Chapter 5 - THE HOUSE OF LIES
The revelation destroyed everything Maya thought she knew.
Her father had died years earlier.
Yet someone had apparently planned an accident intended for him.
Richard insisted they return to the estate.
They found the mansion strangely quiet.
Too quiet.
Ethan was waiting in the library.
“Where have you been?”
Richard looked at him.
“Looking for Mother.”
Ethan smiled.
“She'll come back.”
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
Ethan's expression hardened.
“You've been spending too much time with your caregiver.”
Maya stepped forward.
“Don't speak about me like I'm invisible.”
Ethan laughed.
“Do you know what happened to the last woman who became too involved with Richard?”
Richard went rigid.
Maya noticed.
“What woman?”
Ethan smiled.
“Ask him.”
Richard said quietly:
“Enough.”
Ethan left.
Maya turned to Richard.
“Who was she?”
Richard didn't answer.
“Richard.”
“She was my fiancée.”
“What happened?”
“She disappeared.”
“When?”
“Three months before my accident.”
Maya's stomach tightened.
“Was she killed?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I didn't want you to think this house was dangerous.”
She stared at him.
“You should have told me.”
“You're right.”
Their eyes met.
Something shifted between them.
Not trust.
Something deeper.
Something dangerous.
Then a scream came from upstairs.
They ran.
The sound came from Eleanor's bedroom.
The door was locked.
Richard tried the handle.
“Maya, move.”
He grabbed the frame and pulled himself upright.
Using all his strength, he forced the door open.
Eleanor was inside.
Alive.
But terrified.
“Mother!”
She grabbed Richard's arm.
“Get me out.”
“Who did this?”
She looked at Maya.
“Not here.”
Ethan appeared behind them.
“What happened?”
Eleanor recoiled.
Richard positioned himself between them.
“Stay away from her.”
Ethan stared.
For the first time, he saw Richard standing.
His face went white.
“You…”
Richard took one step forward.
“You knew.”
Ethan's eyes widened.
Then he smiled.
“I knew.”
He reached into his jacket.
Maya grabbed Eleanor and pulled her backward.
Richard shouted:
“Run!”
A gunshot shattered the room.
The bullet struck the wall.
Security alarms erupted.
Ethan fled.
Richard chased him.
Maya followed.
They reached the garage.
Ethan jumped into a black SUV.
Richard couldn't move fast enough.
The vehicle sped away.
Then Maya noticed something on the ground.
A folder.
She picked it up.
Inside was a list.
Names.
Payments.
Dates.
At the top was:
HELIX — PHASE TWO
Below it was a name she knew.
Her own.
Maya Torres.
Next to it:
PRIMARY ACCESS SUBJECT.
She couldn't breathe.
Richard read over her shoulder.
His face turned pale.
“What does this mean?”
Maya shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Then another page slipped free.
It contained an old photograph.
Maya as a child.
Standing beside her father.
On the back, handwritten:
The daughter has the final key.
Richard looked at her.
“What key?”
Maya suddenly remembered.
Her father had given her a small silver pendant when she was sixteen.
She had worn it almost every day.
Until the divorce.
She reached into her bag.
The pendant was gone.
Someone had stolen it.
That night, Maya received a text.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT WHEN WE GAVE YOU THE CHANCE.
Then another message arrived.
YOUR FATHER HID THE KEY INSIDE YOU.
Maya stared at the screen.
Richard's voice was quiet.
“Maya…”
She looked up.
May you like
“What?”
“I think we finally know why they chose you.”
