CHAPTER 6: THE NIGHT BEFORE THE WEDDING
Claire held the black memory box against her chest.
“What happened the night before our wedding?”
Adrian looked toward Richard and Marcus.
“This isn’t the place.”
“There is no safe place left.”
Claire Vale raised her pistol slightly.
“Answer her.”
Adrian sat on the edge of a small observation bed.
“The night before our wedding, a woman came to my hotel room.”
Claire’s throat tightened.
“Who?”
“She looked exactly like you.”
The words struck like a physical blow.
“She said her name was Clara.”
Claire Bennett stared at him.
“What did she want?”
“She told me not to marry you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought it was some kind of cruel prank.”
“You saw a woman with my face and still married me the next morning?”
“She knew things about my childhood. Things only my mother knew.”
Claire Vale stepped forward.
“What did she say?”
“She said the Whitmores had been preparing me since birth.”
“For Claire?” Richard asked.
Adrian shook his head.
“For whichever daughter survived.”
Claire felt sick.
“Our marriage was arranged.”
“I didn’t know that when I proposed.”
“But you knew before the ceremony.”
Adrian stood.
“I loved you.”
“You could have stopped the wedding.”
“I was afraid if I did, the woman would hurt you.”
Claire touched the bruise beneath her eye.
“You keep hurting me and calling it protection.”
Adrian flinched.
Before he could answer, the black memory box activated.
A woman’s voice emerged from inside.
“Clara?”
Claire froze.
The voice belonged to her mother.
“Clara, if you can hear this, Richard has failed.”
Richard took a step closer.
“Helena?”
The recording continued.
“There are three rules you must remember.”
The hallway lights shut off one by one.
“First, never trust the person who claims to be Richard Vale.”
Richard’s face tightened.
“Second, your sister is not your enemy.”
Claire and Claire Vale looked at each other.
“Third, Subject E cannot be allowed to return home.”
Adrian whispered, “My mother.”
The recording changed.
A map appeared above the box.
A red light marked the old Vale estate.
Claire recognized the building immediately.
The mansion where the fire had begun.
A new voice interrupted the recording.
Evelyn.
“Thank you for finding the key.”
The black box grew hot in Claire’s hands.
Marcus grabbed it and threw it down the corridor.
It exploded.
The blast knocked everyone to the floor.
When Claire opened her eyes, Richard was gone.
A trail of blood led toward the elevator.
Claire followed it.
The doors stood open.
Inside was Richard’s phone.
A message glowed across the screen.
COME TO THE HOUSE WHERE YOU DIED.
Below the message was a live image.
Richard was tied to a chair inside the burned Vale mansion.
Behind him stood Evelyn.
She held a knife against his throat.
Then another person entered the frame.
A man who looked exactly like Richard.
May you like
He smiled at the camera.
“Bring me my daughters.”
