THE CARELESS MOTHER

CHAPTER 8

THE CARELESS MOTHER

By ABDULGAFAR HORRY OLAIYA

Chapter Eight: The Abandoned Railway Station

The night had swallowed the city when Horry, Michael, and Daniel left the house.

Rain clouds gathered overhead, hiding the moon. The streets were unusually quiet, and every passing vehicle seemed suspicious.

Horry sat in the back seat, staring through the window.

His mind kept returning to one thought.

James.

His father was somewhere in the darkness, and a dangerous man was using him as a weapon.

Michael drove silently.

Daniel sat beside him, holding an old flashlight and a small bag.

"Are you sure this is the right thing?" Daniel finally asked.

Horry answered without hesitation.

"He's my father."

Michael looked at him through the mirror.

"You understand that Victor may be waiting for us?"

"Yes."

"He may hurt you."

"I know."

"You may never come back."

Horry swallowed.

"Then I'll make sure I don't waste the chance."

Michael said nothing.

The car continued through the darkness.

After nearly an hour, they reached the abandoned railway station.

The place had been deserted for years. Broken buildings surrounded the old railway tracks, and tall grass grew between the stones.

Michael parked far from the station.

"We walk from here," Daniel whispered.

They moved carefully through the darkness.

Horry's heart pounded.

Then they heard a voice.

"Stop."

Three men stepped out from behind an abandoned building.

One carried a flashlight.

Another held a weapon.

The third man smiled.

"Where is Victor?" Michael asked.

The man laughed.

"You'll meet him soon."

Horry stepped forward.

"Where is James?"

The man looked at him.

"So you're Horry."

Horry remained silent.

"Your father talked about you."

Horry's blood ran cold.

"Where is he?"

The man pointed toward an old warehouse.

"Inside."

Michael grabbed Horry's shoulder.

"Stay behind me."

They were escorted into the warehouse.

Inside, a single light hung from the ceiling.

A man sat on a wooden chair.

His face was hidden in shadow.

Then he stood.

Horry recognized him immediately.

The photograph.

The newspaper.

The man who had haunted his family's past.

Victor.

He smiled.

"So this is the boy."

Horry stared at him.

"Where is James?"

Victor clapped slowly.

"You have your father's courage."

"Where is he?"

Victor pointed toward another room.

James was sitting on the floor, his hands tied.

"Father!"

Horry rushed forward, but one of Victor's men blocked him.

James looked up.

"Horry! Don't come closer!"

Horry stopped.

"I'm here, Father."

James's eyes filled with tears.

"Why did you come?"

"Because you would have done the same for me."

Victor laughed.

"How touching."

Michael stepped forward.

"This ends tonight."

Victor smiled.

"No, Michael. It begins tonight."

Daniel suddenly stepped between them.

"Victor, you've already lost. The evidence is gone. People know who you are."

Victor's smile disappeared.

"Do they?"

He reached into his jacket and removed a small memory card.

"Because I still have something you all want."

Michael stared at it.

"What is that?"

"Evidence."

Victor held it up.

"Everything Michael discovered eighteen years ago is recorded here."

Horry looked at Michael.

"What is on it?"

Michael answered quietly.

"Names. Accounts. Payments. Everything."

Victor smiled again.

"And one more thing."

He turned toward Horry.

"Your mother's confession."

Horry froze.

"My mother?"

Victor nodded.

"She told me everything."

James shouted,

"Don't listen to him!"

Victor ignored him.

"Your mother wasn't innocent, Horry."

Horry felt confused.

"What did she do?"

Victor approached him.

"She took money."

James closed his eyes.

Horry looked at him.

"Is that true?"

James couldn't answer.

Victor laughed.

"She was paid to disappear with you."

Horry's heart shattered.

"Paid?"

Michael stepped forward.

"He's lying."

Victor shook his head.

"Ask Ada."

Horry turned toward James.

"Father?"

James finally spoke.

"Ada made a terrible mistake."

Horry felt his knees weaken.

"What mistake?"

"She accepted money from Victor."

Silence filled the warehouse.

"But she later regretted it," James continued. "That's why she tried to protect you."

Victor interrupted.

"Too late."

Suddenly, the warehouse doors burst open.

Several police officers rushed inside.

"Nobody move!"

Victor's men panicked.

Michael grabbed Horry and pulled him behind a concrete pillar.

Victor attempted to escape through a side door.

Daniel chased him.

A loud crash echoed through the warehouse.

Horry looked toward James.

One of the officers freed him.

"Father!"

Horry ran into his arms.

James held him tightly.

"I told you not to come."

Horry cried.

"I couldn't leave you."

James smiled through his tears.

"I'm proud of you."

Across the warehouse, Victor was arrested.

But before being taken away, he looked directly at Horry.

"You think you've won?"

Horry stared back.

Victor smiled.

"You haven't even learned the worst part."

The police officer pushed him away.

Horry turned toward Michael.

"What did he mean?"

Michael looked troubled.

"I don't know."

Then Daniel noticed something on the floor.

The memory card Victor had been holding was gone.

Someone had taken it during the chaos.

And whoever had it now possessed the evidence that could reveal the final secret about Horry's birth.

As the police cars disappeared into the night, Horry looked at James.

For the first time in years, he felt that his family might finally be safe.

But somewhere in the darkness, an unknown person held the memory card.

And they were already watching him.

End of Chapter Eight.