Chapter 33: My Father’s Letter

Ava’s hands trembled as she unfolded the paper.

The room around her seemed to disappear.

The voices.

The tension.

The danger.

Everything faded into the background.

All she could see were the words written in her father’s handwriting.

Her real father’s handwriting.

The man she had spent years mourning.

The man she had believed died before he could say goodbye.

The man whose secrets had turned her life upside down.

Slowly, she began to read.

To my daughter,

If you are reading this, then I have already failed.

Ava’s breath caught.

The words blurred as tears filled her eyes.

She blinked them away and continued.

I promised myself I would never involve you in this world.

I wanted you to grow up normal.

Happy.

Safe.

But there are some enemies that never stop hunting.

No matter how far you run.

No matter how carefully you hide.

They always come.

Ava’s heart pounded.

The letter felt less like a goodbye and more like a warning.

Ava, there is something everyone around you will eventually get wrong.

You are not important because you are my daughter.

You are important because of who you are.

She frowned.

What did that mean?

Before she could continue, Ethan’s voice suddenly sounded behind her.

“Ava.”

She jumped.

The letter slipped from her fingers.

Ethan caught it before it could hit the floor.

The moment he saw the handwriting, his face changed.

“Where did you get this?”

Ava swallowed.

“It was in your jacket.”

Ethan stared at the letter.

Then at her.

Then back at the letter.

“You weren’t supposed to find this yet.”

Ava laughed bitterly.

“Everyone keeps saying that.”

Silence.

Then she gently took the paper back.

“No more secrets.”

Ethan didn’t argue.

For once.

He simply nodded.

“Finish reading it.”

Ava returned her attention to the letter.

Trust Ethan.

Her eyes widened.

She looked up.

Ethan looked equally surprised.

“What?”

Ava held up the letter.

“My father wrote your name.”

Ethan slowly approached.

She continued reading.

There will come a time when you doubt everyone around you.

Your mother.

Your friends.

Even yourself.

But if Ethan Cross is standing beside you, trust him.

I trusted him with your life long before you ever met him.

The room fell silent.

Ava looked up.

Ethan looked shocked.

Completely shocked.

“What does that mean?”

Ava asked.

Ethan shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

For the first time, she believed him.

Because the confusion on his face was genuine.

Then she continued reading.

There is one final truth you must know.

The Circle did not choose you.

I did.

A chill ran through her.

The Circle didn’t choose her.

Her father did.

Why?

Why would he willingly drag her into this?

The answer came on the next line.

And it nearly stopped her heart.

Because you are the only person the Founder fears.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Nobody moved.

Nobody breathed.

Ava stared at the words.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Certain she had read them wrong.

But the sentence never changed.

The Founder feared her.

Why?

She wasn’t powerful.

She wasn’t trained.

She wasn’t a fighter.

She was just…

Ava.

Then she reached the final paragraph.

When the time comes, look beneath the church.

The truth is not in the archive.

The truth is buried.

Forgive me.

I love you.

Dad.

Ava lowered the letter.

Tears streamed freely down her face.

For a long moment, nobody spoke.

Then Adrian broke the silence.

“Beneath the church.”

Everyone looked at him.

“Blackwater Church.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

“The truth is buried.”

Damien stepped forward.

“You think your father hid something there?”

“No.”

Ava folded the letter carefully.

Her hands were still shaking.

“I think he hid everything there.”

Miles away…

Inside Blackwater Church…

Richard sat frozen.

The Founder’s words still echoed in his mind.

No.

No.

No.

It couldn’t be true.

The Founder watched him carefully.

Enjoying every second.

“You look surprised.”

Richard’s voice trembled.

“You can’t tell her.”

The Founder smiled.

“I don’t need to.”

Richard’s stomach dropped.

“What?”

The Founder turned toward the stained-glass window.

“The truth has a way of finding her.”

Then he looked toward Elena.

Still tied to the chair.

Still terrified.

Still listening.

“The question is whether she’ll survive it.”

Suddenly, the church doors burst open.

Everyone turned.

An armed guard rushed inside.

Panicked.

“Sir.”

The Founder frowned.

“What is it?”

The guard swallowed.

“They found the tunnel.”

For the first time…

The Founder’s smile disappeared.

And Richard’s eyes widened.

Because if someone had found the tunnel beneath Blackwater Church…

Then the secret buried there was about to be exposed.

And once that happened…

Nothing would ever be the same again.