Chương 7
Marcus's face changed.
"What did your mother tell you?"
Ethan shook his head.
"Nothing."
But Daniel knew he was lying.
Not because Ethan was dishonest.
Because he was scared.
Daniel turned slightly toward him.
"Ethan."
The boy looked down.
"Mom told me never to say his name."
Marcus became completely still.
"Why?"
Ethan looked at him.
"Because she said you were the person who knew everything."
The room became silent.
Daniel looked between them.
Years of unanswered questions suddenly felt closer than ever.
Marcus slowly stepped forward.
Daniel immediately raised his hand.
"Stop."
Marcus stopped.
"You don't understand what happened."
"Then tell me."
Marcus looked at the floor.
"Claire discovered something."
Daniel waited.
"Something involving powerful people."
"What kind of something?"
Marcus looked toward Ethan.
"The kind that gets people killed."
Daniel felt anger building.
"You knew she was in danger."
Marcus did not answer.
Daniel's voice became colder.
"You knew."
Marcus finally looked at him.
"Yes."
The admission hit harder than Daniel expected.
"You let her disappear."
Marcus closed his eyes briefly.
"No."
"Then where was she?"
Marcus looked toward the empty room.
"Trying to keep those children alive."
Daniel looked at Ethan.
The boy was listening carefully.
His entire life was connected to a secret he never understood.
"What happened to Claire?" Daniel asked.
Marcus's expression became painful.
"She went into hiding."
"From who?"
Marcus looked toward the doorway.
The other man behind him shifted slightly.
Daniel noticed.
"Who is that?"
Marcus did not respond.
The stranger stepped forward.
He was wearing dark clothing and had a cold expression.
Daniel immediately moved Ethan farther behind him.
Marcus noticed.
"You still think every threat looks the same."
Daniel kept his stance.
"And you still think every warning makes you trustworthy."
The stranger spoke for the first time.
"You should have stayed out of this."
Daniel looked at him.
"I don't even know who you are."
"You don't need to."
The man's voice was emotionless.
"You only need to know that this ends tonight."
Ethan's breathing changed.
Daniel felt it.
The boy recognized something.
Not the man.
The situation.
The fear.
Daniel moved closer to Ethan.
"Have you seen him before?"
Ethan shook his head quickly.
"No."
But Lily's voice suddenly came through the communication device from the car.
Daniel had almost forgotten she was listening.
"Daniel."
Her voice was small.
Everyone in the room heard it.
Marcus looked toward the device.
"She is here too?"
Daniel's expression changed instantly.
The stranger smiled slightly.
"You brought them all together."
Daniel reached for the device.
"Lily, stay inside the car."
There was no response.
"Lily."
A few seconds passed.
Then her voice returned.
"Someone is outside."
Daniel felt his entire body tense.
He turned toward the window.
The stranger moved at the same moment.
Marcus looked alarmed.
"Wait."
Nobody listened.
Everything happened quickly.
Daniel moved toward the stairs.
The stranger blocked his path.
Daniel pushed past him, but the man grabbed his arm.
Daniel reacted immediately, breaking the hold and forcing distance between them.
The movement was controlled.
Not reckless.
Not angry.
Just enough to protect.
Ethan watched in fear.
Daniel turned toward him.
"Stay here."
The boy shook his head.
"No."
Daniel looked at him.
"I need you to trust me."
Ethan hesitated.
Then he nodded.
Daniel ran toward the exit.
Outside, the night was completely quiet.
Too quiet.
The vehicle where Lily was waiting sat near the street.
The door was closed.
The lights were off.
Daniel approached slowly.
"Lily."
No answer.
His heart tightened.
He opened the passenger door.
The seat was empty.
For one terrible second, the world seemed to stop.
Then he saw something on the seat.
A small pink ribbon.
The one Lily had been wearing in her hair.
Beside it was a note.
Daniel picked it up.
Three words were written on the paper.
Come find the truth.
His hands tightened.
Behind him, Ethan appeared at the doorway.
Daniel turned.
The boy saw the empty car.
His face collapsed.
"Lily."
Daniel walked back to him.
"Ethan."
The boy's eyes filled with panic.
"They took her."
Daniel looked at the note again.
This was no longer about hiding secrets.
It was no longer about understanding the past.
Someone had taken a child.
And they wanted Daniel to follow.
Marcus stepped outside behind them.
His face had changed completely.
The confidence was gone.
The calm was gone.
Now there was only fear.
"They know about the location."
Daniel turned sharply.
"What location?"
Marcus looked at the map in Daniel's hand.
"The place Claire was trying to reach."
Daniel stared at him.
"Where?"
Marcus looked toward the dark road ahead.
"The place where the truth started."
Daniel stepped closer.
"You are going to tell me everything."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"Yes."
For the first time that night, Marcus looked like someone who was no longer hiding.
He looked like someone who knew the past had finally caught up with him.
"The place is an old research facility outside the city."
Daniel frowned.
"Research facility?"
Marcus nodded.
"Claire discovered they were using it to hide evidence."
"What evidence?"
Marcus looked at Ethan.
"The truth about what happened to his family."
Ethan went silent.
Daniel looked at Marcus.
"My family?"
Marcus nodded.
"Claire never told him because she wanted him to have a normal childhood."
Daniel looked at the empty road.
A child had been taken because someone wanted to keep a secret buried.
But secrets had a way of surviving.
And tonight, one had returned.
Daniel grabbed his jacket tighter.
He looked at Ethan.
"We're bringing Lily back."
The boy looked up at him.
"You promise?"
Daniel answered without hesitation.
"I promise."
Then he looked at Marcus.
"Take me there."
Marcus nodded.
The three of them moved into the darkness together.
Behind them was the abandoned house.
Ahead of them was the truth Claire had died trying to protect.
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And somewhere in the night, Lily was waiting for them to find her.
The three of them moved into the darkness together.
