Chapter 8: The Clinic
The old clinic looked abandoned from the road.
Its windows were boarded.
The parking lot was empty except for one black SUV.
Vanessa stopped the car.
Marcus stared through the windshield.
“That vehicle belongs to my father.””
Claire sat in the back seat.
“Then he's here.””
Vanessa looked at the hospital bracelet in her hand.
The plastic had cut into her palm.
“I'm going in.””
Marcus reached for her.
“No.””
“You're staying here.””
“Vanessa—”
“You heard the message.””
“They'll kill you.””
“They have Emily.””
Marcus stared at her.
“I’m coming.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“If you love our daughter, stay in this car.””
Marcus froze.
She opened the door.
Claire caught her arm.
“Don't go inside without me.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“You know this place?””
Claire nodded.
“I worked here.””
“When?””
“Before I became a nurse at the hospital.””
Vanessa stared.
“You worked for Marcus's father?””
“Yes.””
“And you knew about the babies.””
“Yes.””
“Then you're coming.””
They approached the building.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, the air smelled like dust and disinfectant.
A hallway stretched ahead.
At the end stood an old examination room.
The lights flickered on.
Vanessa stopped.
A voice came from a speaker.
“Put the bracelet on the table.””
She did.
“Now step away.””
Vanessa obeyed.
“Where's my daughter?””
A pause.
Then:
“She’s safe.””
“Let me see her.””
“You'll see her when you understand.””
Vanessa's hands curled into fists.
“Understand what?””
The door behind them slammed shut.
Claire grabbed Vanessa's arm.
“Don't panic.””
“I am past panic.””
A monitor on the wall switched on.
Emily appeared.
She was sitting in a chair.
A teenage girl sat beside her.
Vanessa recognized her immediately.
The girl from the photograph.
Emily looked at her.
“Mommy.””
Vanessa moved toward the screen.
“Emily!””
The girl beside her touched Emily's shoulder.
“She's safe.””
Vanessa stared at her.
“You're the girl who called Marcus.””
“Yes.””
“What is your name?””
The girl hesitated.
“Lily.””
“Lily what?””
“Lily Reed.””
Vanessa's breath caught.
“Reed?””
Lily nodded.
“Daniel was my father.””
Vanessa stared.
“You're his daughter?””
“Yes.””
“But you were born in 2009.””
Lily's eyes narrowed.
“How do you know?””
Vanessa looked at the photograph.
“The date on your school picture.””
Lily looked confused.
Then a man's voice came through the speaker.
“Because that photograph was fabricated.””
Marcus's voice suddenly came through another speaker.
“Father?””
Vanessa froze.
Lily looked toward the ceiling.
Marcus's father laughed.
“You finally came.””
Marcus stepped from a side door.
Vanessa spun toward him.
“You followed me.””
“I couldn't let you come alone.””
The speaker crackled.
“Good.””
Marcus looked around.
“Where is Emily?””
His father's voice answered.
“Right where she belongs.””
Marcus clenched his fists.
“You're dead.””
“That's what I wanted everyone to believe.””
Vanessa stared at the speaker.
“Why did you take Emily?””
“Because she isn't Emily.””
Vanessa felt her blood run cold.
“What?””
The man continued.
“Your daughter was born that night, Vanessa. But the child you raised was not the child you gave birth to.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You switched them.””
“I corrected an error.””
Vanessa's voice trembled.
“What error?””
“You were supposed to give birth to Daniel's child.””
She looked at Lily.
Lily's face had gone pale.
“But Lily is Daniel's daughter.””
“She is.””
Vanessa frowned.
“Then where is my biological child?””
The speaker went silent.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Father.””
No answer.
“Where is Vanessa's child?””
The speaker crackled again.
“Closer than you think.””
A door opened behind Vanessa.
She turned.
An older woman stood there.
Vanessa recognized her instantly.
The woman from the hospital.
The woman who had whispered I'm sorry.
Vanessa's mouth fell open.
“You.””
The woman began crying.
“I'm sorry.””
Vanessa couldn't move.
“Who are you?””
The woman looked at Lily.
Then at Emily.
Then at Vanessa.
“My name is Sarah Reed.””
Lily stood.
“Mom?””
Vanessa's heart stopped.
Sarah nodded.
“I gave birth to Lily.””
Lily stared at her.
“But you told me my mother died.””
“I lied.””
Marcus stared at Sarah.
“Why?””
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
“Because your father threatened to kill Lily if I ever told the truth.””
Vanessa looked at Emily.
“Then who is Emily?””
Sarah shook her head.
“I don't know.””
The lights suddenly went out.
Emily screamed.
“Mommy!””
Vanessa ran toward the monitor.
A gunshot echoed through the building.
Then another.
Marcus grabbed Vanessa and pulled her behind a wall.
Claire shouted, “Get down!””
The lights returned.
The monitor showed an empty chair.
Emily was gone.
Lily was gone.
And Sarah lay motionless on the floor.
Vanessa screamed.
“No!””
Marcus rushed toward Sarah.
Claire checked her pulse.
“She’s alive.””
Vanessa stared at the empty screen.
A final message appeared:
*One daughter is yours. One daughter belongs to Daniel.*
May you like
Then another line appeared.
*Find out which one before sunrise.*
