Chapter 1 - The Shadow in the Dark
The heavy breathing in the darkness sent a violent chill down my spine.
I spun around with my hand instinctively reaching for the heavy pistol holstered at my waist.
A frail figure slowly stepped out from the cold shadows of the makeshift prison cell.
It was Dr. Aris, the private physician my family had employed for over three decades.
His white coat was completely ruined by dark streaks of dried blood.
He raised his trembling hands into the air as if he expected me to shoot him on sight.
I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him violently against the concrete wall.
I demanded to know where my wife was and what he had done to my unborn child.
Tears streamed down the old doctor's wrinkled face as he choked on his own breath.
He swore to me that he had tried to protect Grace when my mother locked her away.
He explained that my mother had been slowly poisoning Grace's food to induce an early labor.
My blood boiled with a pure, murderous rage as I listened to his confession.
I pressed the cold steel of my gun directly under his chin.
I told him he had exactly ten seconds to tell me where she was before I pulled the trigger.
The doctor squeezed his eyes shut and pointed a shaky finger toward the heavy hospital bed bolted to the floor.
He whispered that my mother did not just hide my wife.
He revealed that she had built an entire underground medical facility beneath the estate.
I threw the doctor aside and rushed over to the heavy metal frame of the bed.
I pushed it aside with all my strength to reveal a hidden steel trapdoor securely locked from the outside.
I shot the padlock off and yanked the heavy door open.
A sudden, agonizing scream echoed up from the dark abyss below.
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It was a woman's voice screaming my name in absolute terror.
But the voice did not belong to Grace.
