What Her Mother Knew
1295 Words
Adrian nodded.
Elena held the old photograph tightly in her hand.
She didn't know what frightened her more.
The mysterious woman in the picture.
Or the fact that her mother might already know who she was.
“Let's go,” Elena said.
Adrian picked up his keys.
Neither of them spoke as they walked toward the car.
The journey to Elena's family home was quiet.
Elena kept looking at the photograph.
She couldn't stop thinking about the message.
Ask your mother about the woman in the photograph.
Why would a stranger tell her that?
And why now?
Adrian was driving with both hands firmly on the steering wheel.
“You're unusually quiet,” Elena said.
Adrian glanced at her.
“You have a lot on your mind.”
“So do you.”
He said nothing.
Elena looked at him.
“Adrian.”
“Yes?”
“Did you know my aunt?”
Adrian's eyes remained on the road.
“No.”
“But you knew she existed.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“My father mentioned her once.”
“What did he say?”
Adrian took a breath.
“He said she disappeared after an argument with your father.”
Elena frowned.
“An argument about what?”
“I don't know.”
“You always say you don't know.”
“Because I don't.”
Elena looked away.
She wanted to believe him.
But every time she thought she understood Adrian, another secret appeared.
After several minutes, the car stopped in front of her mother's house.
Elena quickly got out.
Adrian followed.
She knocked on the door.
No answer.
She knocked again.
“Mom?”
Still nothing.
Elena looked at Adrian.
“She should be home.”
Adrian tried the door.
It opened.
Elena's heart dropped.
“Mom?”
They stepped inside.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
Elena walked into the living room.
“Mom?”
She looked around.
Her mother's purse was on the table.
Her phone was beside it.
But she was nowhere to be seen.
Adrian immediately became alert.
“Stay behind me.”
Elena ignored him.
“Mom!”
She hurried toward the bedroom.
The door was slightly open.
She pushed it.
Empty.
Her mother's bed was untouched.
Elena's breathing became faster.
“Where is she?”
Adrian checked the room.
“There are no signs of a struggle.”
Elena rushed back into the living room.
“She wouldn't leave without her phone.”
Adrian picked up the phone.
“It is still on.”
“Call her.”
He did.
The phone rang from the table.
Elena's heart sank.
“She didn't take it.”
Adrian looked around.
“Maybe she left in a hurry.”
“Why?”
He didn't answer.
Elena suddenly remembered something.
“The photograph.”
She held it up.
“Maybe she left because of this.”
Adrian looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
“The message told me to ask her about the woman.”
She walked toward the kitchen.
“My mother knows something.”
Elena opened the drawers.
Nothing.
She checked the cabinets.
Nothing.
Then she remembered the small wooden box her mother had always kept hidden in her bedroom.
She ran back.
Adrian followed.
“What are you looking for?”
“My mother has a box.”
“What kind of box?”
“I don't know. She never let me touch it.”
Elena searched beneath the bed.
Nothing.
She opened the wardrobe.
Nothing.
Then she noticed a small gap behind a stack of clothes.
She reached inside.
Her fingers touched something hard.
She pulled it out.
A small wooden box.
Elena stared at it.
“This is it.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Don't open it yet.”
“Why?”
“Because we don't know what's inside.”
Elena looked at him.
“My mother is missing. I'm opening it.”
She lifted the lid.
Inside were several old documents.
A necklace.
And a photograph.
Elena picked up the photograph.
Her hands began to shake.
It was the same mysterious woman.
But this time, she was holding a baby.
Elena stared at the picture.
“That's me.”
Adrian looked at it.
“Yes.”
Elena's eyes widened.
The woman in the photograph was holding baby Elena.
“Why would my aunt be holding me?”
Adrian didn't answer.
Elena picked up one of the documents.
It was an old letter.
The handwriting looked familiar.
She opened it.
Dear Sarah,
If anything happens to me, you must protect Elena. Do not let the Blackwoods find her.
Elena stopped breathing.
Adrian read over her shoulder.
His face changed.
“What does it say?” Elena asked.
He didn't answer.
She looked at him.
“You knew.”
“No.”
“You knew my father was afraid of your family.”
“I knew he was afraid of someone.”
“Then why did you marry me?”
Adrian looked directly into her eyes.
“Because I promised your father.”
Elena froze.
“What?”
Adrian's voice was quiet.
“Before he disappeared, your father came to my father.”
“When?”
“Twenty-five years ago.”
“What did he say?”
Adrian looked down.
“He asked my father to protect you.”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“My father knew he was going to disappear?”
“I think he knew something was coming.”
“Then why didn't he tell me?”
“You were too young.”
Elena looked at the letter again.
There was another line underneath.
Do not trust the man who claims to be protecting her.
Elena's blood ran cold.
She slowly looked at Adrian.
He saw the words.
His expression hardened.
“Elena…”
“Who was my father talking about?”
Adrian didn't answer.
“Was it you?”
“No.”
“Your father?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Adrian looked toward the door.
Someone had entered the house.
Elena turned.
A man stood in the hallway.
He was wearing a dark coat.
His face was partly hidden by the shadows.
Adrian immediately stepped in front of Elena.
“Who are you?”
The man smiled.
“You really don't remember me?”
Elena stared at him.
There was something familiar about his voice.
The man stepped into the light.
Elena's eyes widened.
She had seen that face before.
Not in person.
In the photographs.
He was the mysterious man standing between her father and Adrian's father.
Adrian's hand tightened into a fist.
“You.”
The man smiled.
“Yes.”
Elena looked at Adrian.
“You know him?”
Adrian didn't take his eyes off the man.
“Yes.”
The man laughed softly.
“You still haven't told her everything.”
Adrian's voice became cold.
“Leave.”
“After all these years?”
The man looked at Elena.
“Your father wanted you protected.”
Elena stepped forward.
“Where is my mother?”
The man's smile disappeared.
“She knows the truth.”
“Where is she?”
“You're asking the wrong question.”
Elena's heart raced.
“What should I ask?”
The man looked at Adrian.
Then back at Elena.
“Ask Adrian why your father trusted his father…”
He paused.
“…and why that trust ended with your father disappearing.”
Elena turned toward Adrian.
“Adrian?”
He remained silent.
The mysterious man slowly walked backward.
“Soon, you'll know everything.”
Then he disappeared through the open door.
Elena rushed outside.
The street was empty.
She turned back toward Adrian.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
To be continued......
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD