Chapter 2 - Shadows of the Estate

The realization settled in Maya’s gut like swallowed lead. Every night terror, every mystery bruise, every time Ethan had complained that "the walls were whispering"—it was all part of a calculated, clinical slaughter disguised as luxury healthcare.

"Ethan," Maya said softly, holding his face in her hands. "Can you run with me?"

The boy nodded brave, tear-streaked eyes looking into hers. "I'm fast. I run fast in my dreams."

"Good. Because we are making our dream come true tonight."

They moved through the subterranean network of maintenance tunnels beneath the estate. The humid air smelled of rust, diesel, and old stone. Maya knew the front gates were electronically locked and guarded by snipers. The only way out was the drainage conduit leading to the river half a mile away.

Suddenly, the overhead industrial speakers crackled with static. A voice echoed down the concrete corridor—not Langley’s silk, but a deep, raspy, oxygen-starved voice.

“Nurse Bennett...”

Maya froze, pushing Ethan behind her back.

“This is Dante Caruso,” the voice echoed. “I know you are in the lower sub-levels. Langley thinks I am unconscious in the master suite... but I have been watching the security feeds.”

Maya eyed the wall speaker warily. "Stay back, Mr. Caruso. If your men come down here, I swear to God I'll go public with every file in this cabinet!"

A dry, agonizing cough wheezed through the speakers. “You don't understand, Maya... Langley isn't working for me anymore. He hasn't for two years. I am a prisoner in my own home. The doses he gives me... they aren't medicine. They are nerve agents. He’s keeping me weak while he liquidates my empire.”

Maya frowned. "Why should I believe you? Ethan is your clone! You built him to harvest his organs!"

“I built him to save my life, yes!” Dante’s voice cracked with raw, pathetic emotion. “God forgive me, I was terrified of dying! But six months ago, when I held his hand while he had a fever... I couldn't do it. I ordered Langley to terminate Project Daedalus and put Ethan in a normal school. But Langley refused. Langley doesn't want my cure... he wants my company, my assets, and Ethan’s unique bio-code. Ethan’s DNA holds the master key to a multi-billion-dollar synthetic antibody patent!”

May you like

The mahogany door to the nursery didn’t yield easily. For years, I had k...

The rain pelted the roof of the armored black Cadillac with the force of...

The sound of the towels hitting the hardwood floor echoed like a gunshot...

Maya pulled the file closer to her chest. "Where are you, Dante?"

“East Wing vault room,” Dante wheezed. “Langley is preparing the lethal extraction kit now. He knows you found the matrix. He is going to force the harvest tonight, frame you for Ethan’s murder, and take everything. If you want to save that boy... you need my master override key. And I need you to shoot me full of epinephrine so I can stand up.”