Chapter 12: The Sister Hidden In Shadows
Nobody spoke after reading the note.
The words seemed impossible.
"Our daughter.""
I looked at Adrian.
He was staring at the photograph like it had changed the entire world.
"That's not possible.""
His voice was barely audible.
James took the picture.
His expression changed.
"Where did this come from?""
"Lily's mother.""
James looked at the child in the photo.
Then at Adrian.
"You need to know the truth.""
Adrian shook his head.
"No.""
"You do.""
"Not another secret.""
The pain in his voice broke something inside me.
He had spent days discovering that every person he trusted had hidden something.
His wife.
His family.
His father.
Even his brother.
But James continued.
"Your father had another child.""
Adrian looked up.
"What?""
James pointed to the photograph.
"The girl.""
Lily looked confused.
"Who is she?""
Nobody answered immediately.
Because nobody knew how.
Finally, James spoke.
"Her name was Emma.""
Adrian frowned.
"Was?""
James looked down.
"We thought she died.""
A cold feeling moved through me.
"But she didn't.""
James looked at the photograph.
"No.""
He turned to Adrian.
"She survived.""
The room felt smaller.
"Where is she now?""
James hesitated.
That hesitation scared me.
"James.""
The older man looked at him.
"She is the reason Victoria was able to hide for so long.""
Adrian stepped back.
"What are you saying?""
"Emma worked with her.""
The silence was devastating.
"No.""
James nodded sadly.
"Your sister helped Victoria.""
I looked at Adrian.
A sister he never knew existed.
A sister who had been part of the nightmare.
Lily suddenly spoke.
"But my mom said Emma wasn't bad.""
Everyone turned.
Adrian knelt beside her.
"What did your mom say?""
Lily looked down.
"She said Emma was trapped.""
James closed his eyes.
Because he knew.
"She was.""
Adrian looked at him.
"Explain.""
James sighed.
"Emma was young when Victoria found her.""
"What does that mean?""
"Victoria raised her.""
The truth became clearer.
Emma wasn't just another accomplice.
She was another victim.
"Victoria controlled her.""
James nodded.
"She taught her that the world was dangerous. That family would abandon her.""
Adrian looked at the photographs.
"So she became like Victoria.""
"She became what Victoria needed her to become.""
Nobody spoke.
Then Adrian's phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone froze.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice came through.
Calm.
Young.
"I know you found the pictures.""
Adrian's face changed.
"Who is this?""
The woman laughed softly.
"You know who this is.""
His hand tightened around the phone.
"Emma.""
A pause.
Then:
"Finally.""
Lily stepped closer.
"Is that my aunt?""
Adrian didn't answer.
Emma continued.
"You have questions.""
Adrian looked furious.
"You helped Victoria.""
"I helped myself survive.""
"You hurt innocent children.""
Silence.
Then Emma said something unexpected.
"So did you.""
Adrian froze.
"What?""
"You think you're different because you didn't know?""
Her voice became colder.
"You all abandoned me.""
Nobody moved.
"Your father.""
"Your brother.""
"And now you.""
Adrian's expression changed.
"Where are you?""
Another pause.
Then Emma whispered:
"Somewhere your father built.""
The line went silent.
Adrian looked at James.
"What does that mean?""
James's face turned pale.
"No.""
"What?""
James looked toward the basement.
"The old facility.""
Adrian stared.
"What facility?""
James swallowed.
"The place where your father started everything.""
A terrible silence filled the room.
Then Lily's phone, which had been sitting on the table, lit up.
A message appeared.
From Emma.
May you like
One sentence.
*"If you want the truth about my family, come alone.""*
