Chapter 5: The Name Beneath the Ink
415 Words
Amara read the message again.
Daniel Cross is still alive.
Her mind refused to accept it.
“My father is alive?”
Adrian stood beside her, staring at the paper.
“We need to find out who left this.”
Amara looked toward the doorway where the stranger had disappeared.
“He knew my name.”
“He knew more than that.”
“What do you mean?”
Adrian pointed at the paper.
“Look at the handwriting.”
Amara studied it.
The letters were neat and slightly slanted.
Then something caught her attention.
“I've seen this before.”
“Where?”
“My mother's old notebook.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“Where is it?”
“At home.”
They searched the house until Amara found a small wooden box hidden beneath her mother's bed.
Inside was an old notebook.
Most of the pages contained ordinary things—shopping lists, phone numbers, reminders.
But near the middle, several pages had been torn out.
Only one sentence remained.
Daniel promised he would return when it was safe.
Amara swallowed.
“Why would my mother hide this?”
Adrian looked at the notebook.
“Because she was protecting you.”
“From my father?”
“Maybe.”
Amara shook her head.
“My mother wouldn't lie to me for twenty-one years without a reason.”
“She might if the truth could put you in danger.”
Amara looked at him.
“And what about your family?”
Adrian didn't answer.
That silence told her enough.
“You don't trust them either.”
“I trust very few people.”
“Do you trust me?”
He looked directly at her.
“I don't know yet.”
Amara nodded.
“Fair.”
Her phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then a man's voice.
“Amara.”
She froze.
The voice was unfamiliar.
But somehow, it felt familiar.
“Who is this?”
“You shouldn't be searching for me.”
Her heart began pounding.
“Are you Daniel?”
Another silence.
Then:
“Your mother was right. You were safer without me.”
The call ended.
Amara stared at her phone.
Adrian stepped closer.
“What did he say?”
Amara looked up.
“He said my mother was right.”
“About what?”
“That I was safer without him.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“Then we need to find him before someone else does.”
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