Chapter Seven — The Things He Hides
665 Words
I hated that Daniel Hayes had become a question I couldn’t answer.
Before the diary, before the warnings, before everything started falling apart, my life was simple.
Not perfect.
But simple.
Now every person I met seemed to have a secret.
The old man at the bookshop.
The stranger who knew my name.
Daniel.
Especially Daniel.
I sat on my bed, staring at the two messages in front of me.
One told me not to trust the Hayes name.
The other warned me that I was getting close to the truth.
The problem was…
I didn’t know which one was the lie.
I picked up my phone and searched Daniel again.
Maybe I was looking for something.
Anything.
A reason to believe he was exactly who everyone said he was.
But all I found were the same things.
Successful.
Powerful.
Private.
A man who rarely appeared in public.
A man who had built an empire while keeping everyone away.
I frowned.
People didn’t become that guarded for no reason.
Everyone had a story.
Even Daniel Hayes.
---
The next afternoon, I found myself back at the bookshop.
The old man looked at me and sighed.
“I knew you would return.”
I placed the diary on the counter.
“Tell me about Elena.”
His expression changed.
“I told you. Some stories are dangerous.”
“And I told you I’m tired of people deciding what I can handle.”
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he slowly sat down.
“You have your mother’s courage.”
My heart skipped.
“You knew her?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
That was becoming everyone’s favorite thing.
Avoiding questions.
“Yes,” he finally said.
My fingers tightened.
“Who was she?”
His eyes lowered.
“She was someone who trusted the wrong people.”
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Who?”
The old man looked toward the window.
“The Hayes family.”
There it was again.
That name.
Like a shadow following me.
I thought of Daniel.
His warning.
His strange concern.
Everything.
“Was Daniel involved?”
The old man became quiet.
And that silence hurt.
Because it felt like an answer.
---
That evening, I walked home with too many thoughts.
I was so distracted that I almost didn’t notice the black car following me.
Almost.
When I turned around, it stopped.
My heart started beating faster.
The car stayed there for a few seconds.
Then drove away.
I stood frozen.
Was it connected to the diary?
To Daniel?
Or was I just becoming paranoid?
I hated that I couldn’t tell anymore.
---
Across the city, Daniel Hayes sat alone in his office.
The lights were off.
The city reflected through the glass walls.
His assistant stood in front of his desk.
“She went to the bookshop again.”
Daniel didn’t look up.
“I know.”
“She’s getting closer.”
A long silence.
Then Daniel finally spoke.
“She always was.”
His assistant hesitated.
“Sir… are you sure you want to stay away?”
Daniel’s eyes hardened.
“Yes.”
“But if she finds out—”
“I know what happens.”
The room went quiet.
Because they both knew.
The truth wasn’t just dangerous.
It could destroy everything.
---
I arrived home later that night.
The first thing I noticed was my door.
Unlocked.
Again.
My heart dropped.
I slowly pushed it open.
The apartment was dark.
Too quiet.
I reached for the nearest thing I could use as protection.
A heavy book.
I stepped inside.
“Who’s there?”
No answer.
I checked the living room.
Nothing.
The kitchen.
Nothing.
Then I saw it.
On my table.
The diary.
The same diary someone stole.
It was back.
And beside it was a new note.
My hands shook as I picked it up.
This time, there were only five words.
“Ask Daniel what he did.”
- Writer
