Chapter 13:The Lancaster Vault
514 Words
Bang!
The office window exploded into thousands of pieces.
The sniper's bullet raced toward Isabella.
"Isabella!" Edward shouted.
Without thinking, Edward pushed her aside.
The bullet grazed his shoulder before embedding itself in the wooden wall.
Blood stained his white shirt.
"Grandpa!" Isabella cried.
"I'm fine," Edward said through clenched teeth.
"Get down!"
The bodyguards stormed into the office with their weapons drawn.
"Protect the Chairman!"
"Find the sniper!"
Outside, security teams searched every corner of the estate.
But once again...
The sniper had disappeared.
A doctor quickly treated Edward's wound.
"The bullet only grazed you," the doctor said.
"You'll recover."
Edward nodded.
"Good."
He turned to Isabella.
"They're becoming desperate."
"They know we're getting closer to the truth."
Isabella looked at the golden key still lying on the floor.
"What exactly is inside the Lancaster Vault?"
Edward picked up the key.
"Everything."
"The truth about your parents."
"The proof against the Black Serpent Society."
"And the documents proving you're the rightful owner of the Lancaster Empire."
The next morning...
Edward, Isabella, and four trusted bodyguards arrived beneath the oldest building on the Lancaster estate.
Hidden behind an ancient library was a steel elevator.
Edward placed his hand on a fingerprint scanner.
Access Granted.
The elevator descended deep underground.
Finally, the doors opened.
Before them stood a massive steel vault.
In the center was a golden lock shaped like a lion's head.
Edward handed Isabella the key.
"Only a true Lancaster heir can open it."
Her hands trembled.
She slowly inserted the key.
Click.
The heavy doors slowly opened.
Inside were shelves filled with old files, jewelry, paintings, and locked cases.
But one object caught Isabella's attention.
A wooden box with her mother's name engraved on it.
AMELIA LANCASTER.
Her heart raced.
She gently opened it.
Inside was...
A silver locket.
A handwritten diary.
And a sealed letter.
The letter was addressed to her.
To My Daughter, Isabella.
Tears filled her eyes.
"My mother..."
With trembling fingers, she unfolded the letter.
My dearest Isabella,
If you're reading this, it means I couldn't stay by your side.
Please don't hate your grandfather. We both made mistakes, but I never stopped loving him.
There is something you must know...
The people who caused your father's death will one day come after you.
Trust no one easily...
Not even those who call themselves family.
Isabella's breathing became uneven.
She continued reading.
There is one person who knows the whole truth.
His name is...
Suddenly—
The lights went out.
The vault was plunged into darkness.
Emergency alarms blared.
A guard shouted,
"Chairman!"
"The security system has been hacked!"
Another voice echoed through the darkness.
"We've lost contact with the guards outside!"
Then...
A slow clap echoed through the vault.
Clap...
Clap...
Clap...
A woman's voice filled the room.
"How touching."
Raven stepped out of the shadows, smiling.
She wasn't alone.
More than a dozen armed men in black surrounded the vault entrance.
Raven looked at Isabella and smiled.
"I told you we'd meet again."
She pointed her gun at Edward.
"This time..."
"No one is leaving alive."
- Writer
