Nobody moved.The little girl’s finger remained pointed at the photograph.“She was the fifth child,” she repeated.Varek looked at the screen, then at the girl.“You’re saying Naomi was one of the children?”“Yes.”“Then why was she standing beside you?”The girl shook her head.“She wasn’t standing beside us. She was standing behind us. They made her look like a guardian.”Matthew Cross moved closer to the computer.“That doesn’t make sense. The photograph was taken twenty-nine years ago. If Naomi was one of the children, why does the record identify her as the guardian?”“Because they wanted people to believe she was older,” the girl replied.Adrian frowned.“How can a child be made to look older in a photograph?”“Not in the photograph,” she said. “In the records.”Varek turned towards Alistair.“Explain.”Alistair’s expression had become difficult to read.“The fifth child was never supposed to have a permanent identity.”“Why?”“Because the fifth child was the one who could expo

Nobody moved.The stranger stood at the end of the corridor, holding a photograph in one hand.He looked like Adrian.Not exactly like the Adrian standing beside Varek, but close enough to make everyone uncomfortable. His face was older, his hair slightly darker, and a thin scar crossed his right cheek.Adrian stared at him.“Who are you?”The stranger smiled.“You really don’t remember me?”“I’ve never seen you before.”“That’s what they wanted you to believe.”Adrian took a step forward.“Answer me. Who are you?”The stranger raised the photograph.“Your brother.”Victor immediately lifted his weapon.“Don’t move.”The stranger glanced at him.“Still pointing weapons at people before asking questions. Some things never change.”Varek moved in front of Adrian.“If you’re his brother, prove it.”The stranger looked at him.“You want proof?”He turned the photograph around.It showed two little boys standing beside a woman in a white dress. One boy had Adrian’s face. The other had the

“She’s alive!”Naomi’s voice echoed through the communication device.Varek grabbed it tightly.“Naomi, get away from her!”“I can’t! Richard is here!”A loud crash followed.Then the connection went dead.“Naomi!”Varek tried calling again, but there was no response.He turned towards Jonathan.“Where is the entrance to the chapel?”Jonathan was already moving towards the corridor.“There’s an underground passage beneath the eastern wing. It connects to the old family cemetery.”“Then take us there.”Alistair laughed.“You cannot enter that place.”Varek turned towards him.“Watch me.”“You’re making another mistake. The woman beneath the chapel isn’t someone you can simply rescue.”Adrian grabbed Alistair by the collar.“Why? What did you do to her?”Alistair looked at him.“Ask your father.”Adrian’s jaw tightened.“Richard?”Alistair nodded.“He was the one who ordered the burial.”Jonathan suddenly stepped forward.“Enough. We don’t have time for this.”He pressed his hand agains

Naomi stared at the photograph in Daniel Thorne’s hand.Six newborn babies.Six names.And one sentence that made her blood run cold.THE SIXTH CHILD WAS NEVER THE LAST.“Who raised me?” she asked.Daniel Thorne looked at her for a long moment.“Your grandmother.”Naomi shook her head.“My grandmother died when I was young.”“Did you see her body?”Naomi opened her mouth but couldn’t answer.She remembered the funeral. She remembered the black clothes, the crying relatives and the long journey home.But she had never seen her grandmother’s face after she died.Her mother had told her that she passed away in the hospital.“You’re lying,” Naomi whispered.Daniel shook his head.“Your mother didn’t tell you everything because she wanted you to have a normal life.”Evelyn stepped forward.“Who is this grandmother you’re talking about?”Daniel looked at her.“The woman who raised Naomi’s mother. The woman who knew about the six children before any of them were born.”Naomi held her necklac

The original Daniel began screaming.“Don’t let her touch him!”Adrian turned towards the hospital bed.The little boy was trembling, his small hands gripping the white sheets. His eyes were fixed on the woman standing beside the medical table.“She killed them,” he whispered.The woman took a step towards him.“Daniel, you don’t understand what you’re saying.”“Yes, I do!”His voice broke.“I remember the room. I remember the fire. I remember you locking the door.”Varek moved between them.“Stay where you are.”The woman stopped.Adrian looked at the boy.“Who did she kill?”The boy pointed at the photograph.“The other children.”Silence filled the room.The woman shook her head.“Those children were already dying. I did what I had to do.”“You’re lying!” Daniel shouted.He tried to climb out of the bed, but his legs were too weak. Adrian rushed forward and caught him before he fell.“Easy. You’re safe.”The boy held onto Adrian’s shirt.“No, I’m not. She always comes back.”Adrian