Chapter 8: The Truth They Buried
Dr. Hale stood in the doorway like he belonged there.
That was the first thing I noticed.
Not the men behind him.
Not the fear in Ryan’s eyes.
Not the fact that my daughter was trembling against me.
It was the calmness.
The complete absence of panic.
He looked around Lily’s room as if he were walking into an office.
A place he owned.
A place where he had permission to exist.
Then his eyes landed on Ava.
“There you are.””
Ava pressed herself closer to me.
I wrapped both arms around her.
“Stay away from her.””
Dr. Hale tilted his head.
“You sound exactly like your mother.””
My stomach tightened.
“My mother?””
He smiled faintly.
“Yes.””
I felt Ryan move beside me.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Dr. Hale looked at Ryan.
“You still pretend you’re the hero?””
Ryan’s face hardened.
“You’re done.””
Dr. Hale almost laughed.
“Am I?””
He stepped inside.
Two men remained behind him in the hallway.
I immediately moved Ava behind me.
Dr. Hale noticed.
“Protective.””
“She’s my daughter.””
His expression changed slightly.
“That depends on what you mean.””
My heart pounded.
“What does that mean?””
He looked at Ava.
Then at me.
“You’ve spent years believing motherhood was only about birth.””
I stared at him.
“Get out.””
“But you never asked why Ava survived.””
The room went still.
Ava looked up at me.
I felt her fingers tighten around mine.
“What did you do to her?””
Dr. Hale sighed.
“I gave her a chance.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
“You kidnapped a newborn.””
“I saved a child who would have died.””
My anger burned through the fear.
“You took her from me.””
His face remained calm.
“Because you would have lost her.””
“I was her mother.””
“You were grieving before you even met her.””
The words hit me.
Because they sounded cruelly familiar.
Like something someone who had studied me would say.
“You watched me.””
“Yes.””
My breath caught.
“You monitored me.””
“For years.””
Ryan stepped forward.
“You’re admitting it now?””
Dr. Hale looked at him.
“You’re the one who helped us.””
Ryan’s face changed.
“I was trying to stop you.””
“Eventually.””
I looked at Ryan.
“What does that mean?””
He looked away.
Dr. Hale smiled.
“He always wanted to be the savior.””
“Shut up.””
“But he liked having access.””
My chest tightened.
“Access to what?””
Dr. Hale looked at Lily’s room.
“To you.””
The words made my skin crawl.
I looked at Ryan.
“Explain.””
He didn’t.
That hurt more than anything.
“Ryan.””
His voice was barely audible.
“I made mistakes.””
I stared.
“Mistakes?””
Dr. Hale stepped closer.
“He believed the research could help Ava.””
Ryan’s jaw tightened.
“You lied to me.””
Dr. Hale smiled.
“You lied to yourself.””
The room became unbearable.
I looked between them.
“You worked together.””
Ryan shook his head.
“No.””
“You knew him.””
“Yes.””
“You trusted him.””
“At first.””
“You let him near our family.””
“I was trying to undo what he did.””
“After he took Ava?””
Ryan’s eyes filled.
“Yes.””
I looked away.
I couldn't process all of it.
The man I married.
The man I trusted.
The man who held me when I cried.
He had known.
Maybe not everything.
Maybe not all at once.
But enough.
Enough to let me live inside a lie.
Dr. Hale looked at Ava.
“She knows more than you think.””
I pulled Ava closer.
“She’s a child.””
“She’s a subject.””
My voice became dangerous.
“Don’t call her that.””
Dr. Hale didn't react.
“That is what she is.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
He walked toward the dresser.
Ava immediately shook her head.
“No.””
He stopped.
That tiny reaction told me everything.
She knew him.
Not just his name.
Not just his face.
She knew what he could do.
I stepped between them.
“What did you do to her?””
Dr. Hale looked at me.
“Nothing harmful.””
I laughed.
“You drugged children.””
“We administered controlled treatments.””
“You took babies.””
“We studied neurological development.””
“You stole my daughter.””
His expression hardened slightly.
“She was never yours alone.””
The words cut deeper than I expected.
I felt tears burn my eyes.
“She is my child.””
“She is a carrier.””
I froze.
“What?””
He looked at Ava.
“And so is Lily.””
I looked toward my daughter’s room.
Lily.
The thought of her lying in a hospital bed while this man stood in front of me made me sick.
“What are you talking about?””
Dr. Hale pulled a folder from his coat.
He tossed it onto the bed.
“Read.””
I didn’t move.
“Read it.””
Ryan stepped forward.
“Don’t.””
Dr. Hale looked amused.
“You don’t want her to know?””
I grabbed the folder.
The first page had my name.
Again.
The second had Ava’s.
The third had Lily’s.
At the top:
*GENETIC RESPONSE STUDY — CARTER FAMILY*
I flipped through.
Charts.
Medical notes.
Family history.
Then I saw something that made my blood freeze.
A photograph.
My mother.
Young.
Standing beside Dr. Hale.
My hands trembled.
“My mother knew you.””
Dr. Hale nodded.
“She helped create the original program.””
I looked at Ryan.
“Everyone knew.””
“No.””
I turned.
“What?””
“Not everyone.””
“You did.””
“Yes.””
“My father did.””
“Yes.””
“My mother did.””
“Yes.””
“My sister did.””
“Yes.””
I laughed quietly.
“My entire family knew.””
Dr. Hale corrected me.
“Not your entire family.””
I looked at him.
“Who didn’t?””
He looked directly at me.
“You.””
The room went silent.
I hated that he was right.
I was the only person everyone protected from the truth.
Or maybe the only person everyone controlled.
I turned another page.
A section caught my attention.
*SUBJECT A — AVA CARTER*
*SUBJECT B — LILY CARTER*
Then below:
*MATERNAL EXPRESSION REQUIRED*
I looked up.
“What does this mean?””
Dr. Hale didn't answer.
“What does this mean?””
He smiled.
“It means the children were never the only ones we studied.””
My stomach dropped.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“You studied me.””
“Your mother.””
“My sister.””
“You.””
“Why?””
“Because you are the source.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Your genetic profile created the response.””
“That’s impossible.””
“Your daughters inherited it.””
“What response?””
He stepped closer.
“Memory.””
The word sounded ridiculous.
Impossible.
“What?””
“Memory patterns.””
I stared.
“You’re saying my children have some kind of special memory?””
“Not memory.””
He paused.
“Recognition.””
I thought about Ava.
Her knowing my voice.
Her knowing Lily.
Her knowing things she shouldn't.
I hated that part of me understood.
“No.””
Dr. Hale continued.
“Your daughters recognize certain emotional and neurological patterns.””
“They’re children.””
“They’re more than that.””
I felt rage rise.
“Don't.””
He ignored me.
“Ava recognized Lily before they met.””
“How?””
“Because they are connected.””
“They’re sisters.””
“More than that.””
I looked at him.
“What does that mean?””
He smiled.
“Your daughters were designed to be compatible.””
My blood ran cold.
“Designed?””
Ryan whispered:
“No.””
Dr. Hale looked at him.
“You knew.””
Ryan looked sick.
“I didn't know that.””
“You suspected.””
Ryan didn't answer.
I turned toward him.
“You suspected?””
He looked at me.
“I thought they were looking for a match.””
“For what?””
“I didn't know.””
Dr. Hale answered.
“For a third generation.””
Silence.
I stared.
“What third generation?””
He didn't answer.
Ava suddenly spoke.
“The other baby.””
Everyone looked at her.
Dr. Hale’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
Fear.
“Ava.””
The little girl looked at me.
“Megan told me.””
My heart raced.
“What did she tell you?””
Ava whispered:
“There was another one.””
Another child.
Another baby.
I looked at Dr. Hale.
“What did you do?””
He ignored me.
But Ava continued.
“He wasn't like us.””
My skin prickled.
“Who?””
She looked toward the folder.
“The boy.””
The room went silent.
Ryan looked confused.
“What boy?””
Ava looked at him.
“The one they made after me.””
Dr. Hale moved instantly.
“Enough.””
The first emotion I saw from him.
Not calm.
Not control.
Fear.
I grabbed Ava.
“You created another child?””
“No.””
Ava shook her head.
“Yes.””
Dr. Hale turned toward her.
“Be quiet.””
The command was cold.
Ava flinched.
I stepped forward.
“Don't speak to her like that.””
He looked at me.
“You have no idea what you’re involved in.””
“I know enough.””
“No.””
He pointed at the papers.
“You think I am the villain because I made difficult decisions.””
“You stole children.””
“I prevented suffering.””
“You destroyed families.””
“I created a future.””
I felt disgust.
“No.””
He smiled sadly.
“You sound just like your sister.””
My heart stopped.
“Megan.””
“Yes.””
“Where is she?””
Dr. Hale looked away.
“She was never good at accepting reality.””
“Where is she?””
“She chose her fate.””
“What does that mean?””
No answer.
I stepped closer.
“Where is my sister?””
Dr. Hale looked at the men behind him.
Then back at me.
“She is the reason I am here.””
“What?””
“She sent the files.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She wanted you to know.””
My eyes filled.
“Megan is alive?””
Dr. Hale didn’t answer.
Ryan did.
“She is.””
I turned.
“How do you know?””
“Because I spoke to her.””
“When?””
“Tonight.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Ryan looked toward the window.
“She contacted me before I came back to the house.””
“You talked to her?””
“Yes.””
“Where is she?””
His silence told me.
“Ryan.””
“She’s hurt.””
The room changed.
“What does that mean?””
Dr. Hale smiled.
“She was always willing to sacrifice herself.””
Ava started crying.
I looked down.
She was shaking.
“What is it?””
She whispered:
“Megan said not to trust him.””
I looked at Dr. Hale.
“Who?””
Ava pointed.
Not at Dr. Hale.
At Ryan.
My heart stopped.
“No.””
Ava backed away.
“He knows where she is.””
Ryan froze.
“Emily.””
I stared.
“Where is my sister?””
He didn't answer.
“Where is Megan?””
“I was trying to save her.””
“Where?””
His face broke.
“The Northbridge facility.””
I felt betrayed all over again.
“You took me there?””
“No.””
“You knew where she was.””
“I was going to get her.””
“When?””
“Tonight.””
“After what?””
He looked away.
“After I convinced Hale.””
I stared.
“You were working with him.””
“No.””
“You were negotiating.””
“Yes.””
The word was enough.
Dr. Hale smiled.
“See?””
He looked at me.
“Everyone around you has been trying to control the outcome.””
I looked at Ryan.
Then at Ava.
Then at Dr. Hale.
And I realized something.
Everyone had a version of the truth.
Everyone had a reason.
Everyone had an excuse.
But my daughters didn't have a choice.
I walked to the bed.
Picked up the folder.
And closed it.
“No more.””
Dr. Hale frowned.
“What?””
“No more secrets.””
I looked at him.
“You want your research?””
I threw the folder at his feet.
“Take it.””
He stared.
“Emily.””
“No.””
I grabbed Ava’s hand.
“My daughters are not your subjects.””
His expression hardened.
“You don't understand what happens if they leave.””
“Then explain.””
He didn't.
That was the first crack in his control.
I stepped closer.
“What happens?””
Silence.
Then Dr. Hale said:
“If Ava and Lily are separated, they both become unstable.””
My blood ran cold.
“What does that mean?””
He looked at Ava.
“Ask her.””
I looked down.
Ava was crying.
“Ava?””
She whispered:
“When Lily gets scared…”
She stopped.
“What?””
Ava looked up.
“She feels it too.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Ava touched her chest.
“Like when she cries.””
I thought of the hospital.
The breathing.
The fear.
The unexplained connection.
I looked at Dr. Hale.
“What did you do to my children?””
He answered quietly.
“We linked them.””
The room went silent.
Then Ava collapsed.
I caught her.
“Ava!””
She shook.
Her eyes closed.
And somewhere far away, my phone started ringing.
A message appeared.
From Megan.
*Emily, don't let him take Ava.*
Then another.
*Because Ava isn't the only child you need to save.*
May you like
A final message appeared.
*Lily is already at Northbridge.*
