Chapter 8: The Brother Who Chose the Wrong Side
The gunshot never came.
Trevor had fired first.
The man in the trees dropped behind a fallen log as bullets tore through the branches above us.
"Move!"" Trevor shouted.
We scattered.
Daniel pulled Margaret toward a ditch while Michael dragged Emily behind a thick oak tree.
I dropped beside Trevor.
He checked his magazine.
"You're welcome.""
I stared at him.
"You just shot at your father's men.""
"Don't sound so surprised.""
"Why are you helping us?""
He looked toward the woods.
"Because I finally got tired of cleaning up his mess.""
Another shot struck the tree beside us.
Trevor grabbed my shoulder.
"Keep your head down!""
We crawled toward an old drainage path that ran behind the abandoned hospital.
Daniel caught up with us.
"How many are out there?""
"Three," Trevor answered.
"How do you know?""
"Because I sent two.""
Daniel aimed his weapon at him.
"You sent them?""
Trevor raised his hands.
"Relax. I was trying to get them away from the house.""
Michael appeared behind us.
"You're lying.""
Trevor turned.
"Not tonight, Michael.""
"You were the one who transported Emily.""
Trevor's expression hardened.
"Yes.""
Emily stepped forward.
"You told me I was going to be released.""
"I was trying to get you out.""
"You locked me in a basement for eleven months!""
Trevor looked down.
"I know.""
Emily slapped him.
The sound echoed through the trees.
"Do you know what they did to me?""
Trevor didn't defend himself.
He simply stood there, taking it.
I watched him carefully.
This was the man who had threatened me in the café.
The man whose name appeared in disappearance reports.
The man who had once told me that I didn't belong in Ashborne.
Now he was standing between me and armed men.
I couldn't decide whether to hate him or trust him.
"Why?"" I asked.
He looked at me.
"Why did you do it?""
Trevor rubbed his cheek.
"Because Robert raised me to believe that obedience was the same thing as loyalty.""
"And now?""
"Now I know the difference.""
He reached inside his jacket and removed a small silver key.
"This opens a room at Saint Mary's Hospital.""
My heart jumped.
"My mother?""
He nodded.
"She's there.""
"How do you know?""
"Because I visited her last night.""
I grabbed his arm.
"Was she conscious?""
"Yes.""
"Did you speak to her?""
He hesitated.
"She asked about you.""
My eyes filled.
"What did you tell her?""
"That you were coming.""
For the first time, Trevor's expression softened.
"She cried.""
I looked away.
I had spent twelve years imagining my mother's funeral, remembering her voice, and trying to accept that I would never see her again.
Now she was somewhere nearby.
Alive.
Waiting.
Daniel interrupted.
"We need to move. Those men will circle around.""
Trevor pointed toward the drainage path.
"There's a service entrance at the rear of the hospital. The security cameras are connected to an old system. I can disable them.""
Daniel frowned.
"Why would we trust you with that?""
"Because I have the access codes.""
"Convenient.""
Trevor gave him a tired look.
"I've been investigating Brennan for four months. I couldn't expose him without finding the Director.""
I stared at him.
"And you think the Director is Robert?""
"I know it.""
"Then why haven't you arrested him?""
Trevor laughed without humor.
"Because every time I get close, someone I love disappears.""
He looked at Emily.
Then at Michael.
Finally, his eyes returned to me.
"I wasn't going to let that happen again.""
We reached the hospital shortly before dawn.
The building stood behind a rusted iron fence. Its windows were dark, except for a faint light on the third floor.
A sign near the entrance read:
SAINT MARY'S MEDICAL CENTER.
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.
Trevor unlocked the service gate.
Inside, the corridors smelled of disinfectant and damp concrete.
Daniel stayed near the entrance with Margaret and Emily.
Michael followed Trevor and me toward the elevator.
"How many people are inside?"" I asked.
"Six," Trevor replied.
"Doctors?""
"Two medical staff. Four security personnel.""
"Armed?""
"Yes.""
I stopped walking.
"You brought me into a hospital guarded by armed men?""
"I brought you to your mother.""
We reached the third floor.
Trevor unlocked a narrow door at the end of the hallway.
Room 317.
I stepped inside.
The room was small and brightly lit.
A woman lay beneath a white blanket.
Her gray hair rested against the pillow.
Her face was thinner than I remembered.
But I knew her.
I knew the shape of her nose.
The tiny scar above her eyebrow.
The way her left hand curled slightly when she slept.
"Mom?""
Her eyes opened.
For several seconds, she stared at me.
Then her lips trembled.
"Kendra?""
I rushed to her bedside.
She reached for my face with trembling fingers.
"Oh, my baby.""
I collapsed beside her.
She pulled me close.
I buried my face against her shoulder and cried like a child.
"I thought you were dead.""
"I know.""
"Why didn't you come home?""
She closed her eyes.
"Because I couldn't.""
I pulled back.
"Who did this to you?""
She looked toward Trevor.
He stood near the door, his head lowered.
"Your father," she whispered.
I held her hand.
"Robert?""
She nodded.
Then she looked at Trevor.
"And him.""
Trevor's face tightened.
"Mom...""
She raised her hand.
"Don't.""
I turned toward him.
"What did you do?""
He looked at me.
"I made a choice.""
"What choice?""
My mother answered before he could.
"He gave Robert the location where I was hiding.""
I felt my stomach drop.
Trevor didn't deny it.
My mother continued.
"He told your father where to find me. He knew Robert would take me away.""
I stepped back.
"You said you wanted to protect her.""
Trevor looked devastated.
"I was seventeen.""
"That doesn't change what you did.""
"No. It doesn't.""
My mother squeezed my hand.
"There's something else, Kendra.""
I turned back.
She reached beneath her pillow and removed a small envelope.
"Your father didn't just keep me here.""
She opened it.
Inside was a birth certificate.
I looked at the names.
Mother: Elizabeth Hayes.
Father: Robert Rock.
Child: Kendra Elizabeth Hayes.
That part was expected.
But beneath it was another document.
A second birth certificate.
Same mother.
Same father.
Different child.
Trevor Rock.
I looked at him.
Then my mother whispered:
"You were born twins.""
My breath caught.
"Twins?""
She nodded.
"Robert took Trevor from the hospital. He told me he had died.""
Trevor stared at her.
"I thought you knew.""
She shook her head.
"I didn't.""
I looked between them.
For years, I had believed I was an only child.
Trevor had believed he was the abandoned one.
Both of us had been manipulated by the same man.
Then my mother gripped my wrist.
"Listen carefully. Your father is coming here.""
"When?""
Her eyes filled with fear.
"Today.""
A loud announcement suddenly echoed through the corridor.
"Security alert. Unauthorized access detected.""
Trevor moved toward the door.
My mother grabbed his sleeve.
"Don't let him take the children again.""
Trevor turned.
And for the first time, I saw tears in his eyes.
Then the hospital lights went out.
A voice came through the intercom.
"Good morning, Elizabeth.""
May you like
My mother's entire body went rigid.
Robert Rock had arrived.
