Chapter 9: The Bloodline
Marcus looked at Elena.
She couldn't meet his eyes.
The man outside knocked once.
Not three times.
Once.
A warning.
Marcus kept himself between the door and Nia.
“Tell me.””
Elena shook her head.
“Marcus…”
“Tell me now.””
“I was going to.””
“When?””
“When I knew you were safe.””
“You hid my daughter from me.””
“I saved her.””
“You hid my father from me.””
“I didn't know where he was.””
“And now this man says you know who my real father is.””
Elena's voice broke.
“I know who he claimed was your father.””
Marcus stared.
“Claimed?””
She nodded.
“Daniel raised you.””
“I know.””
“But he wasn't your biological father.””
Marcus looked at the notebook.
“Who was?””
Elena closed her eyes.
“Your mother's brother.””
Marcus stared.
“My uncle?””
“His name was Isaiah.””
The name meant nothing.
Marcus shook his head.
“I don't remember an Isaiah.””
“You weren't supposed to.””
The man outside laughed quietly.
Marcus stepped toward the pantry door.
“What happened to him?””
Elena whispered, “He disappeared before you were born.””
“Why?””
“Because he found out what your mother was doing.””
“What was she doing?””
Elena looked at Nia.
“She was involved with the registry.””
Marcus felt sick.
“The children.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“To create records.””
“For what?””
Elena hesitated.
“Identity transfers.””
Marcus stared.
“What does that mean?””
“Children were given new identities.””
“Why?””
“So people could disappear.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Who?””
“Witnesses. Debtors. People running from someone.””
“That doesn't explain Nia.””
“No.””
Elena looked toward the hidden room.
“Nia was different.””
“Why?””
“Because someone wanted her gone.””
“Who?””
“I never found out.””
The man outside spoke again.
“You found out years ago.””
Elena flinched.
Marcus turned toward the door.
“Open it.””
“No.””
“Open it.””
“You don't understand.””
“I understand enough.””
The man laughed.
“You really don't.””
Marcus stared at the door.
“Then come inside and explain.””
The handle turned.
Elena grabbed Marcus's arm.
“Don't.””
The door opened.
A tall Black man stepped into the pantry.
He wore a dark coat.
A scar ran from beneath his left ear down toward his collar.
Nia immediately hid behind Marcus.
The man's eyes settled on her.
“Hello, Nia.””
Marcus moved forward.
“Stay away from her.””
The man stopped.
“My name is Calvin.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“Calvin what?””
“Calvin Brooks.””
Elena looked down.
Marcus noticed.
“You know him.””
Elena whispered, “Yes.””
Calvin smiled.
“She knows me very well.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Where is my father?””
Calvin's expression changed.
“Still asking the wrong question.””
“Where is Daniel?””
“Alive.””
Marcus's breath caught.
“Where?””
“Somewhere you can't reach.””
“Take me to him.””
“No.””
“Then I'll find him.””
Calvin shook his head.
“You won't.””
Marcus clenched his fists.
Calvin looked toward Nia.
“You should ask her what she remembers.””
Marcus turned.
“Nia?””
The girl shook her head.
Calvin crouched slightly.
“Do you remember the room?””
Nia pressed against Marcus.
“The white room?””
Calvin nodded.
“That's right.””
Nia began trembling.
Marcus looked at Calvin.
“What happened there?””
Calvin's face became serious.
“Your mother brought you there.””
Marcus froze.
“Me?””
“You were six weeks old.””
Nia stared at him.
Calvin continued.
“Your mother wanted to trade you.””
“For what?””
“Your father's silence.””
Marcus stared.
“Daniel found the registry.””
“Yes.””
“He threatened to expose it.””
“Yes.””
“So she offered me?””
Calvin nodded.
“She offered her own son.””
Elena whispered, “Marcus, I'm sorry.””
He looked at her.
“Why did you know?””
“I found the records.””
“You saw this?””
“Yes.””
“And you still married me?””
“I loved you.””
Calvin interrupted.
“She wasn't supposed to.””
Marcus turned.
“What?””
“She wasn't supposed to fall in love with you.””
Elena looked at Calvin.
“Stop.””
“You were supposed to remain useful.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“Useful how?””
Calvin smiled.
“Your wife was the one who brought Nia back.””
Marcus looked at Elena.
“You knew where she was all along.””
“No.””
“You did.””
“I knew where they were taking her.””
“Where?””
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“Back to B-17.””
Marcus looked toward the hidden wall.
Calvin reached into his coat.
Marcus immediately moved.
“Don't.””
Calvin slowly removed a photograph.
He held it out.
Marcus took it.
His hands went cold.
The photograph showed a hospital room.
Lorraine stood beside a newborn.
Daniel stood opposite her.
And between them was another man.
Isaiah.
Marcus's biological uncle.
But Isaiah was holding a second newborn.
Two babies.
Identical.
Marcus stared.
“There were twins.””
Calvin nodded.
“Two boys.””
Elena covered her mouth.
Marcus looked at Nia.
“Where is the other one?””
Calvin's smile disappeared.
“He's been looking for you his entire life.””
Marcus's heart stopped.
“Who?””
Calvin looked directly at him.
“Your brother.””
A sound came from behind the wall.
Nia turned.
Someone was breathing inside the hidden space.
Slowly.
Deeply.
Then a man's voice came through the darkness.
“Marcus.””
Marcus froze.
May you like
The voice continued.
“You took long enough.””
