CHAPTER 4
1450 Words
Lucy couldn't move. The woman standing at the top of the stairs looked exactly like someone who had been dead for six years. Long dark hair. Pale skin. The same brown eyes Lucy remembered from childhood. Her heart began beating so fast that she could barely breathe.
“Elena?”
The woman slowly smiled.
“Don't say my name so loudly.”
Lucy stared at her in disbelief.
“You're alive?”
Elena nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
“You've been dead for six years!”
“I know.”
“I went to your funeral!”
“I know.”
“I cried for you!”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“I know, Lucy.”
Lucy let out a shaky laugh.
“This isn't funny.”
“I know.”
“You're supposed to be dead!”
“I know!”
For a few seconds, they only stared at each other. Lucy didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or scream. Her sister was standing in front of her. Alive. After six years of believing she had lost her forever.
Lucy rushed up the stairs and wrapped her arms around Elena. Elena hugged her tightly, and Lucy began crying against her shoulder.
“I thought I lost you.”
“I thought I lost you too.”
“Then why didn't you come back?”
Elena slowly pulled away.
“Because I couldn't.”
“Couldn't? Or wouldn't?”
Elena looked down.
“There are things you don't know.”
Lucy wiped her tears.
“Then tell me.”
Before Elena could answer, Damian stepped forward.
“Where have you been?”
Elena's expression immediately changed. Her eyes became cold.
“You.”
Damian frowned.
“Me?”
“You have no right to ask me anything.”
Lucy looked between them.
“What is going on?”
Elena pointed at Damian.
“He knows.”
Damian's jaw tightened.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“You always say that.”
Lucy turned toward him.
“She's talking about the accident, isn't she?”
Damian didn't answer.
“Damian?”
He finally looked at her.
“I don't remember everything.”
Lucy gave a bitter laugh.
“Of course.”
Lucien stepped closer.
“Lucy, we should leave.”
“No.”
Lucy looked at Elena.
“I'm not leaving without her.”
Elena shook her head.
“You can't stay here.”
“Why?”
“Because they know you're alive.”
Lucy's smile disappeared.
“Who?”
Elena looked toward the window.
“The people who tried to kill us.”
Suddenly, bright headlights appeared outside the house.
One car.
Then another.
Then a third.
Lucien's face became serious.
“They followed us.”
Elena shook her head.
“No. They followed him.”
Damian immediately reached for his phone.
“How many?”
Elena looked toward the window again.
“Enough.”
A loud bang came from downstairs.
Lucy jumped.
“What was that?”
Elena grabbed her hand.
“We have to go.”
“Where?”
“There is a tunnel under the house.”
Lucy stared at her.
“A tunnel?”
Elena nodded.
Lucy looked at Lucien.
“Why does my family have secret tunnels?”
Lucien shrugged.
“Bad family planning?”
Lucy almost laughed.
Almost.
Another loud bang shook the house.
Damian moved toward the stairs.
“You three go.”
Lucy grabbed his arm.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Lucy.”
“I'm not leaving you.”
His eyes softened.
“You don't owe me anything.”
“I know.”
She slowly released his arm.
“But I'm still not leaving you.”
Damian stared at her for a moment. He looked like he wanted to say something, but the words refused to come.
Then the front door crashed open.
Men rushed inside.
Lucien grabbed Lucy's hand.
“Run!”
Elena pulled Lucy toward the kitchen.
Damian stayed behind.
Lucy looked back.
“Damian!”
“Go!”
She hesitated, but Elena dragged her through the kitchen. They reached a small door hidden behind a large cabinet. Elena pushed it open, revealing a dark tunnel.
Lucy stared into it.
“You've got to be kidding me.”
“Move!”
They rushed inside. Behind them, Lucy could hear shouting. Then a gunshot.
She stopped.
“Damian!”
Elena grabbed her arm.
“Keep moving!”
“But he—”
“He can handle himself.”
“You don't know that!”
Elena looked at her.
“Yes, I do.”
Lucy wanted to argue, but another sound came from behind them. Someone was coming.
They ran faster. The tunnel was dark and cold. Water dripped from the ceiling, and Lucy almost slipped twice.
“This is officially the worst family reunion ever.”
Elena almost smiled.
“Keep moving.”
After several minutes, they reached another door. Elena opened it, and they stepped into an old abandoned building.
Lucien was already there.
Lucy stared at him.
“How did you get here?”
He looked at her.
“I have my ways.”
Lucy frowned.
“That's a very suspicious answer.”
“I know.”
She looked around.
“Where's Damian?”
Lucien didn't answer.
Lucy froze.
“Where is he?”
“He stayed behind.”
Her heart dropped.
“You left him?”
“He told us to go.”
“That doesn't mean you leave him!”
Lucien stepped closer.
“Lucy, if I had stayed, none of us would have made it out.”
She stared at him angrily.
Then her phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone went silent.
Lucy looked at the screen.
“It's them.”
Elena's face became pale.
“Don't answer.”
Lucy looked at her.
“Why?”
“Just don't.”
The phone kept ringing.
Lucy finally answered.
“Hello?”
A woman's voice whispered,
“You shouldn't have come back.”
Lucy's stomach tightened.
“Who are you?”
The woman laughed softly.
“You really don't remember me?”
Lucy frowned.
“What do you want?”
“I want you to stop digging.”
“And if I don't?”
“Then next time, I won't miss.”
The call ended.
Lucy slowly lowered the phone.
Elena looked frightened.
“Who was that?”
“I don't know.”
Elena shook her head.
“You do.”
Lucy looked at her.
“What?”
“You've heard that voice before.”
Lucy suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head. She grabbed her forehead as flashes filled her mind.
Rain.
A car.
Broken glass.
Someone screaming.
A man's voice.
Then darkness.
Lucy stumbled backward.
“Lucy!”
Lucien caught her.
“What happened?”
“I remember something.”
“What?”
She looked at him.
“There was someone else in the car.”
Elena's face went pale.
“Yes.”
Lucy stared at her.
“You knew?”
Elena looked away.
“I knew.”
“Who was it?”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“I can't tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because if I tell you, they'll come for you again.”
Lucy shook her head.
“They already came.”
She looked at both of them.
“And I'm done being afraid.”
Before anyone could answer, the door behind them slowly opened.
Everyone turned.
A familiar figure stepped inside.
Damian.
Blood was running down the side of his face.
Lucy rushed toward him.
“Damian!”
He caught her before she could fall.
“I'm fine.”
She stared at the blood.
“You're bleeding!”
“I've had worse.”
“You scared me.”
His eyes softened.
“I'm sorry.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Elena stepped forward.
“Damian.”
He looked at her.
“You need to tell Lucy the truth.”
Damian's expression changed.
Lucy stepped away from him.
“What truth?”
Damian looked at Elena.
Then at Lucy.
He took a slow breath.
“The night of the accident…”
He paused.
“You weren't supposed to survive.”
Lucy stared at him.
“What do you mean?”
Damian's voice became low.
“Someone paid to have you killed.”
Lucy felt the blood drain from her face.
“Who?”
Damian shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Elena suddenly whispered,
“I do.”
Lucy turned toward her.
“Who?”
Elena looked at Damian, then back at Lucy.
“The person who ordered it…”
She swallowed hard.
“…was someone you trusted.”
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