Chapter 12: The Family That Started It All
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Because the man standing in front of us was impossible.
My grandfather.
Thomas Reed.
Dead for fifteen years.
Or at least that was what I believed.
He looked older.
Thinner.
But alive.
The same sharp eyes my father had.
The same expression Vanessa used when she was hiding something.
The same blood.
My blood.
I looked at my father.
“You knew?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
My grandfather smiled.
“Your father never knew everything.””
His voice was calm.
Almost gentle.
That made it worse.
Because monsters were supposed to look like monsters.
They weren’t supposed to look like someone’s grandfather.
I stepped forward.
“You took my daughter.””
Thomas looked at Lily.
“No.””
His answer was immediate.
“I protected her.””
I laughed.
Everyone in my family had the same excuse.
Protect.
Save.
Help.
Words that meant nothing anymore.
“You kidnapped her.””
“I removed her from danger.””
“By locking her in a room?””
His expression hardened slightly.
“She was never locked.””
I looked at the glass room.
“Really?””
He sighed.
“You only see the surface.””
My mother stepped forward.
“Thomas, stop.””
He looked at her.
And smiled.
“Emily.””
The way he said her name made my skin crawl.
“You always were emotional.””
My mother’s face changed.
“You destroyed everything.””
“No.””
He looked around.
“I built something.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
“A system.””
The same word Adrian used.
Again.
Thomas continued.
“For decades, society has ignored children who disappear.””
“So you kidnapped them?””
His eyes moved to me.
“You simplify things.””
“Because they’re simple.””
“No.””
He stepped closer.
“Because you are your mother’s son.””
I felt anger rise.
“Don’t talk about my mother.””
He smiled.
“Why?””
A pause.
“Because she told you the truth?””
I looked at my mother.
She looked away.
And that was when I realized.
Everyone here knew something I didn’t.
My grandfather continued.
“Your mother wanted to destroy everything.””
“Yes.””
“She believed the system was evil.””
“Yes.””
“But she never understood the purpose.””
I shook my head.
“There is no purpose.””
Thomas looked at Lily.
“There is always a purpose.””
My daughter stepped closer to me.
I placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Stay behind me.””
Thomas noticed.
And smiled sadly.
“That instinct is exactly why you were chosen.””
“Chosen for what?””
He looked at my father.
Then Vanessa.
Then my mother.
Finally, me.
“To lead.””
I almost laughed.
“No.””
“You think this ends with me stopping you.””
“It doesn’t.””
His eyes narrowed.
“It ends with you replacing me.””
The room went silent.
My father stepped forward.
“Never.””
Thomas looked at him.
“You said the same thing.””
My father froze.
“What?””
“You wanted out.””
Thomas smiled.
“And look what happened.””
I turned toward my father.
“What is he talking about?””
My father didn’t answer.
My grandfather did.
“Your father was supposed to inherit everything.””
My stomach turned.
“Everything?””
“The organization.””
I looked at my father.
“You were supposed to take over?””
His silence destroyed him.
I stepped back.
“No.””
My father looked at me.
“Marcus, listen—”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“All these years…”
My voice broke.
“You weren’t running from them.””
My father closed his eyes.
“You were one of them.””
Before he could answer, an alarm sounded.
Everyone froze.
Agent Morgan looked at her device.
“What is that?””
Thomas smiled.
“The system recognizing its new owner.””
I looked at him.
“What did you do?””
He stepped backward.
A door opened behind him.
“You brought the entire government here.””
His smile widened.
“Exactly what I needed.””
My mother suddenly looked terrified.
“Marcus.””
I turned.
She whispered:
“Run.””
A red light flashed across the room.
Then every screen turned on.
A photograph appeared.
My photograph.
My name.
My entire life.
And beneath it:
*SUCCESSOR IDENTIFIED.*
I stared at the screen.
Then Thomas spoke one final sentence.
“The Reed family always protects its secrets.””
May you like
He looked directly at me.
“Now, Marcus, it’s time for you to protect yours.””
