LOGINThe sheet of paper fluttered to the floor.
Elena watched Thomas Cross tear it from the ledger as though he had just ripped out a piece of her family's history.“Thirty minutes,” he repeated.Adrian took one step forward.“You're not giving her a choice.”Thomas looked at him.“Everyone has a choice. Some people simply dislike the consequences.”“You've locked the doors,” Adrian said. “You brought men into the house. You suspendedThe sound of the estate’s front doors slamming open echoed through the underground vault. Elena stared at the message in her hands. ASK YOUR FATHER WHAT HE DID ON THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN. Daniel stood several feet away, his face drained of color. Claire had pressed one hand against the wall for support. Gabriel looked between them. “What happened on that night?” Daniel said nothing. “Dad,” Elena demanded. “What did you do?” A heavy thud sounded above them. Then another. Someone was moving through the estate. Adrian reached for the flashlight attached to his belt. “We need to leave this room.” “No,” Elena said. He turned toward her. “I’m not leaving until he answers.” Adrian looked at Daniel. “Then answer her.”
The words on the screen refused to disappear. AUTHORITY TRANSFER: 12% Elena stared at the document displayed on her phone. Her name. Her signature. Her supposed acceptance of the Dark Covenant. Every detail looked authentic. Too authentic. Adrian took the phone from her hand and examined the image. “Don’t touch anything,” Samuel repeated. “I haven’t,” Elena said. “Not the phone. The panel.” The percentage on the screen increased. 14% 15% Gabriel stepped closer to the control console. “Can we shut it down?” Daniel shook his head. “Not while the system recognizes Elena as an authorized witness.” “But she didn’t authorize anything,” Gabriel snapped. “The system doesn’t understand intention,” Daniel replied. “It recognizes credentials, signatures, and legal permissions.” Elena looked at him. “Then make it understand.” Daniel’s expression tightened. “I can’t.” “You built it.” “I helped build the original system. This version has been modified.” “By Victor?” “Pos
Mara saw the men before they reached her. One wore a dark jacket despite the afternoon heat. The other carried a slim black case and kept one hand inside his coat. Neither of them looked toward the estate. They were focused entirely on her. Mara stepped away from the vehicle. “Can I help you?” The taller man stopped several feet away. “Ms. Mara Mensah?” She didn’t answer. He produced a laminated identification card. “Financial Crimes Division. We need to ask you a few questions regarding unauthorized access to protected financial records.” Mara glanced at the card. The photograph was blurred. The identification number was too short. She smiled faintly. “Then you should already know my name.” The second man moved closer. “We’d prefer to resolve this peacefully.” Mara’s hand slipped into her pocket. Her fingers closed around her phone. Inside the estate, Elena watched the scene on the monitor. “They’re not police,” she said. Adrian was already moving toward the doo
The concealed door opened with a slow, grinding sound. Dust fell from the edges of the bookcase. Elena held her breath as a narrow passage emerged behind it, descending into darkness beneath the estate. Adrian tightened his grip around her hand. “Stay behind me,” he whispered. “No.” His head turned slightly. “I’m not asking you to hide,” he said. “I’m asking you to let me go first.” Elena understood the difference. For once, he wasn’t trying to control her movements. He was trying to protect her without taking away her choice. She nodded. “Fine. But I’m right behind you.” A faint light flickered at the end of the passage. Then the voice returned through the intercom. “Mother, you brought Daniel.” Claire’s face had become almost expressionless. “He knows,” she murmured. Daniel stared at her. “You told me he was safe.” “He was.” “You told me he was somewhere far from here.” “He was.” “Then why is he beneath the estate?” Claire’s eyes filled with regret. “Because
For several seconds, nobody moved. On Mara’s laptop, the security footage remained frozen on the image of Claire Cross standing inside the hidden room at the Cross estate. She looked older than Elena remembered. Not weak. Not frightened. Older in the way of someone who had spent years carrying a truth too heavy for one person. Beside her stood a man who appeared to be around Elena’s age. His dark hair was slightly longer than Adrian’s, his face leaner, and his expression guarded. The collar of his shirt exposed the faint outline of a birthmark near his left shoulder. The same mark from the photograph. The same mark Gabriel had recognized. Elena’s stomach tightened. “Who is he?” she whispered. Claire looked directly into the camera. “Come home,” she said. “All of you.” Then the screen went black. Mara immediately began typing. “That feed was routed through a private server,” she said. “Someone is controlling the estate’s internal system manually.” “Can you trace the sig
The man stood in the doorway with a folder clutched against his chest.Behind him, two security officers blocked the corridor.“Subject 000-B has been located,” he repeated.His gaze shifted to Elena.“And Subject 000-C is still missing.”Gabriel's expression hardened.“Who are you?”The man ignored him.“I'm here under the authority of the Crosswell Records Trust.”Mara stepped forward.“There is no such authority. The original trust was dissolved years ago.”“Not according to our records.”Adrian moved between the man and Elena.“Then show us the records.”The man opened the folder.“Gladly.”Before he could remove anything, Gabriel lunged forward and grabbed his wrist.“Don't.”The man looked at him calmly.“You've been hiding for twenty-nine years. You should be more cooperative.”Gabriel tightened his







