Chapter 9: Midnight
Darkness swallowed the celebration.
Guests screamed.
Maya grabbed Marcus's arm.
“Don't move.””
A loud crash came from the mansion.
Then another.
Glass breaking.
Someone shouted from inside.
Marcus pulled Maya behind a stone pillar.
“Stay here.””
“No.””
“Maya.””
“I'm not hiding.””
He looked at her.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Vanessa's phone rang again.
Its screen illuminated her terrified face.
The caller ID showed one word.
*DAD.*
Vanessa stared at it.
Maya whispered, “That's not possible.””
Daniel moved toward Vanessa.
“Give me the phone.””
Vanessa backed away.
“No.””
“Give it to me.””
“No!””
Marcus stepped between them.
“Everyone stay together.””
The lights suddenly came back on.
The pool glowed blue.
The mansion doors were open.
But nobody stood there.
Marcus looked toward the entrance.
“Someone was inside.””
Maya noticed something on the patio.
A trail of wet footprints.
They started at the pool.
And ended at the mansion.
Maya's blood ran cold.
“I saw someone.””
Marcus followed her gaze.
“Where?””
“By the water.””
He moved toward the footprints.
Daniel followed.
Vanessa stayed frozen.
The silver-dressed woman walked toward Maya.
“Don't go inside.””
Maya looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because that's what they want.””
“Who?””
The woman glanced at Vanessa's phone.
“Whoever has been controlling your sister.””
Maya looked at Vanessa.
“Give me the phone.””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Please.””
Vanessa handed it over.
Maya opened the call history.
There were dozens of calls from the same hidden number.
Then she saw something else.
A scheduled message.
*11:59 PM — SEND TO MAYA.*
Maya's hands trembled.
“What happens at midnight?””
Vanessa whispered, “I don't know.””
Marcus returned.
“There's nobody inside.””
Daniel looked toward him.
“Then whose footprints are those?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Maya opened the scheduled message.
The text appeared on the screen.
*Your father didn't die in that hospital.*
Maya stopped breathing.
Another line appeared beneath it.
*He survived.*
She looked up.
“No.””
Marcus took the phone.
His face went pale.
“What?””
Maya pointed.
“My father was alive.””
Daniel stared at the screen.
“That isn't possible.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I saw the funeral.””
Maya's voice cracked.
“So did I.””
Marcus read the message again.
A second message appeared.
*He was moved before the police arrived.*
Marcus looked toward the silver-dressed woman.
“You knew?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
Maya stepped toward her.
“You said you were hired by my father.””
“I was.””
“When?””
The woman hesitated.
“Three months ago.””
Maya's eyes widened.
“Three months ago?””
Marcus stared at her.
“Then he was alive.””
The woman slowly nodded.
“I never met him in person.””
“Then how did you communicate?””
“Through an intermediary.””
“Who?””
The woman looked at Marcus.
Maya followed her gaze.
Her stomach dropped.
“Marcus?””
He looked stunned.
“I didn't hire her.””
The woman shook her head.
“No.””
She reached into her purse and removed another photograph.
She handed it to Maya.
Maya looked down.
It showed her father sitting in a hospital bed.
Alive.
Older.
Weaker.
But unmistakably alive.
Maya's knees nearly gave out.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten message:
*Tell Maya the truth about Marcus before midnight.*
Maya looked up.
Marcus was staring at the photograph.
“You knew he survived.””
“No.””
“Don't lie to me.””
“I swear.””
Daniel suddenly stepped backward.
Marcus turned.
“Where are you going?””
Daniel looked toward the driveway.
“You don't understand.””
“Understand what?””
Daniel pointed toward the mansion.
“That's not your father's handwriting.””
Maya frowned.
“What?””
Daniel's face had gone white.
“I know his handwriting.””
Marcus grabbed Daniel by the collar.
“Then whose is it?””
Daniel stared at Maya.
“The person who wrote that has been using your father's identity.””
Maya's phone suddenly vibrated.
A new message appeared.
*12:00 AM — CALLING MAYA.*
The screen began ringing.
Unknown number.
Maya stared at it.
Marcus whispered, “Don't answer.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You have to.””
Daniel said, “If you answer, he'll know you're ready.””
Maya looked at all three of them.
Then she pressed *Accept*.
For several seconds, there was only breathing.
Slow.
Weak.
Then a man's voice whispered:
“Maya…”
She covered her mouth.
She knew that voice.
Her father's.
“I've been waiting for you to find out what Marcus did.””
Maya looked at Marcus.
He had gone completely still.
Her father's voice continued.
“Don't trust your sister.””
A pause.
“Don't trust Daniel.””
Another pause.
“And whatever you do…”
The voice became barely audible.
“Don't let Marcus take you to the vault.””
Maya's eyes locked onto Marcus.
He whispered her name.
“Maya, listen to me.””
But she had already noticed something behind him.
A second phone.
Lying beneath the table.
May you like
Still recording.
And on its screen was a live video feed of the entire poolside celebration.
