Jason Blackwell's Rise To Power

CHAPTER 8

Jason stood motionless in the darkness, "My father is alive..."

He repeated the words quietly, as if saying them again would make them easier to believe.

Marcus switched on a small flashlight, "Jason, we need to leave."

Jason looked at him, "Not until you answer me."

"I don't have the answer."

"You said my father died." Jason demanded.

"That's what I believed."

"You worked for him."

"Yes." Marcus said with a nod of his head 

"Then how could you not know?"

Marcus hesitated,"Because Richard Blackwell disappeared twenty-nine years ago."

Jason's eyes narrowed,"I was six."

"Exactly."

"You mean everyone simply assumed he was dead?"

"Not everyone."

"Who didn't?"

Marcus looked away,"Your mother."

Jason's expression hardened,"My mother knew?"

"She was the last person to see him."

Jason stared at him,"Where?"

Marcus shook his head,"I don't know."

Jason grabbed his arm,"Then we're going to the hospital."

"That's what they want."

"Who?"

"The people controlling this game."

Jason released him.

"My mother just woke up after emergency surgery. If she knows something about my father, I need to hear it from her."

Marcus nodded,"Then we move now."

They hurried through the underground corridor,as they're approached the exit, several armed men suddenly appeared.

Marcus raised his weapon,"Behind me."

Jason stepped back.

One of the men lowered his gun.

"Marcus."

Marcus froze.

"What do you want?"

"We're not here to fight."

Jason frowned,"Then why are you armed?"

The man looked at him,"Because you're being hunted."

"By whom?"

"Everyone."

Jason stared at him,"That doesn't answer my question."

The man pointed toward the black box in Jason's hand,"Give us the box."

Jason tightened his grip,"No."

"You don't understand what you're carrying."

"I've heard that before."

The man took a step forward,"If Victor gets that box, your mother won't survive the night."

Jason's face changed,"How do you know about my mother?"

The man remained silent.

Marcus raised his gun.

"That's close enough."

Suddenly, the man's phone rang.He answered it and his expression changed.Then he looked directly at Jason."Your mother has disappeared."

Jason's blood ran cold,"What?"

"The hospital lost contact with her room three minutes ago."

Jason immediately pulled out his phone,He called the hospital No answer He called again Still nothing.

"Take me there."

Marcus nodded.

"We're going."

They rushed outside.

A black vehicle was waiting.

Jason climbed inside.

Marcus followed.

As the vehicle sped toward the hospital, Jason kept calling but No answer.

Then his phone finally rang, unknown number,He answered immediately,"Where is my mother?"

A man's voice replied,"You're asking the wrong question again."

Jason's jaw tightened,"Who are you?"

"You've spent your entire life believing your father abandoned you."

Jason froze.

"Where is my mother?"

"Your father didn't abandon you."

"Who are you?"

The voice laughed softly.

"Ask your mother what happened on the night Richard Blackwell disappeared."

The call ended.

Jason stared at the phone.

Marcus looked at him.

"What did he say?"

Jason slowly replied,"He knows my father."

Marcus's expression hardened.

Then Jason noticed something,"Stop the car."

The driver looked at Marcus.

Marcus frowned,"Why?"

Jason pointed ahead,"The hospital."

The vehicle slowed,Jason stared through the windshield,There were police vehicles everywhere,Doctors and nurses stood outside.

Something had happened.

Jason jumped out,"Where is my mother?"

A nurse recognized him and immediately rushed toward him,"Mr. Blackwell,"Where is she?"

"We don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"Her room was secured. Nobody was supposed to enter."

"Then how did she disappear?"

The nurse's eyes filled with fear.

"Her bed was empty."

Jason froze.

"Was there any sign of struggle?"

"No."

"Any blood?"

"No."

"Then how?"

The nurse handed him a small envelope.

"This was found on her pillow."

Jason looked at it,His name was written across the front.JASON BLACKWELL.

He opened it,Inside was a single photograph Jason stared at it.

His hands began to tremble.

The photograph showed a younger version of his mother standing beside a man,Jason recognized him immediately,His father Richard Blackwell But there was something else Written across the bottom were four words,”HE NEVER LEFT YOU”

Jason turned the photograph over,A second message had been written on the back “COME ALONE”

Marcus stepped closer,"What is it?"

Jason immediately hid the photograph."Nothing."

Marcus looked at him.

"Jason."

"I said it's nothing."

Marcus stared at him for several seconds.

Then his phone rang.

He answered.

"Yes?"

He listened.

His face changed.

"What happened?"

Marcus slowly lowered the phone.

Jason noticed.

"What?"

Marcus looked at him,"The three billionaires are gone."

Jason frowned,"What do you mean?"

"They've disappeared."

"All three?"

Marcus nodded.

"Christian too?"

"Yes."

Jason's expression became cold.

"Then who is running the test?"

Marcus didn't answer.

Jason looked at the photograph again,His father's face stared back at him.

For twenty-nine years, Jason had believed Richard Blackwell had abandoned his family,Now everything he believed was collapsing.

His mother had known the truth.

Davina had warned him.

Christian had manipulated him.

Marcus had hidden information from him.

And somewhere in the middle of it all...

His father might still be alive.

Jason slowly folded the photograph and placed it inside his jacket.

"Take me to the place in this picture."

Marcus looked surprised,"You know where it is?"

Jason nodded,"My father used to take me there when I was a child."

"Where?"

Jason looked toward the dark road,"The Blackwell estate."

Marcus's expression changed instantly.

"Jason..."

"What?"

"That estate was destroyed twenty-nine years ago."

Jason shook his head.

"No."

"How do you know?"

Jason looked at him,"Because my father told me something before he disappeared."

"What?"

Jason's voice became quiet.

"He told me that if anyone ever claimed he was dead..."

He paused.

"...I should never believe them."

Marcus stared at him.

Jason stepped into the vehicle,"Let's find my father."

As the car pulled away, neither of them noticed the figure standing across the street.The man watched them disappear into the night.

Then he pulled out his phone,"He's going to the estate."

A voice answered,"Good."

The man smiled.

"Should I stop him?"

"No."

A pause followed.

Then the voice said,

"Let Jason open the door."

The call ended.

The man looked toward the road and smiled because the Blackwell estate had been waiting for Jason for twenty-nine years.