Chapter 6: The Engagement File
I couldn't speak.
The words wouldn't come.
Daniel.
The man who brought me coffee every morning.
The man who remembered how I liked my apartment kept warm in winter.
The man who cried when my grandmother passed away.
That man had been lying to me.
Emily watched my face carefully.
"I know what you're thinking.""
"What?""
"That he couldn't be that person.""
I looked down.
"I don't know what to think.""
She nodded slowly.
"That's how they make people feel.""
We stood in the woods behind the Mercer estate, surrounded by darkness and silence.
"What happened to Natalie?""
Emily looked toward the house.
"I don't know.""
"You never found out?""
"No.""
She hugged herself.
"But I found something else.""
She handed me the document.
It was a report.
Not medical.
Not financial.
A behavioral profile.
My name was at the top.
Claire Bennett.
I felt sick.
The pages listed details about me.
My childhood.
My fears.
My habits.
Things I had never told Daniel.
At the bottom was a section titled:
*Compatibility Assessment.*
I read the first line.
"Subject demonstrates high empathy response and protective instincts toward vulnerable individuals.""
My hands went cold.
"They studied me.""
Emily nodded.
"They studied everyone.""
I turned the page.
There were notes.
*Potential concerns: strong independence, questions authority, difficult to manipulate long-term.*
I almost laughed.
Almost.
Because it was terrifying.
"They thought I would be difficult?""
Emily looked at me.
"That's why I chose you.""
I stared.
"What?""
She looked guilty.
"I saw your messages with Daniel.""
My heart dropped.
"You what?""
"Not because I wanted to invade your privacy.""
She quickly explained.
"I found access to his old laptop months ago. I saw how he talked about you.""
I looked at her.
"What did he say?""
Emily hesitated.
"At first, good things.""
That hurt more.
"Then?""
She looked away.
"He said you were different.""
I waited.
"He said you reminded him of Natalie.""
The name hit me like a wave.
"Why?""
"Because you asked questions.""
I looked back at the house.
The beautiful house.
The perfect family.
The carefully arranged photographs.
All of it felt fake.
Emily reached for my arm.
"Claire, you need to leave Boston.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
She looked surprised.
"No?""
"I need proof.""
"Claire—"
"If I walk away now, they keep doing this.""
Emily was quiet.
Then she smiled sadly.
"You really are like Natalie.""
I didn't know if that comforted me or terrified me.
My phone suddenly rang.
I jumped.
The screen showed Daniel's name.
Emily looked at it.
"Don't answer.""
I stared at the phone.
He called again.
And again.
Finally, I answered.
"Hello?""
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then Daniel spoke.
His voice was low.
"Claire, I'm sorry.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where are you?""
"Not at the house.""
I looked at Emily.
"Then where?""
Another pause.
"I found something.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"What?""
His voice cracked.
"Something my mother hid from me.""
The forest suddenly felt colder.
"What did you find?""
Daniel took a shaky breath.
"A second file.""
I waited.
"With your name on it.""
My heart stopped.
"Daniel...""
"There was a note inside.""
"What note?""
His answer came quietly.
And the words made Emily's face turn completely pale.
"It said...""
Daniel stopped.
Like he was afraid to continue.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"Begin phase two when Claire discovers the truth.""
