THE GIRL WHO LEFT NO SHADOW

November Third

Chapter 18 -

Emily found her mother in the kitchen.

Madison was sitting across from her.

Neither spoke.

Emily entered slowly.

"What happened on November third?"

Her mother's hands froze.

Madison looked confused.

"What?"

Emily placed the photograph on the table.

Her mother stared at it.

Then she closed her eyes.

"Who gave you that?"

"Someone who knows about our family."

Her mother shook her head.

"Emily, you need to stop."

"No."

"Please."

"No!"

Emily's voice echoed through the room.

"You lied to me about Dad. You lied about Madison. You lied about everything. I'm done being protected from the truth."

Her mother looked at Madison.

"She's not ready."

Madison stood.

"Neither was I."

Emily turned toward her.

"What does that mean?"

Madison looked at their mother.

"Tell her."

Their mother began to cry.

"On November third, eleven years ago, we lost someone."

Emily's heart pounded.

"Who?"

She didn't answer.

Madison did.

"Alex."

Emily stared at her.

"Who is Alex?"

Madison looked confused.

"I don't know."

"Then why did you say the name?"

Madison pressed her fingers against her forehead.

"I don't know."

She suddenly winced.

Emily stepped closer.

"Madison?"

Madison stumbled backward.

"No."

"What?"

"I remember something."

Her mother stood quickly.

"Madison, don't."

But it was too late.

Madison's eyes filled with tears.

"A room."

Emily stared at her.

"What room?"

"White walls."

Madison's breathing became uneven.

"There was a woman."

"Who?"

"Evelyn."

Their mother covered her mouth.

Madison continued.

"She was holding a baby."

Emily felt a strange pressure in her chest.

"What baby?"

Madison looked at Emily.

Then her face changed.

"You."

"No."

"You were crying."

Emily shook her head.

"I was seven."

Madison shook her head.

"Not seven."

She pointed toward the photograph.

"You were a baby."

Silence.

Emily looked at her mother.

Her mother couldn't meet her eyes.

"Mom."

Nothing.

"Mom, tell me."

Her mother whispered:

"There were three of you."

Emily's knees almost gave way.

"Three?"

"Three children."

Madison began crying.

"Where is the third one?"

Their mother looked toward the window.

"I don't know."

Emily stared at her.

"You don't know?"

"I thought he was dead."

The room became completely silent.

Emily whispered:

"He?"

Her mother nodded.

"Alex was your brother."

Emily couldn't breathe.

Noah appeared in the doorway.

He had heard everything.

He looked at Emily.

Then at her mother.

"Alex Carter."

Her mother nodded.

Noah's expression became pale.

"That's impossible."

Emily turned toward him.

"You know that name?"

Noah hesitated.

"Yes."

"How?"

He looked down.

"My father used to talk about him."

Emily stepped closer.

"What did he say?"

Noah's voice dropped.

"He said Alex was the child they were most afraid of."