Chapter 4: The Secret My Mother Took With Her
Mason stared at the message until the screen went dark.
Then he turned it back on.
As if the words might change.
As if maybe he had read them wrong.
*Ask Clara what happened to your mother.*
His fingers tightened around the phone.
For years, there had been only one story.
His mother left.
That was it.
No mystery.
No questions.
No hidden meaning.
She left.
Adults said it carefully, like the word itself was fragile.
Your mother left.
Not your mother disappeared.
Not your mother was taken.
Not your mother was in danger.
Left.
A simple word.
A word that made Mason hate her.
Because hating someone who abandoned you was easier than missing them.
“Mason?””
Lily’s voice pulled him back.
He looked down.
She was staring at his face.
Children were supposed to be protected from fear.
But Lily had lived with it long enough to recognize it.
“What did it say?””
Mason locked the phone.
“Nothing.””
Her expression changed.
She knew.
Another lie.
“Mason.””
He hated that she said his name like that.
Like she was reminding him she wasn’t a baby.
Like she deserved the truth.
Before he could answer, Clara spoke.
“Who sent it?””
Mason looked at her.
“You already know.””
Clara’s face went still.
“No.””
“You do.””
“I don’t.””
“Then why are you scared?””
The question hit harder than he expected.
Clara looked away.
That was enough.
Mason stepped closer.
“What happened to my mother?””
Nobody moved.
The bakery continued around them.
People ordered coffee.
Someone laughed near the window.
A child dropped a spoon.
The normal sounds made the moment feel even stranger.
Because Mason’s entire life had just cracked open in the middle of an ordinary morning.
Clara slowly sat down at one of the tables.
“Your mother’s name was Elena.””
Mason frowned.
He knew that.
But hearing it from Clara felt different.
Like hearing a stranger describe someone who belonged to him.
“She was my best friend,” Clara continued.
Mason stared.
“My mother had a best friend?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t I know about you?””
Clara looked down at her hands.
“Because Daniel wanted to keep you away from anyone connected to your parents.””
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“It will.””
Mason hated that answer.
Adults always said that.
It will.
Later.
Someday.
When you’re older.
But Mason had spent years waiting to understand things.
He was tired of waiting.
“Tell me now.””
Clara looked at him.
“Your mother didn’t leave you.””
The sentence was quiet.
But it destroyed something inside him.
Mason felt his throat tighten.
“No.””
“She didn’t.””
“She left.””
Clara shook her head.
“No, Mason.””
“Everyone said she left.””
“Because that’s what Daniel told people.””
The room became silent.
Mason stared at her.
“My dad lied?””
Clara looked painful.
“Yes.””
The word hurt more than he expected.
His father.
The person who had taught him honesty.
The person who had told him never to hide things.
Had hidden the biggest thing of all.
Lily stepped closer.
“Mom didn’t leave?””
Her small voice broke everyone.
Clara looked at her.
“No, sweetheart.””
“Then where is she?””
Clara opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
And Mason saw it.
The hesitation.
The fear.
The answer she didn’t want to give.
“You know,” Mason whispered.
Clara looked away.
“You know where my mother is.””
“Mason…”
“Where is she?””
Clara closed her eyes.
“She’s alive.””
The words should have made him happy.
They should have felt like a miracle.
Instead, Mason felt afraid.
Because miracles weren’t supposed to come with secrets.
“Where?””
Clara didn’t answer.
Ethan moved closer.
“Because she’s the reason Daniel disappeared.””
Mason looked at him.
“What?””
Ethan rubbed his hand over his face.
“Your parents weren’t running from each other.””
“Then what?””
“They were running together.””
Mason shook his head.
“No.””
He stepped backward.
“No, that doesn’t make sense.””
Ethan looked at him.
“I know.””
“My parents hated each other.””
“Who told you that?””
Mason froze.
Everyone knew.
He remembered the arguments.
The doors closing.
His mother crying.
His father sleeping on the couch.
He remembered being eight years old and wondering why their house felt colder even when the heater was on.
“They fought,” Mason said.
“Yes.””
“They were unhappy.””
“Yes.””
“Then they weren’t running together.””
Ethan looked at him sadly.
“Sometimes people who are trying to protect each other look like they’re fighting.””
Mason didn’t like that answer.
Because part of him wanted it to be true.
And that was worse.
Hope hurt.
He had learned that.
Clara reached into her bag.
She pulled out another photograph.
This one was newer.
Mason stared.
His mother.
Older than he remembered.
Her hair longer.
Her face thinner.
Standing beside Daniel.
Both of them alive.
Both of them smiling.
Behind them was a building.
A place Mason didn’t recognize.
His hand moved toward the photo.
“Where was this taken?””
Clara hesitated.
“At a place called Blackwood House.””
The name meant nothing.
But Ethan’s expression changed.
“You shouldn’t have shown him that.””
Clara looked at him.
“He deserves to know.””
“No.””
“He’s eleven.””
“And that’s exactly why.””
Mason grabbed the photo.
“What is Blackwood House?””
Nobody answered.
He looked at Ethan.
“What is it?””
Ethan sighed.
“It was where your father worked.””
“My dad?””
“Yes.””
“Doing what?””
Another silence.
Mason laughed bitterly.
“You’re all doing it again.””
“What?”” Clara asked.
“Keeping me outside the truth.””
He held up the photograph.
“My whole life, people have decided what I can handle.””
His voice shook.
“But nobody ever asked if I wanted to know.””
Lily touched his arm.
Mason looked at her.
She looked scared.
Not because of Richard.
Not because of the secrets.
Because Mason was breaking.
He immediately lowered his voice.
“I’m sorry.””
“You’re mad.””
“I know.””
“You’re scared.””
Mason didn’t answer.
Because she was right.
Clara watched them.
Then quietly said:
“Your father worked at Blackwood House because he was investigating people like Richard Vale.””
Mason turned.
“Investigating?””
“Yes.””
“For who?””
Clara looked at Ethan.
Then back at Mason.
“For an organization that no longer exists.””
“What organization?””
Before Clara could answer, Ethan’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed instantly.
“What?””
Mason watched him.
“What happened?””
Ethan didn’t answer.
He listened.
Then said one sentence.
“No, that’s impossible.””
A pause.
Then his eyes moved to Mason.
“Mason.””
Something about his voice made everyone stop.
“What?””
Ethan slowly lowered the phone.
“That message from Richard…”
Mason’s stomach dropped.
“What about it?””
Ethan looked at Clara.
“Richard didn’t send it.””
Nobody spoke.
The bakery suddenly felt colder.
Mason looked at his phone.
“Then who did?””
Ethan’s expression turned serious.
“Someone who knows where your mother is.””
Mason held his breath.
“Who?””
Ethan looked toward the bakery window.
The black car across the street was gone.
Then he said:
“Your mother.””
Mason couldn’t move.
Because his phone lit up again.
A second message appeared.
Not from an unknown number this time.
A name appeared on the screen.
May you like
A name Mason had not seen in eight years.
*Mom.*
