Chapter 6. {The Locket’s Secret}
1004 Words
The silver locket felt strangely warm in Melissa’s hand.
She stood alone beneath the streetlight, rainwater soaking the hem of her pajamas as her heartbeat echoed in her ears.
It was impossible.
She had watched them lower her mother’s casket into the ground.
She had watched Emily’s favorite necklace disappear with her.
So how was she holding it now?
A cold breeze brushed against her skin.
Melissa looked around.
The street was empty.
The laughter she had heard moments ago had vanished into the night, leaving only the sound of rustling leaves.
Her fingers tightened around the locket.
“…Mom?”
No answer.
…
“Melissa!”
Jason’s voice rang through the darkness.
He came running barefoot, panic written all over his face.
“What are you doing outside?”
He grabbed her shoulders, searching her face for injuries.
“Are you okay?”
Melissa didn’t answer.
Instead, she slowly opened her palm.
Jason’s eyes fell on the silver locket.
His face turned ghostly white.
“N-No…”
The word escaped before he could stop it.
Melissa looked up sharply.
“You know this necklace?”
Jason immediately looked away.
“I…”
He swallowed hard.
“I thought it was buried with your mother.”
“So did I.”
The silence between them became suffocating.
Melissa studied his face.
He wasn’t just surprised.
He looked…
Afraid.
“Dad…”
“There’s something you’re not telling me.”
Jason opened his mouth.
Then closed it again.
Finally, he forced a smile.
“It’s late.”
“We should go inside.”
Melissa didn’t move.
“Dad.”
His eyes glistened.
“Please.”
“Not tonight.”
Something inside Melissa broke.
Her father had never begged her before.
She nodded silently and followed him into the house.
…
Upstairs, Melissa couldn’t sleep.
The locket rested on her bedside table, reflecting the moonlight that spilled through the curtains.
She picked it up again.
There had to be something she’d missed.
Turning it over, her thumb brushed against a tiny groove along the edge.
She frowned.
“That’s strange…”
She pressed gently.
Click.
The locket split open.
Not into two compartments.
Three.
Melissa’s breath caught.
Hidden beneath the photograph was a tiny folded piece of paper.
No bigger than a postage stamp.
With trembling fingers, she unfolded it.
Only one sentence was written.
Trust no one… not even—
The message ended abruptly.
The rest of the paper had been torn away.
Melissa stared at it.
Not even who?
Her father?
Catherine?
Someone else?
Frustrated, she searched the locket again.
Nothing.
The missing half was gone.
…
Across the hall…
Jason sat alone in his bedroom.
Emily’s wedding photograph lay in his trembling hands.
He stared at her smile until his vision blurred.
“I never meant to lose you.”
His voice cracked.
“I was a fool.”
A tear slid down his face.
“I should’ve believed you.”
The bedroom door opened quietly.
Catherine stepped inside.
She didn’t knock.
She never did.
“So…”
She folded her arms.
“She found the necklace.”
Jason stood immediately.
“You knew?”
“I had a feeling.”
“Catherine…”
His voice was sharp.
“Enough.”
“For seventeen years, you’ve controlled every decision I made.”
She laughed softly.
“Controlled?”
“You make it sound like I forced you.”
Jason looked away.
“I trusted you.”
“And that was your first mistake.”
She stepped closer.
“If Melissa keeps digging…”
“…everything falls apart.”
Jason clenched his fists.
“I won’t let you hurt her.”
Catherine’s smile slowly disappeared.
“Hurt her?”
She leaned closer until only inches separated them.
“You should be more worried about yourself.”
Before Jason could respond, she reached into her handbag.
A small amber bottle rested inside.
She shook it gently.
Tiny white tablets rattled against the glass.
“Don’t forget your medication.”
Jason frowned.
“I’ve already taken it.”
“Take another.”
“I don’t need another.”
Her expression hardened.
“I wasn’t asking.”
Jason hesitated.
Slowly…
He took one of the pills.
He swallowed.
Catherine smiled.
“Good.”
She turned and walked out.
The moment the door closed, Jason rushed to the bathroom.
He forced himself to vomit.
His entire body trembled.
He stared at the white tablet lying in the sink.
“…What are you doing to me?”
…
The next morning…
Melissa woke to the sound of breaking glass.
She rushed downstairs.
Jason stood in the kitchen, gripping the counter.
A coffee mug lay shattered on the floor.
“Dad!”
He looked confused.
“I…”
“My hand…”
It wouldn’t stop shaking.
Melissa quickly held his arm.
“It’s okay.”
“We’ll call a doctor.”
Jason stared at his trembling fingers.
His heart sank.
This had never happened before.
Across the room…
Catherine stood silently in the doorway.
Watching.
Smiling.
Not a smile of concern.
A smile of victory.
She lowered her eyes before anyone noticed.
Exactly as planned.
…
That afternoon…
As Melissa left the hospital pharmacy with Jason’s prescribed vitamins, a black SUV rolled silently to the opposite side of the road.
Inside, Zikel watched through the tinted window.
“Boss.”
His bodyguard glanced toward Melissa.
“Our men confirmed it.”
“The girl…”
“Melissa Anderson.”
Zikel’s eyes never left her.
“What else?”
“She’s the daughter of the late Emily Anderson.”
At the mention of Emily’s name, something flickered across Zikel’s face.
He looked thoughtful.
Almost… unsettled.
“Keep watching.”
The bodyguard nodded.
“Should we intervene?”
Zikel’s gaze hardened.
“Not yet.”
He watched Melissa help her father into a taxi.
For reasons he couldn’t explain…
He had a feeling the Anderson family was about to become the center of a storm.
And storms always reached the Obsidian Circle.
- Writer
