Chapter 5: The Truth Hidden in Nick’s Past
Valerie refused to let Nick answer the phone.
Not because she didn’t want the truth.
Because she had finally learned something important.
Sometimes protecting someone meant giving them a moment to feel safe.
“Tell him Nick isn’t here,” Valerie said.
The manager nodded.
He lifted the phone again.
But Nick suddenly spoke.
“No.””
Everyone looked at him.
Valerie turned.
“Nick?””
The boy’s hands were shaking.
“But I need to know why.””
Thomas stepped beside him.
“You don’t have to face him alone.””
Nick looked at Thomas.
A strange expression crossed his face.
Like he couldn’t understand why someone would choose to stand beside him.
Nobody had done that before.
The manager kept the phone on speaker.
“Hello?””
A man’s voice filled the restaurant.
“Is Nick there?””
Valerie answered.
“Who are you?””
A pause.
Then:
“I’m someone who has been looking for him.””
Nick’s face tightened.
Valerie noticed the way his body reacted.
Not like someone hearing from a stranger.
Like someone hearing from a nightmare.
“You have no reason to contact him,” Valerie said.
The man laughed softly.
“You don’t understand what kind of child you’re protecting.””
Thomas stepped closer.
“Don’t talk about him like that.””
The voice became colder.
“Who is this?””
“My son.””
A pause.
Then the man laughed again.
“Interesting.””
Nick grabbed Valerie’s sleeve.
“Hang up.””
The fear in his voice made her immediately end the call.
The restaurant stayed silent.
Thomas looked angry.
“He knows where you are.””
Nick nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Nick didn’t answer.
Valerie looked at him.
“Nick.””
He closed his eyes.
Then he reached into his backpack.
This time, he pulled out something different.
A small photograph.
The edges were worn.
The image was faded.
He placed it on the table.
Three children stood outside a building.
One of them was Nick.
Younger.
Smiling.
A smile Valerie had never seen from him.
Beside him was a girl.
And behind them was a woman.
“My aunt,” Nick said.
Valerie picked up the photo.
“Who is the girl?””
Nick looked at the picture.
“My sister.””
Thomas looked surprised.
“You have a sister?””
Nick nodded.
“Had.””
The word made everyone quiet.
Valerie lowered the photo.
“What happened?””
Nick stared at the girl in the picture.
“Her name was Lily.””
He took a deep breath.
“She disappeared.””
The restaurant lights hummed softly above them.
“She was twelve.””
Thomas looked at Nick.
“Like me.””
Nick nodded.
“That’s why I couldn’t leave you.””
Valerie felt her heart break.
Nick wasn’t just protecting Thomas because he was kind.
He was trying to save someone he couldn’t save before.
“What happened to Lily?”” Valerie asked.
Nick looked toward the window.
“She told people what was happening at Oak Ridge.””
“And?””
“They said she was making things up.””
His voice became quieter.
“Two weeks later, she was gone.””
Valerie’s stomach tightened.
“Did the police investigate?””
Nick laughed once.
But there was no humor in it.
“They investigated what people told them.””
“And what did they tell them?””
Nick looked at her.
“That she was a difficult kid.””
Silence.
A child reduced to a label.
A child ignored because adults found it easier.
Valerie looked at Thomas.
Then at Nick.
She finally understood.
Nick didn’t run because he was weak.
He ran because he had already watched the system fail someone he loved.
The front doors suddenly shook.
Everyone turned.
A man stood outside.
Not the same man from before.
Older.
Gray hair.
Expensive coat.
Calm expression.
Marcus Bell.
Nick stood immediately.
Valerie stepped in front of him.
Marcus looked through the glass.
Then smiled.
A smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
The manager called the police.
Marcus didn’t leave.
He simply waited.
Like he knew time was on his side.
Thomas whispered:
“He looks normal.””
Nick answered:
“That’s how people like him survive.””
The police arrived fifteen minutes later.
Marcus spoke calmly.
He showed identification.
He explained everything.
He said Nick was a runaway.
He said Oak Ridge was trying to help.
He said Valerie was being manipulated by a frightened child.
And the worst part?
Some people believed him.
Because he sounded reasonable.
Because he wore a nice coat.
Because monsters rarely look like monsters.
The officer turned toward Nick.
“Is this man telling the truth?””
Everyone waited.
Nick stared at Marcus.
Then he looked at Valerie.
At Thomas.
At the people who had finally listened.
And he said:
“No.””
Marcus sighed.
“Nick, don’t do this.””
Nick’s voice shook.
But he continued.
“He knows exactly what happened.””
The officer looked confused.
“What happened?””
Nick reached into his backpack one more time.
And pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“I found this in Lily’s room before she disappeared.””
Marcus’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Valerie saw it.
Fear.
Real fear.
Nick unfolded the paper.
The writing was old.
The handwriting was a child’s.
And at the top were six words:
*“If anything happens to me…”*
May you like
Nick looked at Marcus.
“I think you should read the rest.””
