Chapter 9: The Boy Who Survived
Nobody spoke.
Dr. Reynolds stood there with the phone still pressed against his ear.
I could hear the faint voice on the other end.
Then he whispered:
“He's alive.””
My mother sank into a chair.
Marcus covered his mouth.
Daniel stared at me.
I felt nothing at first.
No relief.
No joy.
Just an enormous emptiness.
My whole life had been built around the belief that I was an only child.
Now someone was telling me I had a brother.
A brother who had supposedly died eighteen years ago.
A brother who might still be alive.
“Where is he?”” I asked.
Dr. Reynolds looked at Daniel.
Daniel answered.
“Not here.””
“Where?””
“He's been living under another name.””
My heart raced.
“What name?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Elias never knew he was Elias.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Who raised him?””
Daniel looked at Sarah.
“She did.””
I stared at my mother.
“What?””
Sarah began crying.
“I didn't have a choice.””
“You raised him?””
“No.””
Her voice broke.
“I tried.””
I couldn't understand.
“You tried?””
“After the fire, the hospital told me your brother was dead.””
“But he wasn't.””
“I found out years later.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
“Because by then, Charles had already found him.””
I felt anger surge through me.
“You let him keep my brother?””
“No.””
Sarah stood.
“I tried to get him back.””
Marcus interrupted.
“And failed.””
Sarah looked at him.
“You weren't there.””
“I was searching.””
“You left.””
“I was forced out.””
“You believed them.””
“I believed you!””
Their voices collided.
I stepped between them.
“Stop.””
They went silent.
I looked at Daniel.
“You said you found him.””
“I didn't.””
“Then who did?””
Daniel reached into his folder.
A school photograph slid out.
I picked it up.
A Black teenage boy stood in front of a school building.
Short curly hair.
Same height.
Same eyes.
Same small scar above the eyebrow.
I stared at the picture.
My hand began shaking.
“He looks like me.””
Daniel nodded.
“Because he is you.””
“No.””
“You're looking at your identical twin.””
I couldn't breathe.
Marcus took the photograph from my hand.
He stared at it.
“Where?””
Daniel said, “St. Matthew's Academy.””
My mind raced.
“That’s across town.””
“He's graduating today.””
The words hit me.
“Today?””
Daniel nodded.
“He doesn't know about us.””
Sarah suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Ethan, don't go.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because you don't know what Charles did.””
“Charles is dead.””
“That doesn't mean his secrets are.””
The auditorium doors opened again.
Vanessa walked inside.
Everyone turned.
Her honey-blonde hair was disheveled.
Her royal-blue dress was torn at the sleeve.
She was holding my phone.
I stared at her.
“Where were you?””
She ignored me.
Her eyes went directly to Daniel.
“You found him.””
Daniel nodded.
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Then it's too late.””
Marcus stepped toward her.
“What did you do?””
“I tried to stop Charles's people.””
“Charles is dead.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You still don't understand.””
She held up my phone.
“There was never a DNA test for you.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“The test was for your brother.””
Daniel's face changed.
“That's impossible.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“It was done under Ethan Carter's identity.””
I felt sick.
“So the result…”
“Belongs to Elias.””
My mother's knees weakened.
I caught her before she fell.
Vanessa looked at me.
“That's why I hid your mother's seat.””
“Why?””
“Because Sarah was going to tell you before the ceremony.””
Sarah whispered, “I had to.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You were going to tell him the wrong story.””
I looked at her.
“Then tell me the right one.””
Vanessa stared at me for several seconds.
Then she pulled a folded document from her purse.
“I found this in Denise's safe.””
She handed it to me.
The paper was an old adoption record.
Two names were typed at the top.
*Elias Reed.*
*Ethan Reed.*
Then, beneath them, a handwritten amendment.
*One child transferred to Sarah Carter.*
I looked at my mother.
“Transferred?””
She nodded through tears.
“I thought I was saving you.””
“From what?””
“From Charles.””
Vanessa's voice was barely audible.
“You weren't transferred to Sarah because Charles wanted you.””
I looked at her.
“Then why?””
She took a breath.
“Because Charles wasn't trying to steal you.””
My blood ran cold.
“What was he trying to do?””
Vanessa looked toward the auditorium doors.
“He was trying to find out which twin inherited your father's condition.””
Daniel suddenly stepped backward.
Marcus stared at him.
“What condition?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Instead, she looked directly at me.
“And Ethan…”
She swallowed.
“The DNA result isn't just about your father.””
My phone buzzed.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
*If you want to meet your brother, come alone.*
Underneath it was a location.
May you like
And one final line:
*Bring the woman you call Mom.*
