Chapter 10 - THE SECOND FIRE
The floor lifted beneath Noah’s feet.
He hit the wall.
Glass shattered throughout the mansion.
Lily screamed.
Smoke erupted from the underground corridor.
“Outside!” Evelyn shouted.
They climbed.
Fire raced through the old ventilation system.
The mansion that had hidden secrets for generations was becoming a furnace.
Vanessa appeared through the smoke.
“Richard’s still down there!”
Noah turned.
Evelyn grabbed him.
“No.”
“I have to get him.”
“Noah!”
“He came back for us.”
“He also caused this!”
“I know!”
That was the worst part.
Richard was guilty.
Richard had betrayed them.
Richard was also their father.
Noah couldn’t make those truths cancel each other out.
He pulled free.
“I can’t leave him.”
Evelyn stared at her son.
Then she nodded.
“We go together.”
They made Lily stay with Vanessa near the garden exit.
Vanessa protested.
Evelyn grabbed her.
“If anything happens to her—”
“I know.”
“No.”
Evelyn stared into her eyes.
“You don’t.”
She and Noah ran back.
Smoke filled the lower corridor.
“Dad!”
No answer.
They reached the boiler room.
Mercer lay near the furnace.
Dead.
Richard was pinned beneath a collapsed beam.
“Dad!”
Noah rushed forward.
Richard opened his eyes.
“You’re supposed to be outside.”
“Yeah, well, I’m starting to have problems following instructions.”
Despite everything, Richard laughed.
Evelyn crouched beside him.
“Can you move?”
“No.”
They lifted the beam.
It barely moved.
Fire spread closer.
Richard coughed.
“Leave me.”
“No,” Noah said.
“Noah.”
“No!”
Richard grabbed his hand.
“Listen.”
“I’m done listening!”
“I need you to.”
Noah’s eyes filled.
Richard pressed something into his palm.
A small black key.
“Safe-deposit box.”
“Where?”
“First National.”
“What’s inside?”
“Original patient records.”
Evelyn stared.
“You kept them?”
“I couldn’t destroy them.”
“Why?”
Richard looked at her.
“Because some part of me kept hoping I’d become the man you thought I was.”
Evelyn’s expression cracked.
“You should’ve told me.”
“I was afraid.”
“You should have been.”
Richard looked at Noah.
“Don’t become me.”
Noah shook his head.
“We’re getting you out.”
“Noah.”
“Stop talking like you’re dying!”
Richard smiled sadly.
“I’m your father.”
“For once, act like it and get up!”
Something changed in Richard’s face.
He gripped the beam.
Evelyn and Noah lifted.
Richard screamed.
The beam moved.
He dragged himself free.
“Go!”
They stumbled toward the stairs.
The ceiling collapsed behind them.
They reached the main floor.
Lily saw Richard.
“Daddy!”
She ran to him.
Richard dropped to his knees and hugged her.
Lily sobbed against his chest.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Vanessa stood several feet away.
Watching.
Then headlights appeared beyond the gates.
Dozens.
Police.
Fire trucks.
Ambulances.
Richard looked confused.
“Who called them?”
Vanessa raised her hand.
“I did.”
Noah stared.
Vanessa smiled weakly.
“Don’t look so surprised.”
Then she reached into her pocket.
And pulled out one of Evelyn’s missing letters.
“I wasn’t the one who hid these from you.”
May you like
She looked at Richard.
“He was.”
