CHAPTER 14 THE CHILD IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
The first thing Adrian heard was his daughter's breathing.
Slow.
Uneven.
Alive.
He held Lily against his chest as the laboratory alarms continued screaming around them.
For the first time in three years, she was not a secret hidden behind layers of surveillance.
She was in his arms.
And he was no longer watching her from a distance.
He was her father.
Then the computer spoke.
SUBJECT 39 — ACTIVE.
Adrian slowly turned toward the screen.
The words remained there.
Beneath them:
LOCATION: MANHATTAN.
IDENTITY: UNKNOWN.
Vincent stepped closer.
“That's impossible.”
Adrian stared at the screen.
“Nothing is impossible anymore.”
Anna looked at the unconscious old man.
“Maybe it's another trick.”
“No.”
Adrian shook his head.
“He wanted me to believe I was Subject Seven.”
He looked at Marco.
“He wanted us to believe Claire was the final experiment.”
Then he looked at Lily.
“But someone created Subject Thirty-Nine after all of that.”
Marco's expression darkened.
“Not after.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Before.”
The room went silent.
Marco pointed toward the monitor.
“Look at the activation date.”
Adrian stepped closer.
The date appeared.
JUNE 17, 1997.
Adrian froze.
“That was the day I was born.”
Marco nodded.
“No.”
Adrian looked at him.
“That was the day Subject Thirty-Nine was created.”
The old man's eyes suddenly opened.
Everyone turned.
Vincent raised his weapon.
“Don't move.”
The old man laughed weakly.
“You still think a gun can solve this.”
Adrian walked toward him.
“You created Subject Thirty-Nine.”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
His grandfather looked toward Marco.
“Ask your father.”
Marco's face tightened.
Adrian turned.
“Dad?”
Marco looked away.
“Marco.”
Silence.
“Tell me.”
Marco finally whispered:
“I don't know.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“You're lying.”
“I don't know who Thirty-Nine is.”
“Then why did you say the date was wrong?”
Marco hesitated.
“Because I know what happened that day.”
Adrian waited.
Marco looked at Lily.
“Your mother gave birth to two children.”
Adrian's breath stopped.
“Two?”
Marco nodded.
“One was you.”
“The other was…”
He looked toward the computer.
“Subject Thirty-Nine.”
Anna stepped backward.
“No.”
Adrian stared at Marco.
“Who was the second child?”
Marco closed his eyes.
“A girl.”
Adrian looked at Lily.
Lily looked back at him.
His stomach twisted.
“Another sister?”
“Yes.”
“What happened to her?”
Marco didn't answer.
Adrian grabbed his collar.
“What happened to her?”
Marco whispered:
“She disappeared.”
“When?”
“Minutes after birth.”
“Who took her?”
Marco looked at the old man.
“Him.”
The old man smiled.
“You were always too sentimental, Marco.”
Adrian released him.
“My grandfather stole a newborn?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she was perfect.”
Adrian's face went cold.
“Perfect for what?”
The old man answered.
“Because she didn't inherit your heart condition.”
Adrian looked at Lily.
Then Claire.
Then Anna.
Three girls.
Three secrets.
And somewhere in Manhattan, another child.
A child born on the same day as him.
His twin sister.
But not a twin.
A different experiment.
A perfect genetic match.
The old man smiled.
“She was the only one who didn't need modification.”
Adrian stared.
“Where is she?”
“Closer than you think.”
The old man looked toward Lily.
“She's been watching you.”
Adrian's blood ran cold.
“How?”
“Children remember faces.”
“What face?”
“Yours.”
The next morning, Adrian sat inside a secure apartment overlooking Manhattan.
He hadn't slept.
Neither had Vincent.
A wall was covered with photographs.
Maps.
Names.
Bank records.
Surveillance images.
At the center was one photograph.
A little girl.
Six years old.
Dark hair.
Pale skin.
Silver pendant.
Same face as Lily.
Adrian stared at it.
“Who took this?”
Vincent placed another file on the table.
“Private investigator.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“Where?”
“Brooklyn.”
Adrian looked at the photograph.
The girl was standing outside a small bookstore.
Alone.
No guardian.
No security.
Nothing.
Just a backpack.
A red coat.
And the same silver pendant.
Adrian's hands tightened.
“Her name?”
Vincent hesitated.
“That's the problem.”
“What?”
“There is no official identity.”
“Then how does she attend school?”
“She doesn't.”
“Medical records?”
“None.”
“Birth certificate?”
“None.”
Adrian looked at the photograph.
“Then who is taking care of her?”
Vincent slowly placed another image on the table.
A black sedan.
Parked across the street.
The same sedan appeared in six different locations.
Adrian recognized it.
“Volkov.”
Vincent shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed at the license plate.
“It belongs to a federal agency.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“What agency?”
Vincent lowered his voice.
“CIA.”
The room became silent.
Adrian leaned back.
“Why would the CIA protect a child created by my grandfather?”
Vincent shook his head.
“Maybe they aren't protecting her.”
“Then what?”
“They're studying her.”
Adrian stared at the photograph.
“Find the car.”
“Already did.”
“And?”
“It disappeared.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Everything disappears around this family.”
Anna walked into the room.
She carried a small envelope.
“Maybe this will help.”
Adrian looked at her.
“What is it?”
“A letter.”
“From whom?”
“Your mother.”
Adrian froze.
“Another one?”
Anna nodded.
“It was hidden inside the old laboratory.”
Adrian opened it.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
My son,
If you are reading this, then the first part of the plan failed.
Adrian's hands tightened.
He kept reading.
Your father will tell you that Subject Thirty-Nine was taken because she was genetically perfect.
That is only half the truth.
She wasn't taken to become a weapon.
She was taken because she was the only child capable of stopping the disease.
Adrian stopped.
His eyes moved to the next line.
Her heart was perfect.
Yours was not.
And one day, you will need her.
Adrian's face went pale.
He read the final paragraph.
But remember this:
Never allow your grandfather to reunite the two of you.
If he does, he will have everything he needs.
The letter ended there.
No signature.
No explanation.
Adrian looked at Anna.
“What does 'reunite' mean?”
Anna shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Claire stood in the doorway.
“I do.”
Everyone turned.
She looked at Adrian.
“He wants to make one person.”
Adrian frowned.
“What?”
Claire spoke quietly.
“Two hearts.”
She pointed toward herself.
“Two bloodlines.”
Then toward Lily.
“Two memories.”
Then toward Adrian.
“One body.”
Adrian felt sick.
“He wants to combine us.”
Claire nodded.
“That was the plan.”
A phone rang.
Vincent answered.
His expression changed.
“Where?”
He listened.
“Are you sure?”
Another pause.
“Don't approach.”
He hung up.
Adrian stood.
“What?”
Vincent looked at him.
“They found her.”
“Where?”
“Brooklyn.”
Adrian grabbed his coat.
“Let's go.”
Vincent blocked him.
“No.”
Adrian stared.
“What?”
“You're not going.”
“She's my sister.”
“She may be bait.”
“I don't care.”
“You should.”
Adrian's voice became cold.
“Move.”
Vincent didn't.
“Boss.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“I've spent my entire life letting other people decide who I could love.”
Vincent said nothing.
“My mother.”
“My father.”
“My grandfather.”
“Sarah.”
“Everyone.”
Adrian's eyes hardened.
“I'm done.”
Vincent slowly moved aside.
“Then I'm coming with you.”
The bookstore was empty.
Rain covered the sidewalks.
Adrian entered through the front door.
A bell rang.
Nobody answered.
“Hello?”
Nothing.
He walked deeper inside.
Children's books lined the walls.
A small red backpack sat on the floor.
Adrian recognized it from the photograph.
He crouched.
Inside was a drawing.
His heart stopped.
A family.
Four children.
One man.
And again—
the faceless father.
Except this time the man had a face.
Adrian.
He stared.
“She's been drawing me.”
Vincent looked around.
“Maybe she knows you.”
“No.”
Adrian shook his head.
“Maybe she's been waiting.”
A voice came from behind them.
“You took long enough.”
Adrian spun around.
The little girl stood on the stairs.
Six years old.
Red coat.
Dark hair.
Silver pendant.
She looked exactly like Lily.
Adrian couldn't breathe.
“What's your name?”
The girl smiled.
“Emily.”
“Emily what?”
She looked at him.
“Moretti.”
Adrian's eyes filled.
“Who told you that?”
“My mother.”
“Who's your mother?”
Emily pointed upstairs.
Adrian's heart stopped.
A woman stepped into view.
Older.
Thin.
Gray hair.
Adrian recognized her immediately.
His mother's sister.
His aunt.
Someone he had believed died twenty years ago.
“Hello, Adrian.”
Adrian's voice disappeared.
She smiled.
“You've grown.”
Vincent raised his weapon.
“Hands where I can see them.”
The woman laughed.
“Still protecting him, Vincent?”
Vincent froze.
“You know me.”
“I know everyone.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
“You know who I am.”
“My aunt died.”
“No.”
“You were buried.”
“Someone was.”
Adrian stared.
“Where is my mother?”
The woman smiled sadly.
“She never died.”
Adrian's breathing stopped.
“What?”
“She has been alive this entire time.”
“Where?”
The woman looked at Emily.
“Waiting.”
“Waiting for what?”
“For you to come home.”
Adrian moved toward Emily.
She didn't run.
Instead, she held out her hand.
He took it.
Her fingers were warm.
Real.
She looked up at him.
“You're my brother.”
Adrian swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Mom said you'd come.”
“When?”
“She said when the girl with the drawings found you.”
Adrian stared.
“Lily?”
Emily nodded.
“She found you.”
Adrian's chest tightened.
“How?”
Emily pointed toward the drawing.
“She drew the door.”
“What door?”
“The door that leads home.”
The woman walked downstairs.
“Adrian, we have very little time.”
“Where is my mother?”
“She is underground.”
“Where?”
“Below St. Vincent's Hospital.”
Adrian froze.
The hospital where Elena had supposedly died.
The same hospital where Dr. Maren had treated him.
The same place that had appeared in Lily's memories.
His entire life had been circling that building.
He suddenly understood.
“It was never a hospital.”
His aunt nodded.
“It was a laboratory.”
Adrian looked at Vincent.
“We're going.”
His aunt grabbed his arm.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because they know you're here.”
Adrian turned.
“What?”
She pointed toward the window.
Three black cars had stopped outside.
Men were getting out.
Weapons visible.
Vincent looked outside.
“That's not CIA.”
“No.”
Adrian stared.
His aunt's voice dropped.
“Those are Volkov's men.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Then Volkov knows about Emily.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
The woman looked at the little girl.
“Because someone told him.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
She hesitated.
Then said:
“Sarah.”
Adrian froze.
“No.”
“She betrayed you.”
“No.”
“She gave Volkov the location.”
“Why?”
The woman looked toward the door.
“Because she was threatened.”
Adrian's face hardened.
“With what?”
“She has another daughter.”
Silence.
Adrian stared.
“Another?”
His aunt nodded.
“Sarah's biological daughter.”
“Where?”
“Volkov has her.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
Everything was connected.
Every secret.
Every betrayal.
Every missing child.
Every lie.
His family had been playing the same game for decades.
And every child was another piece.
The front windows exploded.
Gunfire tore through the bookstore.
Vincent pushed Adrian behind a counter.
“DOWN!”
Emily screamed.
Adrian grabbed her.
“Stay with me!”
His aunt pulled out a handgun.
She fired toward the entrance.
Vincent moved to the side.
“Three at the front!”
“More outside!” Adrian shouted.
Emily clung to him.
“Don't let them take me.”
Adrian looked down.
“They won't.”
“You promise?”
He tightened his arms around her.
“I promise.”
A grenade rolled through the doorway.
Vincent kicked it outside.
The explosion shook the street.
Adrian grabbed Emily and ran toward the back exit.
His aunt followed.
“There's a tunnel!”
“Where does it lead?”
“St. Vincent's.”
Adrian stopped.
“What?”
“That's where your mother is.”
He looked at Emily.
Then at Lily's drawing.
The door.
The hospital.
Everything finally made sense.
“Let's go.”
The tunnel was dark.
Water dripped from the ceiling.
Emily held Adrian's hand.
She seemed strangely calm.
“Are you afraid?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Mom said you would protect me.”
Adrian looked at her.
“What else did she say?”
“That you wouldn't believe her.”
“Believe who?”
Emily smiled.
“Yourself.”
Adrian frowned.
“What does that mean?”
She stopped.
Adrian turned.
Emily pointed at his chest.
“Your heart.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“What about it?”
“It remembers.”
He stared.
“Who told you?”
Emily whispered:
“Mom.”
Then a sound echoed through the tunnel.
A heartbeat.
Slow.
Deep.
Mechanical.
Adrian stopped.
Vincent raised his weapon.
The sound came again.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
Emily smiled.
“That's her.”
Adrian's eyes widened.
“Your mother?”
Emily nodded.
“No.”
She pointed toward the darkness.
“That's Subject Zero.”
Adrian froze.
The heartbeat became louder.
And from somewhere ahead—
a man's voice whispered:
“Adrian.”
He knew that voice.
His father's.
Marco.
But Marco was behind him.
Adrian slowly turned.
Marco wasn't there.
Vincent was gone.
Emily was gone.
The tunnel was empty.
Adrian stood alone.
Then the lights turned on.
A figure appeared at the far end.
It was Adrian.
But older.
Scarred.
Blood running from one eye.
The man smiled.
“You finally found me.”
Adrian raised his gun.
“Who are you?”
The man answered:
“The version of you your grandfather couldn't control.”
Adrian's heart slammed against his ribs.
The man stepped forward.
“I am Subject Thirty-Nine's brother.”
Adrian froze.
“That's impossible.”
The man smiled.
“No.”
He lifted his shirt.
A scar crossed his chest.
Then he whispered:
“I'm the reason your heart is dying.”
Adrian stared.
The man continued:
“And I'm the only person who can save you.”
Behind Adrian, a child's voice whispered:
“Daddy…”
Adrian turned.
Lily stood in the tunnel.
But she wasn't alone.
Claire stood beside her.
Anna stood behind them.
And in the center—
a woman.
Older.
Weak.
But unmistakably familiar.
Adrian's mother.
Alive.
She looked at him.
Tears filled her eyes.
“My son.”
Adrian couldn't move.
She whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
Adrian's voice broke.
“Why did you leave me?”
She shook her head.
“I didn't.”
“Then why?”
“Because your father took you.”
Adrian stared.
His mother stepped forward.
“And I spent twenty-eight years trying to find you.”
Adrian's chest tightened.
“Why didn't you come sooner?”
She looked at Lily.
“Because I was waiting for her.”
Lily stepped forward.
His mother touched her face.
“The final child.”
Adrian stared.
“What does that mean?”
His mother looked at him.
“It means your grandfather lied about everything.”
A pause.
“Lily was never the cure.”
Adrian's blood ran cold.
“Then what is she?”
His mother looked toward the darkness.
“The key to waking Subject Zero.”
The heartbeat stopped.
Every light in the tunnel went black.
Then a single voice whispered from the darkness:
“And now she's finally here.”
Adrian pulled Lily behind him.
The lights came back on.
At the far end of the tunnel stood his grandfather.
But this time, he wasn't alone.
Beside him stood Daniel Cross.
And between them—
a man with Adrian's face.
His eyes were open.
His heart was beating.
And he was smiling.
SUBJECT ZERO.
Adrian stared at him.
Subject Zero slowly raised one hand.
“Son.”
Adrian's blood froze.
Because behind him, his mother began to cry.
May you like
And she whispered the one sentence Adrian had spent his entire life waiting to hear:
“That's your real father.”
