The room
428 Words
01:59... 01:58...
The countdown continued flashing on the screen.
Oliver turned to Marcus.
"Find the signal."
Marcus worked quickly, his fingers moving across the keyboard.
"Richard is bouncing the transmission through multiple servers. He's hiding the location."
Inspector Reed studied the old plans of the Lancaster estate.
"Wait."
Everyone looked at her.
"This mansion has rooms that aren't on the official records."
Oliver frowned.
"My grandfather built several private areas for security."
Marcus looked at the map.
"There's one hidden section beneath the east wing."
Oliver immediately moved.
"That's where they are."
---
Deep beneath the mansion, Tracy watched Richard carefully.
"You lied to everyone," she said.
Richard smiled.
"I revealed what everyone needed to know."
"You destroyed people's lives."
Richard walked toward an old steel door.
"Sometimes secrets are more dangerous than the truth."
He entered a code.
The door opened.
Inside was a massive underground archive.
Shelves filled with documents, photographs, and old recordings.
Tracy looked around in shock.
"The Legacy..."
Richard nodded.
"For decades, this room has protected the Lancaster family's greatest secret."
He picked up an old folder.
"Your father discovered it."
Tracy looked at him.
"What secret?"
Richard opened the folder.
Inside was a photograph of five people.
The founders of Phoenix.
One face was familiar.
Edward Lancaster.
Another was Gabriel Stone.
Tracy froze.
"My father was one of them?"
Richard smiled.
"That's what everyone believes."
He handed her another document.
Tracy read it carefully.
Her expression changed.
"No..."
---
Above them, Oliver, Marcus, and Inspector Reed reached the hidden entrance.
Marcus examined the lock.
"It's electronically sealed."
Oliver looked around.
Then he noticed something carved into the wall.
A symbol.
A phoenix.
Beside it were words:
ONLY THE HEIR CAN OPEN THE DOOR.
Inspector Reed looked at Oliver.
"Your family expected this moment."
Oliver shook his head.
"No."
He looked at the symbol.
"They expected Tracy."
---
Inside the archive, Richard placed a small device in Tracy's hand.
"The Legacy isn't a file."
He leaned closer.
"It's a person."
Tracy looked confused.
"What does that mean?"
Richard pointed toward the old documents.
"The entire Phoenix system was built around one person's bloodline."
A pause.
"Yours."
Suddenly, the hidden door behind them unlocked.
Oliver stepped inside.
"Move away from her, Richard."
Richard smiled.
"Perfect timing."
He looked at Tracy.
"Now you'll finally learn why everyone has been fighting over you."
The lights in the archive turned on.
A large screen activated.
A message appeared:
WELCOME, TRACY STONE.
LEGACY ACCESS GRANTED.
Everyone stared at the screen.
The truth was finally about to be revealed.
- Writer
