Bound to his Dark Vow

Locker 317

Chapter Twelve — Locker 317

The drive to King's Cross felt much longer than it should have.

Nobody spoke.

I sat in the back seat with my hands folded tightly in my lap, trying to make sense of everything I'd learned.

My father might still be alive.

My grandfather had known something about it.

And now someone had accessed a locker that had apparently been waiting for me.

I looked at Adrian through the rearview mirror.

"How did they know about the locker?"

"We don't know."

"That's not reassuring."

"I know."

Daniel glanced at his phone.

"The security footage is being checked."

"By who?"

"Someone I trust."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You actually trust someone?"

He gave me a tired smile.

"One person."

We reached King's Cross shortly after midnight.

The station was quieter than usual.

Adrian parked nearby, and we entered through a side entrance.

The three of us walked toward the lockers.

My heart was pounding.

When we reached number 317, I stopped.

The key in my hand suddenly felt heavier.

Adrian stood beside me.

"You don't have to do this."

"Yes, I do."

I inserted the key.

It turned.

The lock clicked.

I opened the door.

Inside was a small black box.

Nothing else.

I picked it up.

There was an envelope taped to the top.

My name was written across it.

ELENA.

I stared at it.

"Open it," Daniel said quietly.

I tore the envelope carefully.

Inside was a single photograph.

I looked down.

It showed my grandfather, my mother, and a man I recognized from the photograph Daniel had shown me.

Marcus Hale.

My father.

But there was something written on the back.

I turned it over.

If Elena finds this, tell her the truth.

My hands began to shake.

Below that was another sentence.

Marcus didn't abandon her.

I stopped breathing for a moment.

My father hadn't left us.

I read the rest.

He was protecting her.

I looked at Adrian.

"From whom?"

Before he could answer, the station lights flickered.

Daniel immediately looked around.

"Did you hear that?"

A metallic sound came from the corridor behind us.

Someone was approaching.

Adrian took the box from my hands.

"Move."

We hurried away from the lockers.

A figure appeared at the end of the corridor.

Dark jacket.

Cap pulled low.

He stopped when he saw us.

Then he turned and ran.

Daniel went after him.

"Daniel!"

He disappeared around the corner.

Adrian grabbed my hand.

"Come on."

We followed.

When we reached the next corridor, Daniel was standing alone.

The man was gone.

But something was lying on the floor.

A phone.

Daniel picked it up.

The screen was still unlocked.

A message was open.

She's closer than you think.

I stared at it.

"Who sent that?"

Daniel looked at Adrian.

"There's no number."

Adrian took the phone.

Then his expression changed.

"What?"

He turned the screen toward me.

There was a photo attached to the message.

It showed me standing in the station.

Taken less than a minute earlier.

My stomach dropped.

"Someone is watching us."

Adrian nodded.

Then the phone buzzed again.

Another message appeared.

This time, there were only three words.

Ask your mother.

I looked at Adrian.

"I already did."

"Then ask her again."

My phone began ringing.

I looked at the screen.

Mum.

I answered immediately.

"Mom?"

Her voice was barely audible.

"Elena, where are you?"

"King's Cross."

There was a long silence.

Then she whispered,

"Listen to me."

I waited.

"Your father is alive."

My entire body went still.

"What?"

"Your father is alive."

Adrian looked at me.

I couldn't speak.

My mother's voice trembled.

"And he's coming back."

The call ended.

I lowered the phone slowly.

Daniel stared at me.

"What did she say?"

I looked at Adrian.

"My father is alive."

Nobody moved.

Then Adrian's phone rang.

He answered.

A man's voice came through.

I couldn't hear everything.

But I heard one sentence clearly.

"Tell Elena I'm sorry I couldn't protect her."

Adrian's face went pale.

He looked at me.

Then the call ended.