The Secret Inside the Pendant
1177 Words
The rain followed them.
Even after Rose and Sherry disappeared from the main street, the sound of water continued to chase them through the narrow roads of the sleeping city.
Rose walked beside him without saying a word.
Her clothes were soaked. Her hair clung to her face, and her hands trembled around the silver pendant hidden beneath her clothes.
She could still hear the voice from her memory.
Never let them take this from you.
Her mother's voice.
A voice she had believed was lost forever.
Sherry opened the door of an old building and quickly looked behind them before pulling Rose inside.
The door closed.
Silence.
For the first time that night, Rose could hear her own breathing.
The place was small and almost completely dark. There was an old sofa, a wooden table, a lamp, and several boxes stacked against the wall.
It didn't look like a home.
It looked like a place someone used only when they needed to disappear.
Rose slowly turned toward Sherry.
“Where are we?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“You said that before.”
Sherry looked at her.
“This time, I mean it.”
Rose laughed bitterly.
“Safe?”
She stepped closer.
“I don't even know who I am anymore.”
Sherry's expression changed.
“You are Rose.”
“No.”
Her voice broke.
“That's the problem. I thought I knew my life. I thought I knew my childhood. I thought I knew my mother.”
She touched the pendant.
“But tonight, I remembered things I was never supposed to remember.”
Sherry remained silent.
Rose's eyes filled with tears.
“You knew.”
“I knew something.”
“You knew enough.”
He looked away.Rose followed his eyes.
“You knew my mother.”
Sherry slowly sat down.
“Yes.”
The answer was quiet.
But it felt louder than thunder.
Rose remained standing.
“How?”
Sherry rubbed his hands together, searching for words.
“Your mother saved my life.”
Rose stared at him.
“My mother?”
He nodded.
“
“How old were you?”
“Older than you were.”
Rose's breathing became slower.
“What happened?”
Sherry looked at the pendant.
“That night changed everything.”
“What night?”
He didn't answer immediately.
Outside, thunder rolled across the sky.
Finally, Sherry said,
“The night your mother disappeared.”
Rose froze.“She didn't disappear.”
Her voice trembled.
“I remember her falling.”
Sherry looked directly into her eyes.
“Yes.”
Rose swallowed.
“She was shot.”
“Yes.”
“Then she died.”
Sherry's eyes filled with something Rose couldn't understand.
“That's what everyone believed.”
Rose's heart stopped for a moment.
“What do you mean?”
Sherry stood.
“Your mother was alive when you were taken away.”
Rose stepped backward.
“No.”
“She was injured, but she was alive.”
“Then where is she?”
“I don't know.”
Rose's tears fell.
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
She shook her head.
“No. You can't do this to me.”
“I am not trying to hurt you.”
“You already are!”
Her voice echoed through the room.
For a few seconds, neither of them moved.
Then Rose pulled the pendant from beneath her clothes.
“This is the reason, isn't it?”
Sherry stared at it.
“Yes.”
“What is inside?”
“I don't know.”
Rose frowned.
“You said it contained the truth.”said your mother died protecting what was inside it.”
“That's not the same thing.”
“No.”
Sherry walked toward the table.
“But there is something you need to understand.”
He opened one of the old boxes.
Inside were photographs, papers, and newspaper clippings.
Rose approached slowly.
Sherry placed one photograph on the table.
Rose looked at it.
Her breath disappeared.
It was her mother.
Younger.
Smiling.
And standing beside her was a man Rose had never seen before.
“Who is he?”
Sherry didn't answer.
Rose picked up another photograph.
The same man.
Another picture.
The same man again.
Always near her mother.
“Who is he, Sherry?”
Sherry finally spoke.
“His name doesn't matter yet.”
Rose looked at him angrily.
“Everything matters now.”
Sherry's eyes met hers.
“You're right.”
He took a deep breath.
“But knowing his name won't tell you why he wanted you.”
Rose's fingers tightened around the photograph.
“Wanted me?”
Sherry nodded.
“He wasn't interested in the pendant alone.”
Rose looked down.
“What did he want?”
“You.”
The room seemed to become colder.
“Why?”
“Because your mother knew something about him.”
Rose stared at the photograph.
“What?”
Sherry's voice became softer.
“Something that could destroy everything he had built.”
Rose looked at the pendant again.
“And my mother hid it inside this?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
Sherry shook his head.
“Your mother never trusted anyone completely.”
Rose gave a sad smile.
“She should have trusted me.”
“You were a child.”
“I was her daughter.”
“And that's exactly why she tried to protect you.”
Rose looked away.
Suddenly, she remembered something.
A hallway.
Smoke.
Her mother's hand.
The pendant.
And another detail.
A door.
A red door.Rose closed her eyes.
“I remember something else.”
Sherry immediately looked at her.
“What?”
“There was a red door.”
His expression changed.
Rose noticed.
“You know it.”
Sherry didn't respond.
“You know that door.”
“Rose…”
“Where was it?”
He looked down.
“I don't want you remembering too much at once.”
“Why?”
“Because memories can be dangerous when they come back without warning.”
Rose stepped closer.
“Or maybe you're afraid of what I'll remember.”
Sherry looked at her.
For the first time, Rose saw fear in his eyes.
Not fear for himself.
Fear for her.
He reached toward the pendant.
“Give it to me.”
Rose immediately stepped back.
“No.”
“I need to examine it.”
“You've known about this for years. Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was trying to keep you alive.”
Rose stared at him.
“And now?”
Sherry's voice became almost a whisper.
“Now they know you're remembering.”
Silence.
Rose looked toward the window.
The rain continued falling.
“What happens if I remember everything?”
Sherry hesitated.
“Then they'll come for you.”
“They already came.”
“Yes.”
“And they'll come again.”
“Yes.”
Rose held the pendant tightly.
“Then I need to know the truth.”
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