Chapter 16 — The Stranger in the Rain

Chapter 16 — The Stranger in the Rain

For a few seconds, Miyaka couldn't move.

The man stood at the edge of the road with the rain falling around him, his face partially hidden by the darkness. He wasn't close enough for her to make out every feature, but she didn't need to.

She remembered the ring.

That was enough.

Her childhood memory came back with such force that she felt dizzy.

A dark coat.

Wet earth.

The mango tree.

A man's voice telling her she shouldn't be there.

And that ring.

The same strange symbol she had spent the last few days seeing everywhere.

Beside her, Moises had gone completely still.

“Stay here.”

Miyaka caught his sleeve.

“No.”

He looked at her.

“I mean it.”

“So do I.”

“Miyaka.”

“I'm not hiding behind you.”

“This isn't about pride.”

“I know.”

“Then listen to me.”

She held his gaze.

“I am listening.”

His jaw tightened.

For a second, neither of them moved.

Then he glanced toward the road again.

The man hadn't moved either.

Miyaka's grip loosened from Moises's sleeve.

“He knows we're here.”

“Yes.”

“You think he followed us?”

“I don't know.”

She gave him a look.

He sighed.

“Sorry.”

That almost made her smile.

Almost.

“You really need to stop saying that.”

“I know.”

“You say it every time you don't know something.”

“I have a lot to apologize for.”

The words were quiet.

Miyaka looked at him.

She didn't have an answer for that.

The stranger suddenly took one step forward.

Moises moved in front of her.

This time, Miyaka didn't argue.

The man's voice carried through the rain.

“You found the box.”

Miyaka's stomach dropped.

Moises's shoulders stiffened.

“How do you know about the box?”

The man didn't answer.

He looked past Moises.

Straight at Miyaka.

“You remember me.”

Miyaka felt cold despite the warmth of Moises standing beside her.

“I think I do.”

The man tilted his head slightly.

“You shouldn't.”

“That's not really up to you.”

Moises glanced at her.

Miyaka barely noticed.

She couldn't take her eyes off the stranger.

Something about his voice bothered her.

Not because it was threatening.

Because it sounded familiar.

She had heard it before.

Not recently.

Years ago.

Under this tree.

“You were here,” she said.

The man remained silent.

“When I was a kid.”

His eyes moved toward the mango tree.

“Yes.”

Miyaka swallowed.

“What did you want?”

“I wanted you to leave.”

“Why?”

He looked at her for a long moment.

“Because you were never supposed to know.”

Miyaka felt anger rising.

“Know what?”

The man glanced at Moises.

Then back at her.

“About your father.”

Moises stepped forward.

“Don't involve her father.”

The man's expression barely changed.

“It's already involved.”

“What does that mean?”

“You know exactly what it means.”

“I don't.”

The man smiled faintly.

“Then you know less than I thought.”

Miyaka could feel Moises becoming more tense beside her.

She touched his arm.

Not to stop him.

Just to remind him she was there.

“Who are you?”

The man looked at her.

“Someone who remembers what happened.”

“That doesn't answer me.”

“No.”

Miyaka's patience snapped.

“Then try again.”

For the first time, the man's expression changed.

Something like amusement crossed his face.

“You're still stubborn.”

Her breath caught.

She knew that voice.

Not just the sound.

The way he said it.

She remembered being small, standing beneath this tree with dirt on her knees.

She remembered looking up at him.

And hearing those exact words.

You're still stubborn.

Her face went pale.

“You knew me.”

“I knew your father.”

“You knew me.”

The man didn't deny it.

Moises looked at her.

“Miyaka…”

“I remember him.”

Her voice was barely audible.

“He was here.”

The man nodded.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

He looked toward the wooden box.

“Because your father asked me to keep something safe.”

Miyaka's eyes dropped to the box.

“The letters?”

“No.”

She frowned.

“Then what?”

The stranger reached into his coat.

Moises immediately stepped forward.

“Don't.”

The man stopped.

Slowly, he removed his hand.

There was no weapon.

Only a small photograph.

He held it out.

Miyaka didn't move.

“What is that?”

“Something your father wanted you to have.”

Moises looked at him carefully.

“Why now?”

“Because I'm running out of time.”

The answer unsettled Miyaka.

“Time for what?”

The man looked at her.

“To tell you before they do.”

“Who?”

He glanced toward the road behind him.

“People who don't want you to know what your father left behind.”

Miyaka felt a knot form in her stomach.

“Where is my father?”

The man's expression changed.

Not much.

But enough.

Miyaka saw it.

She stepped forward.

“You know something.”

He looked away.

“You know what happened to him.”

“Miyaka.”

She ignored Moises.

“You knew my father. You knew me. You knew about the box. You knew about Moises leaving.”

The man said nothing.

Her voice shook.

“So tell me.”

The silence stretched.

Finally, he said,

“Your father didn't betray the Laurents.”

Moises's expression hardened.

Miyaka stared at him.

“What?”

“He tried to protect you.”

“From who?”

The man looked directly at her.

“From Valmont.”

The name seemed to change the air around them.

Moises took a step forward.

“You said he was dead.”

“I said nothing about him being dead.”

Miyaka looked at Moises.

He looked as stunned as she felt.

The stranger continued.

“Your families thought the danger was gone.”

“And it wasn't?”

“No.”

“Then why did everyone act like it was?”

“Because someone wanted them to.”

Miyaka's mind spun.

She looked at the wooden box.

“The letters.”

The man nodded.

“They were never meant to stay hidden.”

“Who hid them?”

He hesitated.

Then looked at Moises.

“That is the part you need to find yourselves.”

Moises's expression hardened.

“You expect us to trust you?”

“No.”

The man looked almost tired.

“You shouldn't trust anyone.”

Miyaka watched him carefully.

“Then why should we trust anything you're saying?”

“You shouldn't.”

She blinked.

He looked at the box.

“Read the letter.”

Moises glanced down.

“The one from me?”

The man nodded.

“Everything you need to understand why he left is in there.”

Miyaka's heart tightened.

She looked at Moises.

He looked back.

Neither of them spoke.

The stranger took a step backward.

Miyaka suddenly felt panic.

“Wait.”

He stopped.

“You said my father asked you to protect something.”

“Yes.”

“What?”

The man looked at her.

“You.”

Her breath caught.

Then he added,

“And something your father believed was more dangerous than any man.”

“What?”

The stranger's eyes moved toward the wooden box.

“The truth.”

Before Miyaka could respond, headlights appeared behind the man.

Another vehicle.

Fast.

The stranger looked over his shoulder.

His expression changed immediately.

“Go.”

Moises turned toward the approaching headlights.

“Who is that?”

The stranger backed away.

“You don't have much time.”

Miyaka stepped forward.

“Wait!”

He looked at her one last time.

Then he said something that made her blood run cold.

“Your father knew they would come for you eventually.”

The second vehicle stopped.

Its doors opened.

The stranger disappeared into the trees.

Moises grabbed Miyaka's hand.

“Move.”

This time, she didn't resist.

They ran toward the opposite side of the clearing, the old wooden box still in Moises's hand.

Miyaka could hear footsteps behind them.

Her heart hammered against her ribs.

She didn't know who was chasing them.

She didn't know whether the stranger had helped them or led them into another trap.

She didn't even know whether her father was alive.

But one thing was becoming painfully clear.

The man beneath the mango tree hadn't been the beginning of the mystery.

He had been there long before it started.

And whatever her father had hidden from her was important enough that someone was willing to come after her fourteen years later.

Moises pulled her behind a large tree.

They crouched together, both trying to catch their breath.

Miyaka looked at him.

His hand was still wrapped around hers.

Neither of them noticed until that moment.

He slowly loosened his fingers.

But Miyaka didn't let go.

For once, neither of them needed to say anything.

They both understood.

Whatever happened next, they weren't facing it separately anymore.