Chapter 6: The Man She Never Named
“His name was Daniel.””
Simone barely spoke above a whisper.
Darius stared at her.
“Daniel who?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know his last name.””
Marcus immediately said, “That's a lie.””
Simone turned toward him.
“You weren't there.””
“I was.””
“You were outside.””
“I saw him.””
Darius looked between them.
“You both saw him?””
Marcus nodded.
“Only for a few seconds.””
Darius looked at the photograph again.
The blurred man stood beside a younger Simone in a hospital corridor.
The silver watch caught the light.
“You said Dad was dead.””
Marcus swallowed.
“He was.””
“Then why was he wearing his watch?””
“I don't know.””
Darius looked at Simone.
“Where did you get this photograph?””
“From the phone.””
“Who sent it?””
“I don't know.””
“You've been talking to someone for two weeks.””
“I told you, I don't know who they are.””
Darius stepped closer.
“Then why trust anything they sent you?””
“I didn't.””
“Yet you took a DNA test.””
Simone's eyes filled.
“I had no choice.””
Darius stopped.
“What do you mean?””
Simone looked toward Nia.
“I received a letter.””
“What letter?””
“It said someone knew what happened that night.””
“What happened?””
“I don't remember everything.””
Darius stared at her.
“Neither do I.””
Marcus quietly said, “That's the problem.””
Darius turned.
“What problem?””
Marcus's voice dropped.
“Neither of you remembers.””
Darius frowned.
“Why?””
“Because someone wanted you not to.””
The words hung in the air.
Darius looked at his brother.
“You're saying we were drugged?””
Marcus didn't answer.
“Marcus.””
“I don't know.””
“You said you were there.””
“I was outside the room.””
“What room?””
Marcus hesitated.
“The hospital room.””
Darius's face tightened.
“What happened inside?””
Marcus looked at Simone.
She whispered, “I woke up alone.””
Darius's expression softened for half a second.
Then hardened again.
“What happened after?””
“I heard someone arguing in the hallway.””
“Who?””
“I couldn't see.””
“Then?””
“The door opened.””
“Who walked in?””
Simone looked down.
“Daniel.””
Darius stared.
“What did he say?””
“He asked if I remembered.””
“Remembered what?””
Simone's hands began shaking.
“He said, ‘You promised me.’”
Darius felt a chill move through him.
“What did you promise?””
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
“I was terrified.””
“Then what happened?””
“He put something on the table.””
“What?””
“A photograph.””
“Of what?””
Simone closed her eyes.
“Of you.””
Darius went still.
“Me?””
She nodded.
“You were unconscious.””
“When?””
“That night.””
Darius looked at Marcus.
Marcus whispered, “That's what I was trying to tell you.””
Darius shook his head.
“No. You were trying to keep me from knowing.””
Marcus took a step forward.
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
The words stopped Darius cold.
“Explain.””
Marcus's eyes were wet now.
“After the accident, someone followed Simone to the hospital.””
“Who?””
“We never found out.””
“Then how do you know?””
“Because I saw them.””
Darius stared.
“Who?””
Marcus looked toward the windows.
“I don't know his name.””
“You're talking about Daniel.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
“Then who?””
Marcus reached into his jacket.
Simone immediately stepped toward him.
“Marcus, don't.””
He pulled out a folded piece of paper.
Darius took it.
It was old.
Yellowed around the edges.
At the top was a hospital letterhead.
Darius read the first line.
*PATIENT: SIMONE HARRIS*
His eyes moved down.
Then stopped.
*SECOND PATIENT: DARIUS COLE*
Darius's breathing changed.
“I was a patient?””
Marcus nodded.
“You were unconscious for eighteen hours.””
Darius looked at Simone.
“You told me I slept at home.””
“I was afraid.””
“You lied about where I was.””
“I didn't know who to trust.””
Darius looked back at the paper.
There was another line beneath the patient information.
*AUTHORIZED CONTACT: M. COLE*
Darius stared at Marcus.
“You were my emergency contact.””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because when you woke up, the doctor told me you had no memory of the accident.””
“And?””
“And someone had already removed the security footage.””
Darius looked at the second phone.
A notification appeared.
*ONE NEW VIDEO FILE.*
His thumb hovered over it.
Simone grabbed his arm.
“Don't watch that.””
Darius pulled free.
“Why?””
“Because that's the video.””
“What video?””
“The one that proves what happened.””
Marcus whispered, “She's right.””
Darius looked at both of them.
“You've both seen it.””
Neither answered.
His phone vibrated again.
The second phone displayed a countdown.
*00:59*
Then:
*IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH, WATCH BEFORE THE TIMER ENDS.*
Darius stared at the screen.
Simone's voice broke.
“Darius, please.””
He looked at her.
“What does the video show?””
Simone's lips trembled.
“It shows the moment you woke up.””
The countdown dropped.
*00:47*
Darius pressed his thumb against the video.
The screen began to load.
And the first frame appeared.
May you like
Simone gasped.
Because standing beside Darius's hospital bed was a man they had both believed was dead.
