Chapter 7: The Warehouse
Maya stared at the black screen.
Her own reflection stared back.
“Come alone.””
The words seemed to hang in the kitchen.
Marcus took the phone from her.
“No.””
Maya turned toward him.
“She’s my sister.””
“And you're seventeen.””
“I don't care.””
“I do.””
Marcus's voice cracked.
“You think I'm going to let the same people who stole one daughter take another?””
Maya stepped closer.
“They already took her.””
Sarah shook her head.
“Daniel wants you frightened.””
“He wants me alone.””
“Exactly.””
Vanessa looked toward the broken window.
“He won't hurt Amara while he thinks he can use her.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“How do you know?””
“Because that's how he operates.””
“You've known him your whole life.””
Vanessa nodded.
“And that's why I know where he would take her.””
Maya looked at her.
“Where?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“An old distribution warehouse near the river.””
Marcus immediately shook his head.
“We call the police.””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“No.””
Sarah stared at her.
“Why not?””
“Because Daniel has someone inside the department.””
Marcus went still.
“You're sure?””
“I saw the payments.””
“Where?””
“In the files.””
Vanessa pointed toward the black phone.
“That's why he sent that.””
Marcus looked at Maya.
“We're not going anywhere without backup.””
Maya shook her head.
“If we wait, he moves her.””
Sarah stepped closer.
“Then we go together.””
Maya looked at her.
“You heard him.””
“He said come alone.””
“I know.””
“Then we don't tell him we're not.””
Marcus stared at both women.
“No.””
Sarah looked at him.
“Marcus, seventeen years ago, we lost our daughter because we trusted the wrong person.””
She touched his arm.
“We aren't doing that again.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
Then he looked at Maya.
“You stay in the car.””
Maya shook her head.
“No.””
“Maya.””
“I've spent my whole life being told to stay out of things.””
She held up the photograph of Amara.
“I'm done.””
Twenty minutes later, Marcus's SUV rolled through an industrial district near the river.
Rain streaked the windshield.
Maya sat in the back seat between Sarah and Vanessa.
Nobody spoke.
Then Vanessa's phone buzzed.
She looked down.
A message appeared.
*ONE CAR. THREE PEOPLE.*
Vanessa's face drained.
Marcus glanced into the rearview mirror.
“What?””
Vanessa slowly raised the screen.
Marcus swore under his breath.
“He's watching us.””
Sarah looked out the window.
“There.””
A warehouse appeared through the rain.
One security light flickered above a metal door.
Marcus pulled behind an abandoned building.
“We walk from here.””
Maya opened the door.
Marcus caught her shoulder.
“You stay beside me.””
“I will.””
They crossed the wet pavement.
The warehouse door stood open.
Inside, darkness.
Marcus whispered,
“Sarah, stay with Maya.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“I know the layout.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Then lead.””
They entered.
The air smelled of oil, dust, and rainwater.
Maya heard something.
A faint metallic scrape.
She turned.
“Did you hear that?””
Sarah nodded.
Then a light switched on.
A single overhead bulb.
A chair sat in the middle of the warehouse.
Amara was tied to it.
Maya gasped.
“Amara!””
Amara lifted her head.
Their eyes met.
For one impossible second, Maya forgot everything else.
They looked almost identical.
Not completely.
But enough.
Amara's eyes widened.
“Maya?””
Maya stepped forward.
Daniel's voice came from the darkness.
“That's close enough.””
Marcus froze.
Daniel emerged behind a concrete pillar.
He held no weapon.
He didn't need one.
“You look just like your mother,” he said.
Maya stared at him.
“Let her go.””
Daniel smiled.
“You're brave.””
“I'm serious.””
“So am I.””
He looked at Marcus.
“You ruined everything.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“You stole my daughter.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“No.””
He pointed toward Amara.
“I saved her.””
Sarah shouted,
“You imprisoned her!””
“I protected her from the people who wanted her dead.””
Maya looked at Amara.
“Is that true?””
Amara shook her head.
“He's lying.””
Daniel's smile disappeared.
Amara continued.
“He told me Mom was dead.””
Sarah covered her mouth.
Amara looked at her.
“I knew he was lying.””
Daniel stepped toward her.
“Enough.””
Maya moved closer.
“Why did you take us?””
Daniel stared at her.
“Because your grandfather's trust was supposed to disappear when you turned eighteen.””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel looked at Maya.
“Your birthday is in three weeks.””
Maya's stomach dropped.
“You're waiting for me to turn eighteen.””
Daniel nodded.
“Then the trust becomes yours.””
Sarah shook her head.
“I never signed anything.””
“You didn't have to.””
Daniel smiled.
“Your father did.””
Marcus stared at him.
“My father died before Maya was born.””
“Exactly.””
Daniel reached into his coat.
He pulled out a folder.
Inside was a document.
Maya recognized the signature.
Her father's.
But beneath it was another signature.
Vanessa's.
Maya looked at her stepmother.
“You signed this?””
Vanessa began crying.
“I didn't know what it was.””
Daniel laughed.
“You knew enough.””
Marcus turned toward Vanessa.
“Tell me the truth.””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“I signed because Daniel threatened Maya.””
Daniel suddenly grabbed Amara's chair.
“Enough family therapy.””
He shoved it toward a second door.
Maya ran forward.
Marcus grabbed her.
“No!””
Daniel looked back.
“Come to the river tomorrow at midnight.””
Maya struggled against Marcus.
“No!””
Daniel opened the door.
“You want Amara?””
He smiled.
“Bring the original trust papers.””
Then the door slammed.
A second later, they heard an engine roar behind the warehouse.
Marcus ran outside.
The road was empty.
But on the wet pavement lay a single photograph.
Maya picked it up.
It showed her and Amara as infants.
May you like
On the back, someone had written:
*ONE OF YOU WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO SURVIVE.*
