CHAPTER 6 – The Child Who Chose Neither Father
Gunfire exploded through the warehouse.
Bullets ripped into the concrete as prisoners and soldiers scattered in every direction.
The masked operatives formed a human shield around the little boy.
Their leader stepped forward, removing his gloves with unsettling calm.
"My name is Adrian Black."
The commander froze.
"So... you survived."
Adrian smiled.
"Barely."
He looked at the little boy with eyes full of emotion.
"For eight years I've searched every country, every prison, every grave... just to find you."
The little boy frowned.
"You know me?"
Adrian slowly nodded.
"I carried you in my arms the night this nightmare began."
Before anyone could react, the old prisoner shouted,
"Don't listen to him!"
"He lies better than anyone."
The little boy turned in confusion.
"Then tell me the truth!"
The old prisoner stepped forward despite the rifles aimed at his chest.
"I was sent to protect your family."
"I failed."
"The commander raised you under a stolen identity."
"Adrian disappeared."
"And I was locked away because I refused to tell them where your mother escaped."
The commander clenched his fists.
"That's not the whole story!"
"No," Adrian interrupted.
"It isn't."
He reached into his coat and placed a small silver music box on the floor.
The little boy's eyes widened.
Without thinking, he whispered,
"Mom used to sing that..."
No one had ever taught him those words.
No one should have known he remembered the melody.
The music box slowly opened.
Instead of music...
A hidden projector activated.
An old recording appeared on the warehouse wall.
A woman held a newborn baby in her arms.
She looked directly into the camera, tears running down her cheeks.
"If you're watching this..."
"...I'm already dead."
The warehouse fell silent.
She kissed the baby's forehead.
"My son..."
"Never trust anyone who claims to be your father."
"They're all hiding the same secret."
Then she lifted a small gold pendant toward the camera.
Inside it was a family photograph.
Three faces.
The baby.
The woman.
And...
A man whose face had been deliberately burned away.
The recording ended.
The little boy slowly looked at the commander.
Then at Prisoner 417.
Then at Adrian.
His voice trembled.
"So..."
"Which one of you destroyed my family?"
No one answered.
Because deep beneath the warehouse...
A hidden elevator began to rise.
When its doors opened...
A woman stepped out.
Her face was scarred.
Her hair had turned completely white.
The little boy dropped the pendant.
"Mom...?"
She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
May you like
Then whispered seven words that changed everything.
"None of them are your real father, Ethan."
