Episode 8: The Man Who Should Be Dead

The photograph slipped from Elena's fingers.

It landed face-up on the library table.

Her childhood bedroom stared back at her.

The faded blue curtains.

The old bookshelf.

The small wooden desk where she'd written her first school essays.

Everything was exactly as she remembered it.

Except for the envelope.

FOR ELENA.

And beneath it:

YOUR FATHER ISN'T DEAD.

For six years, she had lived with one certainty.

Her father was dead.

Now even that had been taken from her.

"Call them."

Adrian's voice was quiet.

Elena looked up.

"Who?"

"The people at the house."

She grabbed her phone.

"No."

Adrian frowned.

"What?"

"If someone wanted us to find that photograph, then rushing there is exactly what they expect."

He stared at her.

"You're right."

The realization seemed to surprise him.

Elena looked at the photograph again.

"Whoever broke into the house wanted me to see this."

"Yes."

"Which means they know we're here."

"Probably."

"And they're watching us."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Definitely."

Elena looked toward the dark windows.

For the first time, the mansion didn't feel like a sanctuary.

It felt like a cage.

"Then let's give them something to watch."

Adrian's eyebrow lifted.

"What are you thinking?"

"I'm going to the house."

He immediately shook his head.

"No."

"You just said I was right."

"I said your reasoning was right."

"And?"

"And you're still not going."

She folded her arms.

"You really haven't learned anything about me."

"I've learned enough."

"Then you know I'm going."

Adrian studied her for several seconds.

Finally, he picked up his jacket.

"I'm coming."

"I didn't ask you to."

"I know."

---

The Cross Residence

The old house stood at the end of a quiet street, hidden behind tall trees.

Elena hadn't been there since she was seventeen.

The sight of it hit her harder than she expected.

The front porch.

The cracked stone steps.

The brass knocker her father had installed himself.

Memories came rushing back.

Her mother laughing in the kitchen.

Her father's voice calling her name.

Christmas mornings.

Rainy afternoons.

Arguments.

Silence.

Then the day everything ended.

Adrian parked across the street.

Elena stared at the house.

"I thought I was ready."

"For what?"

"To come back."

"You don't have to be."

She looked at him.

"Why are you always calm?"

"I'm not."

"You look calm."

"That's different."

She almost smiled.

Then she noticed something.

"The front door."

It was slightly open.

Adrian's expression changed.

"Stay here."

"No."

"Elena."

"I said no."

He looked at her.

Then nodded.

"Fine."

They approached together.

The door creaked as they entered.

Dust covered the floor.

Nothing moved.

No footsteps.

No voices.

Only the faint smell of old wood and rain.

Elena stepped into the hallway.

Her childhood photographs still hung on the walls.

She stopped before one.

She was six years old.

Standing between her parents.

Her mother was smiling.

Her father wasn't.

Elena studied his face.

For the first time, she noticed something she'd never noticed as a child.

He was looking past the camera.

Toward someone else.

"Adrian."

He came beside her.

"What?"

"My father."

She pointed.

"He wasn't looking at the camera."

Adrian studied the photograph.

"No."

"He was looking at someone."

"Can you remember who?"

Elena shook her head.

"No."

Adrian reached toward the frame.

"There's something behind it."

He removed the photograph.

A small piece of paper had been taped to the wall.

A handwritten number.

27.

Elena frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Adrian looked around.

"Maybe a room."

"There aren't twenty-seven rooms."

"No."

He looked toward the staircase.

"Maybe a book."

---

They searched the house.

Twenty minutes passed.

Nothing.

Then Elena entered her father's study.

The room smelled exactly as she remembered.

Old books.

Leather.

Tobacco.

She closed her eyes.

For one second, she was twelve again.

Her father was sitting behind the desk.

"You'll understand when you're older."

She had hated that sentence.

Now she understood why.

She opened the desk drawers.

Empty.

Then the bottom drawer caught.

She pulled harder.

It opened.

Inside was a small metal box.

No lock.

No key.

Just a number engraved on the lid.

27.

Elena's pulse quickened.

She opened it.

Inside was a cassette tape.

A handwritten label read:

FOR MY DAUGHTER.

Her fingers trembled.

"Adrian."

He entered.

"What did you find?"

She held up the tape.

He went still.

"Where's the player?"

She looked around.

"Probably somewhere in the house."

They searched until they found an old cassette player in a cabinet.

Elena inserted the tape.

Pressed play.

Static filled the room.

Then a man's voice.

Her father's.

"Elena."

She stopped breathing.

"If you're hearing this, then Claire failed."

Elena gripped the edge of the desk.

Her father's voice continued.

"Or perhaps she succeeded."

A pause.

"I don't know which."

Adrian stood silently beside her.

"I need you to understand something. Everything we did was designed to keep you alive."

Elena closed her eyes.

"I know you will hate us for the lies."

A faint crackle.

"But there are truths that become weapons when they are placed in the wrong hands."

Her father's voice lowered.

"Your mother knows where I am."

Elena's eyes opened.

Adrian looked at her.

"Where you are?"

The recording continued.

"If she ever tells you that I am dead, believe her."

Elena's heart stopped.

"What?"

"Because if you know I am alive, then the people watching us will know too."

She covered her mouth.

"Elena, there is a man inside the Covenant who has spent years waiting for you."

Static.

"Not because he wants to kill you."

Another pause.

"Because he believes you belong to him."

The tape clicked.

Then Samuel Cross said the words that made Elena's blood run cold.

"His name is Victor Duvall."

The recording ended.

Silence.

Elena turned slowly toward Adrian.

"Victor."

Adrian nodded.

"He's the fourth founder."

"No."

His voice was barely audible.

"He's worse."

---

A noise came from upstairs.

Both turned.

Adrian reached for his weapon.

"Someone's here."

Elena's heartbeat accelerated.

"Victor?"

"Maybe."

They moved silently toward the staircase.

A floorboard creaked.

Then another.

Someone was walking toward them.

Adrian raised his weapon.

"Show yourself."

Silence.

Then a woman stepped into view.

Elena froze.

The woman was older.

Her hair was streaked with gray.

Her face thinner than Elena remembered.

But there was no mistaking her.

"Mom."

Claire Cross stared at her daughter.

Tears filled her eyes.

"Elena."

For a moment, neither moved.

Then Elena ran.

She crossed the room and threw her arms around her mother.

Claire held her tightly.

Six years of grief broke open.

Elena cried against her shoulder.

"You were alive."

"I'm sorry."

"You were alive."

"I know."

"You let me believe you were dead."

"I had to."

"You didn't have to."

Claire pulled back.

"I did."

Elena wiped her tears.

"Why?"

Claire looked toward Adrian.

Her expression changed.

"Because of him."

Adrian stiffened.

Claire walked toward him.

"You kept your promise."

Adrian nodded.

"Yes."

"You protected her."

"I tried."

Claire's gaze hardened.

"You failed."

Elena stepped between them.

"Enough."

Both looked at her.

"I want answers."

Claire nodded.

"You deserve them."

"Where is my father?"

Claire's eyes filled with pain.

"Alive."

Elena's breath caught.

"Where?"

"Somewhere you cannot reach."

"Why?"

"Because Victor found him."

Adrian stepped forward.

"Is Samuel alive now?"

Claire looked at him.

"Yes."

"Where?"

"I don't know."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"You're lying."

Claire flinched.

Elena turned toward him.

"Don't."

Adrian stopped.

Claire looked at her daughter.

"I don't know where your father is now."

"How do you know he's alive?"

"Because he contacted me."

"When?"

"Three days ago."

Elena's heart raced.

"What did he say?"

Claire reached into her coat.

She removed a folded piece of paper.

"I was told to give you this only if Adrian brought you here."

Elena took it.

Her father's handwriting.

She recognized it instantly.

Elena,

If you're reading this, then you've found your mother.

Her vision blurred.

There is something I need you to know about Adrian.

She looked up.

Adrian was watching her.

She continued reading.

He is not the enemy.

A strange relief moved through her.

Then she read the next line.

But he is the only person who can unlock the Covenant.

Elena's eyes narrowed.

She read further.

And if he ever remembers what happened that night, he will know where I am.

She stopped.

"That night?"

Adrian's face had gone pale.

"What night?"

Elena looked at him.

"I don't know."

Claire stepped forward.

"You don't remember."

Adrian stared at her.

"Remember what?"

Claire's eyes softened.

"You were there."

"Where?"

"At the warehouse."

Elena's heart began pounding.

"The night my father died."

Claire nodded.

Adrian shook his head.

"No."

"You were there."

"I was eighteen."

"You were there."

"I don't remember."

"Because they made sure you wouldn't."

Elena looked between them.

"Who?"

Claire's voice dropped.

"Victor."

A crash sounded from outside.

Everyone froze.

Adrian moved toward the window.

A black vehicle sped away from the house.

He turned.

"We've been found."

Claire's expression changed.

"Then there's no time."

She grabbed Elena's hand.

"We have to leave."

"Where?"

"Somewhere Victor can't find us."

Adrian shook his head.

"There's nowhere."

Claire looked at him.

"There is one place."

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"Where?"

Claire looked directly at Elena.

"Your father's sanctuary."

Elena frowned.

"My father has a sanctuary?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

Claire hesitated.

Then she whispered:

"Under the church."

Adrian went completely still.

"What church?"

Claire looked at Elena.

"The church where you were baptized."

Elena's heart stopped.

She knew exactly where she meant.

Calvary.

But before she could speak, every light in the house went out.

A gunshot shattered the window.

Adrian tackled Elena to the floor.

Claire screamed.

Another shot struck the wall.

Then a voice came through the darkness.

Calm.

Male.

Almost amused.

"Claire."

Silence.

"You should have stayed dead."

Elena looked toward the shattered window.

A red laser dot moved across the wall.

Then stopped directly over her chest.

Adrian pulled her behind him.

The voice continued.

"And Adrian..."

A pause.

"Ask your mother what happened to your memory."

Adrian went rigid.

Then the voice whispered the final words:

"Because the last thing you remembered before they erased it..."

Another shot.

The bullet struck the wall inches from Adrian's head.

"...was killing Samuel Cross."