Chapter 9: The Last Experiment
The photograph was taken inside my house.
I knew because I recognized the curtains.
The couch.
The small blanket covering Leo.
Someone had been there.
Someone had been watching my children.
Again.
I called home.
No answer.
I called Mia’s phone.
Nothing.
I called Rachel.
Nothing.
My hands shook.
Detective Harris grabbed his keys.
“We’re going.””
The drive felt endless.
Every red light felt like an hour.
Every second felt like another chance for my father to hurt my family.
When we arrived, the front door was open.
I ran inside.
“Mia!””
No answer.
“Leo!””
Silence.
Then I heard crying.
From upstairs.
I ran.
The bedroom door was locked.
“Mia!””
A small voice answered.
“Daddy?””
I almost collapsed.
“I’m here.””
I broke the door open.
Inside were my children.
Alive.
Safe.
But sitting beside them was someone else.
Daniel.
I stopped.
“What are you doing?””
Daniel looked at me.
“He came for them.””
“Who?””
Before he answered, the lights went out.
The house became dark.
Then my father’s voice came from downstairs.
“You always did choose the wrong people.””
I froze.
Detective Harris drew his weapon.
“Richard!””
My father stepped into the hallway.
Older.
Tired.
But still terrifying.
“You don’t understand, David.””
I stood between him and my children.
“I understand everything.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“You understand what they told you.””
He pointed at Daniel.
“Ask him what happened after I left.””
I looked at Daniel.
He looked away.
My heart sank.
“What aren’t you telling me?””
Daniel whispered:
“I tried to stop him.””
“Who?””
“Myself.””
The room went silent.
My father smiled.
“There it is.””
I stared.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I helped him.””
I felt like I had been hit.
“What?””
“I was angry.””
His voice broke.
“When he chose you, I wanted him to suffer.””
“No…”
“I gave him information.””
My father stepped forward.
“Daniel helped me find Leo.””
I looked at my brother.
The man who shared my blood.
The man I just found.
“You betrayed us.””
He started crying.
“Yes.””
My father laughed.
“Family is complicated.””
I hated that sentence.
Because it was always used to excuse the unforgivable.
“You took my son because of some experiment?””
My father’s expression hardened.
“It wasn’t about Leo.””
“Then what was it about?””
He looked at Mia.
My daughter.
“The second child.””
I moved instantly.
“No.””
He smiled.
“You don’t even know what she is.””
I felt sick.
“She’s a child.””
“She’s your child.””
The police moved closer.
My father continued.
“She has something you never had.””
“What?””
“Your memories.””
I froze.
Detective Harris looked confused.
“What are you talking about?””
My father smiled.
“The first experiment failed because David forgot.””
He pointed at me.
“But Mia remembers.””
I stared at my daughter.
She was crying.
“Daddy…”
I ran to her.
I held her.
“I’m here.””
My father watched.
Then said:
“She was the only one who could hear Leo.””
The room went silent.
Because suddenly everything made sense.
Mia heard him beneath the floor.
Mia knew where he was.
Mia remembered.
My father wasn’t searching for Leo.
He was searching for proof.
Proof that his experiment worked.
Detective Harris stepped forward.
“It’s over.””
My father smiled sadly.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“It’s just beginning.””
Then he reached into his coat.
Everyone reacted.
But he didn’t pull out a weapon.
He pulled out a photograph.
And handed it to me.
My blood froze when I saw it.
It was a picture of Mia.
Taken years earlier.
Before Leo disappeared.
On the back were four words.
May you like
The same handwriting.
*SHE WAS THE PLAN.*
