Keeper of the Secret
1445 Words
The upper sector of Heroes Academy was almost completely silent.
Only high-ranking officials were ever allowed there.
Massive steel hallways stretched endlessly beneath soft white lights while armed guards stood at every corner.
At the very end of the corridor—
Merson, Schizzel, and Kaiden finally arrived before the private quarters of William Foster.
Two massive bouncers stood outside the door like statues.
The moment they approached—
One of the guards stepped forward.
“Hey.”
His deep voice echoed through the hallway.
“Nobody is allowed here.”
Kaiden raised both hands calmly.
“We’d like to see Mr. William.”
His tone became serious.
“It’s urgent.”
The second bouncer narrowed his eyes.
“Do you have an appointment?”
Schizzel glanced briefly at Merson.
Merson looked back at her.
Then Schizzel answered quickly.
“Yes.”
The guard frowned immediately.
“Funny.”
He folded his arms.
“Mr. William didn’t inform us anyone was coming.”
His eyes sharpened.
“So back off.”
“I know you’re lying.”
That was the wrong thing to say.
Merson immediately stepped forward.
“Excuse me?”
Schizzel quickly grabbed his arm.
“Merson—”
But Merson was already angry.
“Do you know who I am?”
The guards remained unmoved.
Schizzel kept trying to pull him back.
“Merson, it’s okay—”
“No!” Merson snapped.
He pointed directly at the guard.
“I said I want to speak with William Foster!”
The hallway echoed with his voice.
“And you’re here talking to me about appointments?!”
Kaiden simply stood nearby watching the entire scene quietly like he expected it.
The guard stepped forward too.
But before things escalated further—
Merson stopped himself.
He inhaled sharply.
Then spoke more calmly.
“…Tell Mr. William that Merson wants to see him.”
His expression darkened.
“And tell him it’s urgent.”
The bouncer stared at him for a moment.
Then finally took out his phone.
He dialed quickly.
“Boss.”
Pause.
“There’s someone here desperate to see you.”
Another pause.
“His name is Merson.”
A voice answered from the phone.
Calm.
Powerful.
“Let him in.”
The guard immediately straightened.
“He’s one of my employees.”
Another pause.
“Let them come.”
The call ended.
The bouncer lowered the phone slowly.
Then stepped aside respectfully.
“My apologies for the inconvenience.”
He gestured toward the massive doors.
“Right this way.”
He escorted them to another secured entrance before stopping.
“You may enter through there.”
Then he returned back to his position.
Merson, Schizzel, and Kaiden exchanged looks.
Then slowly—
They opened the doors.
And entered.
Immediately—
Their eyes widened slightly.
The room beyond was not an office.
It was a luxurious private lounge.
Massive king-sized sofas surrounded a glowing glass table while elegant decorations lined the walls. Large screens displayed world news silently in the background while soft instrumental music played faintly through hidden speakers.
The room looked calm.
Too calm.
Merson slowly looked around carefully.
Then—
Footsteps approached.
William Foster entered.
Average height.
Muscular.
Sharp jawline.
A calm but commanding aura surrounded him naturally.
He looked younger than expected.
And dangerously intelligent.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Merson.”
His eyes shifted.
“Schizzel.”
Then Kaiden.
“Kaiden.”
He opened his arms slightly.
“What a pleasant surprise.”
He gestured toward the sofas.
“Please.”
“Sit.”
“Make yourselves comfortable.”
The three sat down slowly.
Uneasy.
Tense.
Each of them ready to explode with questions.
About T.L.
About Mirabel.
About the orphanage.
About the secrets.
But for now—
They stayed calm.
William Foster sat across from them elegantly.
Then silence filled the room.
Finally—
Merson spoke.
“Sir…”
William suddenly interrupted him casually.
“Are you all hungry?”
The three blinked.
William smiled faintly.
“You can’t come all the way here and not have something.”
He crossed his legs.
“Tell me what you want.”
Schizzel answered first.
“Water is fine.”
Kaiden raised his hand slightly.
“Orange juice.”
William nodded once.
“Of course.”
He signaled one of the cooks nearby.
The cook bowed respectfully and disappeared.
William then looked toward Merson.
“And you?”
Merson shook his head.
“Nothing.”
“I’m fine.”
William nodded calmly.
“Alright.”
Moments later the cook returned.
One glass of cold water for Schizzel.
One orange juice for Kaiden.
Kaiden accepted it.
“Thank you.”
Schizzel nodded politely too.
“Thank you.”
The cook bowed again and left.
Kaiden took a sip from his drink.
Then finally—
Merson leaned forward seriously.
“Sir…”
“The reason we came—”
“We’ve been dealing with a mystery in the academy these past weeks.”
William crossed his legs slowly.
“And what exactly does that have to do with me?”
His expression remained calm.
“I don’t usually handle student-level problems.”
Merson nodded once.
“Normally yes.”
“But recently we selected new students from Starhaven Orphanage.”
The moment Merson said those words—
William suddenly choked on the lemon juice he was drinking.
He coughed sharply and lowered the glass quickly.
Kaiden blinked.
“Sir?”
William quickly waved it off.
“I’m fine.”
Though his expression had clearly shifted.
“Continue.”
Merson noticed it immediately.
He continued carefully.
“There was this girl.”
“Fifteen years old.”
“She had no powers.”
“No division.”
“We tested her repeatedly.”
“Nothing.”
William listened silently.
Merson lowered his eyes slightly.
“And because of that…”
“I treated her badly.”
Schizzel quietly glanced at him.
Merson continued.
“She later joined our Technical Department.”
His voice lowered carefully.
“And she was good.”
Then he corrected himself.
“No.”
“Very good.”
Kaiden nodded immediately.
“She was exceptional.”
Merson sighed.
“I became jealous.”
Silence.
“But one day during training…”
He looked directly at William.
“Everything changed.”
Kaiden immediately added—
“The girl almost destroyed the entire training building.”
William’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Kaiden leaned forward.
“She wasn’t touching anything.”
“She was using power with her mind.”
“But it wasn’t telepathy.”
He shook his head immediately.
“I know telepaths.”
“We have several students with those abilities.”
“This was different.”
William slowly leaned back.
“…Interesting.”
His voice became quieter now.
“Very interesting.”
Then after a moment—
He asked calmly.
“What is her name?”
Schizzel answered softly.
“T.L.”
William froze.
Completely.
His fingers tightened slightly around the glass.
Merson noticed instantly.
And now—
He knew.
They were getting somewhere.
Merson leaned forward slowly.
“So we searched the Starhaven database.”
William remained silent.
“To find out who registered her at the orphanage.”
Merson’s eyes sharpened.
“And guess what we found.”
William’s calm expression was beginning to crack now.
Merson continued carefully.
“Your wife’s name.”
Silence.
“Mirabel Foster.”
Kaiden folded his arms.
“So tell us something, sir.”
“Was Mirabel Foster the one who brought T.L to Starhaven?”
William slowly lowered his glass.
The room suddenly felt heavier.
Then finally—
He answered.
“…Yes.”
Schizzel leaned forward immediately.
“Then is T.L your daughter?”
William hesitated.
A long hesitation.
Then quietly—
“No.”
That answer only created more questions.
Schizzel frowned deeply.
“Then why is your wife’s name attached to her records?”
Kaiden added—
“And where is T.L’s real mother?”
William exhaled slowly.
Then finally spoke.
“You know what…”
He stood up calmly.
“My wife is already on her way here.”
He looked directly at them.
“She’ll explain everything.”
Merson narrowed his eyes.
William’s expression became serious now.
“It was her idea.”
He paused.
“I was only the keeper of the secret.”
Silence filled the room again.
Then Merson slowly nodded.
“Good.”
His voice hardened.
“Because whatever mystery you people are hiding…”
He leaned forward.
“…we need the truth.”
Schizzel stared intensely at William.
Kaiden folded his arms quietly.
And William Foster—
For the first time in years—
Looked genuinely nervous.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD