Chapter 6: The House Beneath the House
We left the hospital through the service elevator.
Thomas drove.
I sat beside Meline in the back seat while a private security team followed us in two black SUVs.
Nobody spoke for the first ten minutes.
Then Meline broke the silence.
"She didn't take the baby.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
"That video was staged.""
"How do you know?""
"Because Elena knows I would never leave without her.""
I glanced toward the rear window.
"You think she's bluffing?""
"I think she's trying to scare you.""
"She's succeeding.""
Meline reached for my hand.
"Then don't let fear make your decisions again.""
The words stung.
Because that was exactly what I'd done.
I had let fear make every decision that mattered.
Fear that Meline had betrayed me.
Fear that the baby wasn't mine.
Fear that I was losing control.
And Elena had simply stepped into the spaces I'd created.
Thomas looked at us through the mirror.
"Mr. Vance, we're approaching the property.""
I looked ahead.
The old Vance estate appeared through the trees.
Or what remained of it.
The mansion had burned twelve years ago.
The roof had collapsed.
Most of the windows were boarded.
The stone exterior was blackened from the fire.
I hadn't returned since my father's funeral.
Meline stared through the window.
"This is where it happened.""
"What?""
"Your father showed me the archive here.""
"When?""
"Three months before he died.""
I looked at her.
"Why would he bring you here?""
"Because he knew someone was following him.""
We pulled through the iron gates.
The security SUVs stopped behind us.
I got out.
The air smelled like wet earth and smoke, even after all these years.
Meline stood beside me.
"You okay?""
She nodded.
"I have to be.""
We walked toward the ruins.
The front doors had been removed years ago.
Inside, moonlight spilled through the broken ceiling.
I remembered this place differently.
Warm fireplaces.
Christmas trees.
My mother's piano.
My father's study.
The smell of cedar and expensive tobacco.
Now there was only ash.
Meline stopped near the staircase.
"Damen.""
"What?""
"Look at the floor.""
I followed her gaze.
Beneath a layer of dust were fresh footprints.
Someone had been here recently.
Thomas drew his weapon.
"Everyone stay behind me.""
We followed the footprints into the old study.
The walls were burned almost completely through.
The fireplace had collapsed.
I ran my hand along the remaining stone.
"Where's the safe?""
Meline pointed toward the floor.
"Under there.""
We moved a section of broken wood.
A steel panel appeared.
I inserted the silver key.
Nothing happened.
Meline pressed her hand against the panel.
"Try again.""
I turned the key.
A click echoed beneath us.
The floor opened.
A staircase descended.
Thomas stared.
"You knew this was here?""
"No," I said.
Meline did.
We went down.
The passage was narrow and cold.
At the bottom was a room untouched by the fire above.
There were shelves of documents.
Old computers.
Boxes.
Photographs.
And an enormous wall covered in names.
I stepped closer.
At the center was my father's name.
*RICHARD VANCE*
Beneath it were four branches.
My name.
Meline's.
Elena's father.
And one final name.
I stared at it.
"Meline.""
She walked beside me.
"What?""
"Who is Daniel Mercer?""
She went completely still.
"Where did you see that name?""
I pointed.
It was written beneath my father's.
*DANIEL MERCER — PRIMARY BENEFICIARY*
Meline's face drained of color.
"Damen...""
"Who is he?""
She didn't answer.
"Who is Daniel Mercer?""
"I thought he was dead.""
My pulse quickened.
"Who is he?""
She looked at the wall.
"Your father's business partner.""
"That's impossible.""
"He disappeared the same week your father died.""
I turned toward her.
"And why is his name listed as the primary beneficiary?""
"I don't know.""
A computer on the desk suddenly powered on.
The screen flickered.
A video file appeared.
No one touched it.
Then it began playing.
My father's face appeared.
Older.
Tired.
Sitting behind this exact desk.
"If you're watching this, Damen, then Meline has finally brought you here.""
I couldn't breathe.
My father's recorded voice continued.
"I need you to understand one thing before you judge her.""
He looked directly into the camera.
"Everything I did was designed to protect you from Daniel Mercer.""
The video cut.
A second clip began.
This time, my father was standing beside a young man.
I recognized him immediately.
Daniel Mercer.
He looked younger.
Maybe thirty.
My father spoke.
"Daniel believes Meline is his daughter.""
I turned toward Meline.
Her face was frozen.
The video continued.
"He is wrong.""
My father's voice became quieter.
"Because Meline is mine.""
The screen went black.
Meline covered her mouth.
I stared at her.
Then the computer chimed.
A new file appeared.
*FINAL CONFESSION — PLAY ONLY IF DAMEN KNOWS THE TRUTH*
I clicked it.
My father's face returned.
He looked terrified.
"Damen, there is one final truth I never told you.""
He leaned toward the camera.
"Your mother did not die in an accident.""
I stopped breathing.
"She was murdered.""
Meline gasped.
My father's eyes filled with tears.
"And I know who ordered it.""
The video froze.
A red notification appeared.
*FILE CORRUPTED.*
I slammed my hand against the desk.
"No!""
The screen went black.
Then the lights in the underground room switched off.
Meline grabbed my arm.
"Damen.""
A metallic sound came from behind us.
The staircase door was closing.
Thomas shouted.
"Move!""
We ran.
But before we reached it, someone slammed the door from the other side.
Thomas threw himself against it.
"Who's out there?""
No answer.
Then a woman's voice came through the steel.
Elena.
"You finally found the room.""
I stared at the door.
"Open it.""
She laughed softly.
"Why would I?""
"Tell me who killed my mother.""
Silence.
Then Elena spoke.
"Your father did.""
Meline's fingers tightened around mine.
Elena continued.
"And if you want to know why, ask yourself one question.""
"What question?""
Her voice became almost a whisper.
"Why did your father leave you everything...""
A pause.
"...but leave Meline the truth?""
The lights went out again.
May you like
And somewhere in the darkness behind us, a man's voice whispered:
"Because Meline was never supposed to survive."" :::
