CHAPTER 2 — THE MAN IN THE WALLS
The lights died.
Only the emergency glow remained.
Then footsteps echoed above them.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Unhurried.
Marcus Vale never ran.
The speakers clicked on one last time.
“You’ve opened the file,” Marcus said. “Good. Now the truth can finally do its work.”
Eliza stepped forward, holding the flash drive like a weapon.
“Come and take it yourself.”
A soft chuckle.
“I already have what I need. I always did.”
Damian pulled Oliver behind him again.
Arthur pushed himself upright, barely standing.
Evelyn raised her weapon toward the ceiling entrance.
Then the church doors above slowly opened.
A silhouette appeared at the top of the stairs.
Marcus Vale finally stepped into view.
Immaculate suit.
Calm expression.
No hurry at all.
Behind him, armed men filled the upper level.
But he didn’t look at them.
He looked at Oliver.
“So that’s the boy,” Marcus said gently. “Interesting. He looks more like you than I expected.”
Damian lifted his gun.
“Take one more step.”
Marcus smiled.
“You won’t shoot me. Not with him here.”
A pause.
Then Marcus added:
“Because you still don’t know the full truth.”
Eliza’s voice was sharp.
“There is no more truth left.”
Marcus tilted his head slightly.
“Oh, Eliza. The file you’re holding is only layer one.”
He took a step down.
“One child was never the goal. It was proof of concept.”
Arthur whispered, “Don’t listen to him.”
Marcus continued.
“I didn’t swap Oliver’s identity.”
A beat.
“I replicated it.”
The entire room froze.
Even Evelyn lowered her weapon slightly.
Marcus looked directly at Damian.
“You are not the only father in this room.”
Damian’s grip tightened.
“That’s impossible.”
Marcus smiled wider.
“Then ask yourself this, Commander… why does your son’s medical file match another child born the same night in a different hospital… under a different name?”
Eliza turned slowly toward Arthur.
Arthur’s silence was answer enough.
Damian’s voice dropped.
“Who.”
Marcus stepped down one more stair.
“You already know him.”
Then, softly:
“Gabriel.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Eliza whispered, “No…”
Marcus spread his hands slightly.
“One child raised in protection. One raised in control. One raised in ignorance.”
May you like
He looked at Oliver again.
“And I’ve been waiting to see which one survives meeting the other.”
