LOGINSaria couldn’t move.
She stared at the man standing behind Lily.The gun remained pressed against her daughter’s head.Her mind screamed his name.But her lips refused to say it.Lucas stepped beside her.“Saria, who is he?”The man smiled.“You really don’t remember?”Saria shook her head.“No.”He chuckled.“Of course you don’t.”Lily began crying.“Mummy, please.”Saria stood frozen at the top of the stairs. The little girl stared at her through tear-filled eyes. “Mummy?” That single word shattered something inside Saria. She took a slow step forward. “Who are you?” The girl wiped her tears. “You don’t remember me?” Saria’s chest tightened. “I… I’m sorry.” Victoria smiled behind the child. “She remembers more than she thinks.” Saria glared at her. “Where is Lily?” Victoria’s smile disappeared. “You’ll see her soon.” “Bring her to me.” “First, you need to meet your other daughter.” Saria looked at the little girl again. “My daughter?” The child nodded. “My name is Emma.” Saria’s heart skipped. Emma.
Saria stared at the photograph.“Mine?”Lucas nodded slowly.“Yes.”Saria shook her head.“No. That’s impossible.”“You said you didn’t remember.”“I remember Lily.”“But do you remember her?”Saria looked at the little girl again.Something inside her shifted.The child’s eyes.Her smile.The tiny scar above her eyebrow.Saria’s breathing stopped.She touched the photograph.“I’ve seen this girl before.”“Where?”“I don’t know.”Then—A memory struck her.A little girl running through the same hallway.“Mummy!”Saria dropped the photograph.She staggered backward.Lucas caught her.“Saria!”“My head…”She pressed both hands against her temples.Images flashed rapidly.Lily laughing.Her father shouting.
Saria stared at the message.Her heart pounded.BRING SARIA ALONE.Then the second line appeared again.OR LILY DIES.“No.”The word escaped her lips.Lucas immediately took the phone from Dan.“We’re not doing this.”Saria looked at him.“What choice do I have?”“We find another way.”“They have Lily.”“And that’s exactly why you can’t walk into their trap alone.”Saria’s eyes filled with tears.“She called me.”Lucas softened.“I know.”“She was crying, Lucas.”“I know.”“She’s my daughter.”“I know.”Saria took the phone back.“Then don’t ask me to sit here while she waits for me.”Adams stepped forward.“We can follow you without them knowing.”Saria looked at him.“They’ll be watching.”“Then we’ll stay close.”Dan sudden
Saria couldn’t move.She stared at the man standing behind Lily.The gun remained pressed against her daughter’s head.Her mind screamed his name.But her lips refused to say it.Lucas stepped beside her.“Saria, who is he?”The man smiled.“You really don’t remember?”Saria shook her head.“No.”He chuckled.“Of course you don’t.”Lily began crying.“Mummy, please.”Saria’s heart broke.“Let her go.”The man’s eyes remained on her.“Give me the key.”Saria looked down at her hand.The silver key.“No.”The gun moved slightly against Lily’s temple.Saria’s face went pale.“Don’t.”“Then give me the key.”Victoria stepped forward.“Do it, Saria.”Saria looked at her.“You knew about him.”Victoria smiled.“I k
“It was me.”The words barely left Dan’s mouth before the entire warehouse seemed to fall silent.Saria stared at him.For a moment, she couldn’t breathe.“You?”Dan swallowed hard.“I was driving that night.”Saria took a step backward.“No.”Her voice came out as a whisper.“No, you’re lying.”“I’m not.”“You said you didn’t know what happened.”“I was afraid.”“Afraid of what?”Dan looked at Victoria.His expression changed.Fear.Real fear.“Of her.”Victoria smiled.Saria turned toward her.“You knew?”“I knew everything.”Victoria stepped closer, her heels clicking against the concrete floor.“But you still don’t understand, Saria.”Saria’s fingers tightened around the silver key.“Then explain it.”Victoria laughed softly.
Saria looked down. A live video appeared. Lily was on the screen. Her face was wet with tears. “Mummy” Saria’s heart shattered. “Lily!” The camera moved. A man grabbed Lily by the shoulder. “Let her go!” Saria screamed. The man turned toward the camera. His face remained hidden. But his voice was clear. “You have three minutes.” Saria stared at the screen. Three minutes for what? “To remember.” What? The man laughed softly. “The truth.” The video ended. Saria lowered the phone. Her breathing became uneven. Lucas stepped beside her. “We’re going in.” Adams stood despite his wounded shoulder.







