”
Julian covered his mouth.
Lily stood nearby, confused.
Elena gently guided her closer.
Claire looked at the little girl.
“Lily.”
The girl frowned.
“How do you know my name?”
Claire sobbed.
“Because I gave it to you.”
Before Lily could respond, Marcus shouted.
“Julian!”
They turned.
Senator Vale was gone.
Only the handcuffs remained on the ground.
May you like
And so did one security officer.
Dead.
