Chapter 6: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Gone
Ethan stared at the photograph on his phone.
He forgot how to breathe.
The image was blurry, taken from a distance.
But it was clear enough.
A man stood across the street from Westbridge Middle School.
Watching.
Waiting.
The same place where Claire had stood every afternoon.
The same place where Ethan first noticed someone following him.
Except this time, it wasn’t Claire.
It was someone else.
Someone named Michael.
His uncle.
A man who supposedly disappeared before Ethan was old enough to remember him.
Ethan looked up.
“Who sent this?””
Nobody answered.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Let me see.””
Ethan pulled the phone back.
“No.””
His father stopped.
“Ethan.””
“No.””
His voice was louder now.
“You don’t get to take things from me and explain them later.””
Daniel looked hurt.
But Ethan couldn’t stop.
Not anymore.
“Everyone keeps having pieces of my life.””
He looked at Claire.
“You.””
Then Victor.
“You.””
Then Richard.
“And you.””
Finally, he looked at Daniel.
“Especially you.””
The silence was heavy.
Richard watched Ethan carefully.
“You see?””
He spoke calmly.
“This is what happens when people hide the truth.””
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“You don’t get to pretend you care about him.””
Richard smiled.
“Maybe I care more than you think.””
Ethan felt anger rise.
“Stop talking like I’m not standing here.””
Everyone looked at him.
“I’m not a problem you need to solve.””
His hands shook.
“I’m a person.””
Nobody spoke.
Because there was nothing they could say.
Ethan looked back at the photograph.
“Who is Michael?””
Claire took a breath.
“Your father’s older brother.””
“And he’s alive?””
She hesitated.
“Yes.””
“Then why did everyone tell me he was gone?””
Daniel answered quietly.
“Because we thought he was.””
Ethan looked at him.
“You thought?””
Daniel nodded.
“Michael disappeared the same week you were taken.””
The words landed heavily.
“What?””
Daniel looked toward the old tracks.
“I searched everywhere for him.””
“Why?””
“Because he was helping us.””
Claire closed her eyes.
“He was the only person who believed me when I told him Richard was dangerous.””
Richard scoffed.
“Michael was always easily influenced.””
Claire turned toward him.
“He was loyal.””
“He was weak.””
“No.””
Her voice became firm.
“He was kind.””
For the first time, Ethan saw anger in Claire.
Real anger.
“He was the only person in your family who looked at what you did and called it wrong.””
Richard’s expression darkened.
Ethan looked at Victor.
“You worked for Richard.””
Victor nodded.
“Yes.””
“Did you know Michael?””
A pause.
“Yes.””
“What happened to him?””
Victor looked away.
“I don’t know.””
Ethan noticed something.
Everyone had an answer.
Everyone had a story.
But nobody wanted to say the important part.
“You’re lying.””
The words came out before Ethan even realized he said them.
Victor looked at him.
“What?””
“You all do the same thing.””
Ethan looked around.
“You say you don’t know, but your faces change.””
He pointed at Victor.
“You know something.””
Victor remained silent.
Ethan stepped closer.
“What happened to my uncle?””
Before Victor could answer, Richard spoke.
“Your uncle made a mistake.””
Everyone turned.
Richard continued:
“He trusted people he shouldn’t have.””
Claire’s face changed.
“You know where he is.””
Richard looked at her.
“You still blame yourself.””
“What does that mean?””
Richard smiled slightly.
“Because you know the truth.””
Ethan looked between them.
“What truth?””
Claire didn’t speak.
Daniel did.
“Richard.””
His voice was a warning.
But Richard ignored him.
“Your mother didn’t just leave.””
Ethan’s heart sank.
He was tired of hearing those words.
Every sentence started with something he didn’t know.
Every truth came after another lie.
Richard looked at Claire.
“She ran.””
Claire whispered:
“Stop.””
“She ran because she knew what she had done.””
Ethan looked at Claire.
“What did you do?””
Claire’s eyes filled with tears.
“I made a choice.””
“What choice?””
She looked at Daniel.
Then at Ethan.
“The night you disappeared…”
Her voice shook.
“I trusted someone.””
Ethan waited.
“Who?””
Claire’s answer was barely audible.
“Michael.””
The entire station went silent.
Ethan stared.
“My uncle?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Claire looked broken.
“Because he told me he could help.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Ethan, there’s more to it.””
“Then tell me.””
Daniel looked at Claire.
She nodded slowly.
“I thought Michael could get you somewhere safe.””
Ethan frowned.
“You gave him me?””
“No.””
Claire shook her head quickly.
“No. Never.””
Her voice broke.
“I would never give you away.””
“Then what happened?””
Claire looked at the photograph again.
“The plan was for Michael to take you somewhere protected while I collected the evidence.””
Ethan swallowed.
“And?””
“And he never came back.””
A cold feeling moved through Ethan.
“Then how did I end up at the house?””
Nobody answered.
Daniel finally said:
“Because someone else brought you back.””
Ethan looked at him.
“Who?””
Daniel looked at Richard.
The answer arrived before the words.
Richard.
Ethan felt sick.
“You?””
Richard remained silent.
“You brought me back?””
Richard looked at him.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
The old man studied him.
“Because you were the only thing that could bring your father back under control.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Richard smiled.
“You’re still protecting him.””
Ethan looked at Daniel.
“What does he mean?””
Daniel looked exhausted.
“Ethan…”
“No.””
He shook his head.
“Tell me.””
Daniel’s eyes closed.
“After Michael disappeared, I thought Richard had something to do with it.””
“Did he?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Ethan understood.
“You never found proof.””
“No.””
“So you stayed quiet.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“There it is again.””
He turned away.
“Everyone protects me by lying.””
A sound came from outside.
A car door closing.
Everyone froze.
Victor immediately looked toward the station entrance.
“That wasn’t yours.””
Richard looked at him.
“No.””
Daniel’s face changed.
“Who else knows we’re here?””
Nobody answered.
Then a shadow appeared outside the broken window.
A figure standing in the rain.
Watching.
Claire grabbed Ethan’s arm.
“Stay behind me.””
Ethan looked at her.
“What’s happening?””
She didn’t answer.
The figure entered the station.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The person removed their hood.
Ethan felt his entire body freeze.
Because he knew that face.
Not from memory.
Not from photos.
From the picture on his phone.
The man who had been watching his school.
The man everyone said disappeared.
Michael Parker.
Ethan’s uncle.
Alive.
Michael looked at Claire first.
Then Daniel.
Then Richard.
Finally, his eyes landed on Ethan.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Michael whispered:
“I’m sorry.””
Ethan stared.
“Why?””
Michael’s eyes filled with guilt.
“Because I should have found you sooner.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“You have five seconds to explain yourself.””
Michael ignored him.
He looked only at Ethan.
“There’s something you need to know.””
Ethan’s heart pounded.
“What?””
Michael swallowed.
“The night you disappeared…”
He looked at Claire.
Then at Richard.
Then back at Ethan.
“I wasn’t the person who took you.””
A pause.
“But I know who was.””
The station went silent.
Michael took one step closer.
“And it wasn’t your grandfather.””
Ethan froze.
“Then who?””
Michael looked directly at Daniel.
May you like
And whispered:
“It was your father.””
