For several seconds, nobody spoke.The security screens remained black.But the image was still in my head.Three babies.My parents.Evelyn.And the woman standing in the doorway.My father had recognized her.That was the part I couldn't ignore.I turned toward him."Who was she?"Marcus didn't answer."Dad."His eyes remained fixed on the dead screens."I don't know."Noah laughed once, without humor."You clearly do."Marcus looked at him."Noah—""You said she was supposed to be dead."Marcus's jaw tightened."Yes.""So who was she?"Before Marcus could answer, the man we had been fighting stepped away from the wall."Her name was Miriam."Marcus looked at him sharply."You know her?""I knew her.""Where is she?"The man glanced at the ceiling."That's the question you should be asking."Adrian slowly pushed himself off the wall.Blood ran from the corner of his mouth."Miriam died seventeen years ago."The man shook his head."No."Adrian stared at him."I was there.""So was I

"Dad."My voice sounded different when I said it.Not angry.Not yet.Just tired.Tired of hearing pieces of my own life from strangers.Tired of watching my parents react to things I was supposed to know.Tired of finding out that every answer seemed to lead to another question.Marcus didn't speak.The others were watching him.Noah stood with his arms crossed, waiting.Claire looked confused.Maya was silent.Adrian had lowered his weapon.Even the man who had been fighting us moments earlier seemed interested in what Marcus would say.Amy stayed beside me.Her hand found mine again.I didn't look at her.I couldn't.My eyes remained on my father."Why did you lie about the fourth child?"Marcus looked down."I didn't lie."I almost laughed."Really?""I left something out.""That's lying."He looked at me."Sometimes.""Sometimes?"My voice rose."How many times have you told me something wasn't important when it was? How many times have you told me I was safe when I wasn't? How m

The message remained on the screen.BRING ALL FOUR TO THE OLD CHURCH.OR I TELL THE COUNCIL WHERE JACK'S MOTHER IS.I read it twice.Then a third time.My mother.Elena.For seventeen years, my parents had done everything they could to keep me away from the world they knew existed.Now that world had finally found a way to reach them.And whoever was behind the message knew exactly which name would make me lose control."How do we know she's actually in danger?" Amy asked.Nobody answered immediately.She looked at the phone."That's what everyone should be asking."I turned toward her."What do you mean?""We've been running from one thing to another because people keep telling us something is happening."She pointed at the screen."This person wants us at a specific place with all four of you."Her eyes moved toward Leah."Maybe that's exactly what they want."Leah nodded slowly."She's right."Noah looked at her."Then what do we do?"Leah stared at the phone."We don't go."My hea

The girl standing behind the fourth door looked exactly like Leah.For a moment, my mind refused to accept what my eyes were showing me.Same dark hair.Same brown eyes.Same narrow jaw.Even the small scar near her eyebrow appeared to be in the same place.Leah couldn't move.She was staring at the girl as if she were looking at a reflection that had somehow stepped out of a mirror.The girl smiled."You're finally here, sister."Leah's lips parted."No."The girl's smile disappeared."You don't remember me."Leah shook her head."I've never seen you before.""That's not true."The girl took one step forward."You just don't remember."Noah moved in front of Leah."Stay back."The girl stopped.She looked at him."You must be Noah."His expression changed."How do you know my name?""I know all of you."Her eyes moved to Claire."Claire."Then to me."Jack."Finally, she looked at Amy."And you're the human."Amy's face tightened."What's your name?"The girl didn't answer.Instead,

"Don't come any closer."Elias's voice came from the darkness.I froze.The warning wasn't casual.It wasn't the voice of someone trying to scare us.He sounded genuinely afraid.Then I heard the growl again.Low.Close.Something moved behind him."Grandpa?"Elias stepped into the light.His clothes were torn.There was blood on his forehead.One hand was pressed against his side.But the thing that caught my attention wasn't his injuries.It was his face.He looked at me like he had been expecting me.And like he wished I had never come."Jack."I moved toward him.He immediately raised his hand."Stay there.""You're hurt.""I'll survive.""What's behind you?"Elias looked over his shoulder.For a moment, he didn't answer.Then he looked back at us."Something that should never have followed me."Noah stepped forward."What is it?"Elias looked at him.His expression softened."Noah."Noah stopped."You know me.""I know who you are.""Then you know what happened to me."Elias nodd