CHAPTER 5 — SERENA'S SECOND FACE
CHAPTER 5 — SERENA'S SECOND FACE
The gunshot echoed through the underground room.
Victor felt Ethan's small body slam against his chest.
He turned instinctively.
"Evelyn!"
Nothing.
Only darkness.
"Evelyn!"
No answer.
Victor reached for the emergency switch.
Nothing happened.
He pressed it again.
Still nothing.
Then Ethan whispered:
"Daddy..."
"I'm here."
"I heard Mommy scream."
Victor swallowed.
"So did I."
"Is she hurt?"
"I don't know."
A faint metallic click came from somewhere in the darkness.
Victor froze.
Someone was moving.
He pulled Ethan behind him.
"Stay here."
"No."
"Ethan—"
"I don't want to be alone."
Victor looked down at his son.
The boy's face was pale.
Victor crouched.
"Then hold my hand."
Ethan did.
Victor slowly moved forward.
"Evelyn?"
A woman's voice answered.
"Victor..."
He stopped.
It was Evelyn.
She sounded close.
"Where are you?"
"Behind you."
Victor turned.
Nothing.
Then a second voice spoke.
"Don't move."
Victor recognized it.
Serena.
His eyes narrowed.
"Where is my wife?"
Serena laughed softly.
"You still call her that."
Victor's blood ran cold.
"What does that mean?"
"It means you don't know what happened eighteen years ago."
"Tell me."
"I will."
A light flickered on.
Serena stood on the other side of the room.
Her dress was torn.
Blood covered her shoulder.
But her expression was calm.
Almost elegant.
Victor aimed his weapon.
"Where is Evelyn?"
Serena pointed behind him.
Victor turned.
A woman stood there.
Evelyn.
Alive.
Victor stared at her.
His world stopped.
"Evelyn..."
She looked at him.
"Victor."
He took a step.
She took one backward.
"Don't."
"Why?"
"Because she isn't who you think she is."
Victor frowned.
He looked at Serena.
Then Evelyn.
"What's happening?"
Serena smiled.
"This is the problem."
"What?"
"Everyone in this family has a face they show the world."
She touched her own face.
"And another one they hide."
Victor stared at her.
"Start talking."
Serena's smile disappeared.
"Fine."
She pointed at Evelyn.
"That's not your wife."
Victor's jaw tightened.
"Don't lie to me."
"I've spent years lying."
"I know."
"But this time I'm telling you the truth."
Victor looked at Evelyn.
She was crying.
"Victor..."
He stepped toward her.
"Tell me you're my wife."
She hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Victor stopped.
"Who are you?"
The woman lowered her head.
"My name is Elena."
Victor stared.
"Elena?"
She nodded.
"I was your wife's sister."
Victor's heart pounded.
"Evelyn had a sister?"
"She wasn't supposed to."
Serena interrupted.
"Because her existence was erased."
Victor looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because she knew too much."
Elena wiped her tears.
"Evelyn and I were twins."
Victor's face went blank.
"Twins?"
"Yes."
"Then why did I never know?"
"Because your father made sure you didn't."
Victor's breathing became shallow.
"Where is Evelyn?"
Elena looked down.
"Dead."
Victor's eyes filled with tears.
"No."
"She died eighteen years ago."
"Then who did I bury?"
"Her."
"Who was in the hospital?"
"Her."
"Who did I see?"
"Her."
Victor stared.
"Then why are you here?"
Elena's voice broke.
"Because I was the person they used to make you believe she was still alive."
Victor shook his head.
"I don't understand."
Serena stepped forward.
"You will."
The lights came back.
Victor looked around.
Daniel was nowhere.
Dr. Reed was gone.
The room looked different.
On the floor lay a single photograph.
Victor picked it up.
Two identical women.
Evelyn and Elena.
Same eyes.
Same smile.
Same face.
On the back:
ONE WILL DIE. ONE WILL DISAPPEAR.
Victor stared.
"When?"
Elena whispered:
"The night Evelyn died."
"What happened?"
Elena looked at Serena.
Serena nodded.
"It started three weeks before the crash."
Victor looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because Evelyn found the trust records."
"The same records you've been talking about."
"Yes."
"She discovered money was being transferred."
"Yes."
"By whom?"
Serena hesitated.
"Victor's father."
Victor shook his head.
"My father was dead."
"That's what everyone thought."
Elena stepped forward.
"He wasn't."
"He was running the operation."
"What operation?"
"The identity network."
Victor remembered the underground rooms.
The photographs.
The children.
His supposed brothers.
His stomach turned.
"Why was Evelyn involved?"
"Because she discovered that you weren't Victor Hale."
Victor stared.
"Again with this."
Elena looked at him.
"You were born Victor Hale."
"But you weren't the first."
Victor closed his eyes.
"Who was?"
Elena whispered:
"Your older brother."
Victor opened his eyes.
"What happened to him?"
"He died."
"How?"
"Your father killed him."
Victor stared.
"Why?"
"Because he refused to become a replacement."
Victor looked at Serena.
"And you?"
Serena smiled.
"I was the replacement."
Victor froze.
"What?"
She touched her face.
"The woman you knew as Serena wasn't my real identity."
"Then who are you?"
Serena removed a small silver pendant from her neck.
Inside was a photograph.
A young woman.
Victor stared.
He knew her.
"Maria."
Serena nodded.
"Your father's daughter."
Victor stepped backward.
"You're my sister."
"Half-sister."
He stared at her.
"I thought you died."
"I was supposed to."
"What happened?"
"Your father needed someone who could get close to you."
Victor's face hardened.
"So you became Serena."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I was ordered to destroy your family."
Victor looked at Ethan.
Serena's eyes softened.
"But I couldn't."
"Why?"
"Because Ethan reminded me of you."
Victor stared.
"You were the one who recorded the conversation."
Serena nodded.
"Yes."
"The one saying Ethan had to disappear."
"I was repeating an order."
"Whose?"
Serena's expression changed.
"Daniel's."
Victor froze.
"Daniel."
"Yes."
"But Daniel is dead."
"Exactly."
Victor turned toward the doorway.
"Then who is the man we've been calling Daniel?"
Serena shook her head.
"No one knows."
"You're lying."
"No."
"Then what does he want?"
"The trust."
Victor clenched his jaw.
"What is inside it?"
Serena looked at Ethan.
"The ownership records."
"Of the company?"
"No."
She paused.
"Of the network."
Victor's face hardened.
"Who owns it?"
Serena whispered:
"Whoever owns Ethan."
Victor froze.
"What?"
"The trust contains a legal clause."
"Explain."
"If Ethan reaches eighteen without being legally transferred to another guardian, the entire network becomes his property."
Victor stared.
"That's impossible."
"It's why your wife died."
"Because she knew."
"Yes."
"Then why didn't she tell me?"
"She tried."
Victor remembered the recordings.
The warnings.
The hidden room.
The gold key.
The sentence:
THE LAST RECORDING WAITS.
He looked at Elena.
"Why did she trust you?"
"Because she was my sister."
"Did you betray her?"
Elena looked away.
Victor saw the answer in her eyes.
"Yes."
Her voice broke.
"Once."
"What did you do?"
"I told your father where she was hiding."
Victor's expression hardened.
"And then?"
"He killed her."
Silence.
Victor felt something inside him crack.
"You gave her to him."
"I thought he would negotiate."
"You knew what he was."
"I was afraid."
"You were her sister."
"I know."
Victor looked at Serena.
"And you?"
Serena swallowed.
"I helped them."
"How?"
"I gave them access to the house."
Victor's face went cold.
"That's why you knew about the room."
"Yes."
"That's why you knew about Ethan."
"Yes."
"That's why you tried to take him."
Serena closed her eyes.
"Yes."
Victor raised his weapon.
Serena didn't move.
"Do it."
Victor stared.
"You expect me to forgive you?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"Because if you kill me..."
She opened her eyes.
"...you'll never find the person who gave the order."
Victor lowered the gun slightly.
"Who?"
Serena whispered:
"Your mother."
Victor froze.
"My mother?"
"Yes."
"She's dead."
"She died eighteen years ago."
"Then she couldn't have ordered Evelyn's murder."
Serena shook her head.
"Not your biological mother."
Victor stared.
"Then who?"
Serena pointed at Elena.
"Her."
Victor turned.
Elena was crying.
"No."
Serena continued.
"Elena isn't Evelyn's sister."
Victor looked at her.
"Then who is she?"
Elena backed away.
"Don't."
Serena's voice was merciless.
"Tell him."
Elena shook her head.
"Serena, please."
"You owe him the truth."
Victor stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
Elena looked at him.
Then at Ethan.
Finally, she whispered:
"I'm your mother."
Victor couldn't breathe.
The room became silent.
Victor stared at Elena.
"My mother died when I was six."
"That was another lie."
"You were there?"
"Yes."
"Why did you abandon me?"
"I didn't."
"Then why did I grow up believing you were dead?"
"Because your father took you."
Victor's voice became bitter.
"Why?"
"Because you were valuable."
"To him?"
"To the network."
Victor looked at Ethan.
Elena continued.
"You were the first successful replacement."
Victor frowned.
"I don't understand."
"You weren't supposed to become your father."
"You were supposed to become someone else."
"Who?"
Elena whispered:
"Your father's firstborn son."
Victor stared.
"But he was dead."
"He wasn't."
Victor's blood ran cold.
"Then where is he?"
Elena looked toward the darkness.
"Standing behind you."
Victor turned.
The man with Victor's face was there again.
But this time—
he wasn't alone.
Ethan was standing beside him.
Victor's heart stopped.
"Ethan!"
The boy looked frightened.
"Daddy!"
The man placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder.
"Don't come closer."
Victor raised his weapon.
"Let him go."
The man smiled.
"You're still thinking like a father."
"What else should I think like?"
"A son."
Victor stared.
"Who are you?"
The man looked at Elena.
Then at Serena.
Finally at Victor.
"My name is Alexander."
Victor frowned.
"Alexander who?"
The man smiled.
"Alexander Hale."
Victor's face went pale.
"Your brother."
"No."
"Yes."
"Daniel said Number Three was dead."
Alexander laughed.
"Daniel lies."
"Then where is Daniel?"
Alexander's expression became cold.
"Dead."
Victor stared.
"You killed him?"
"No."
"Who did?"
Alexander looked toward Serena.
"She did."
Serena's face went pale.
"What?"
Alexander smiled.
"Ask her what happened in the hospital."
Victor turned toward Serena.
"What did you do?"
Serena stepped backward.
"I didn't kill Daniel."
Alexander laughed.
"You didn't have to."
Victor's voice hardened.
"What happened?"
Serena's eyes filled with tears.
"I..."
She looked at Ethan.
"I was there."
"Where?"
"The night Evelyn died."
Victor stared.
"Tell me."
Serena whispered:
"I saw who entered the hospital."
"Who?"
She looked at Elena.
Then Victor.
"It was you."
Victor froze.
"What?"
"You entered Evelyn's room."
"I was unconscious."
"No."
Serena shook her head.
"You weren't."
Victor's breathing stopped.
"You were awake."
"You knew she was dying."
"And you said something to her."
"What?"
Serena began crying.
"You told her..."
She swallowed.
"...that you were sorry."
Victor stared into nothing.
A memory flashed.
Evelyn in the hospital.
Her hand in his.
Her eyes filled with tears.
And Victor whispering:
"I'm sorry."
Then—
another memory.
A syringe.
A man's hand.
His father's voice.
Forget.
Victor staggered.
"No."
Serena whispered:
"You killed the lights."
"You disconnected the cameras."
"You walked out."
"And nine minutes later..."
She closed her eyes.
"...Evelyn was dead."
Victor couldn't breathe.
"I didn't kill her."
"No."
Serena shook her head.
"You didn't."
"Then who?"
She looked toward Alexander.
Alexander smiled.
"I did."
Victor raised his weapon.
Alexander didn't move.
"I killed Evelyn."
"Why?"
"Because she knew what you were."
"What am I?"
Alexander stepped closer.
"You are the only person who can unlock the original trust."
Victor stared.
"And Ethan?"
Alexander smiled.
"Ethan is the only person who can inherit it."
Victor understood.
His entire family had been manipulated for years.
Evelyn had died protecting Ethan.
Serena had betrayed them.
Elena had hidden the truth.
Daniel had been replaced.
And Alexander—
had been waiting.
"For what?"
Alexander answered:
"For tonight."
The warehouse doors suddenly slammed shut.
Victor looked around.
The lights turned red.
Alexander raised a remote.
"Tonight, Victor..."
He smiled.
"...we find out which of us is the real Hale."
The doors locked.
The countdown began.
10:00
Victor looked at Ethan.
Then Serena.
Then Elena.
And finally Alexander.
The clock changed.
09:59
And somewhere inside the mansion—
a second recording began playing.
Evelyn's voice filled the speakers:
"Victor..."
A pause.
"If you're hearing this, the final stage has begun."
09:58
"And there is one thing I never told you."
Victor's eyes widened.
09:57
"The man who killed me..."
Evelyn's voice trembled.
"...was not Alexander."
Victor froze.
The countdown continued.
09:56
"It was someone else."
09:55
"Someone who is standing beside you now."
Victor slowly looked around.
And every person in the room—
May you like
including Ethan—
was staring back at him.
