Chapter 4 - The Child in the Photograph
The girl looked at Adrian like she already knew him.
Her name was Mia.
She was the daughter of a woman who had disappeared through one of the Blue Lantern routes.
The photograph showed Mia as a baby in her mother's arms.
Beside them stood Adrian's father.
And Rose Cole.
Harper stared.
“My mother knew her.”
“Yes.”
Adrian looked at Mia.
“Who brought you here?”
She didn't answer.
Harper knelt.
“It's okay.”
Mia looked at her.
“Miss Rose told me you would come.”
Harper's heart stopped.
“Where?”
“Before she died.”
“She met you?”
Mia nodded.
“Your mother helped my mother.”
Harper swallowed.
“How?”
“She tried to get us out.”
Adrian crouched.
“What happened?”
Mia looked frightened.
“The man with the gold ring found us.”
Harper noticed Adrian's expression.
“Who?”
Mia pointed.
“Mr. Victor.”
Silence.
Victor had betrayed them.
Again.
Adrian stood.
“Where did he take your mother?”
“She said the lighthouse.”
Adrian turned to Harper.
The old lighthouse stood three miles from the city.
They drove there.
Inside, they found a room filled with files.
Mia's mother had been held there.
There were photographs.
Names.
Medical records.
Travel documents.
And a list of people rescued by Rose.
Harper cried when she saw her mother's name.
Rose had spent years helping victims escape Blue Lantern.
She had not abandoned Harper.
She had protected her.
The last file contained a video.
Rose appeared on screen.
Harper sat down.
“Hi, baby.”
That one word destroyed her.
Rose smiled.
“If you're watching this, I hope you know I loved you every second I was away.”
Harper covered her mouth.
“I couldn't tell you the truth because the truth would have made you a target.”
Rose continued.
“Evelyn knows.”
“And Adrian will.”
“When he is ready.”
Harper looked at Adrian.
Rose said:
“Adrian is not like his father.”
“He doesn't know what his family became.”
“But he will.”
The video ended.
Adrian stared at the blank screen.
Harper touched his hand.
He turned.
“I should have protected your mother.”
“You didn't know.”
“That doesn't make it easier.”
She smiled sadly.
“You're learning.”
He looked at her.
“So are you.”
Their eyes met.
A different kind of silence grew between them.
Then an explosion shook the lighthouse.
Adrian grabbed Harper.
Glass shattered.
Mia screamed.
Smoke filled the room.
“Move!”
They ran down the stairs.
Outside, vehicles surrounded the lighthouse.
Victor stood among them.
Harper stared.
“You.”
Victor smiled.
“You found the archive.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“You won't touch her.”
Victor laughed.
“I never wanted her.”
He pointed at Mia.
“I wanted what she knows.”
“What does she know?” Adrian asked.
Victor smiled.
“Where your father is.”
Harper froze.
Victor continued.
“And your father has the original Blue Lantern ledger.”
Adrian's face hardened.
“Where?”
Victor looked at him.
“Under the Vale estate.”
Harper frowned.
“Then why haven't you taken it?”
Victor smiled.
“Because it can only be opened by blood.”
Adrian understood.
The ledger was locked to his father's DNA.
But the key wasn't Adrian.
It was Mia.
Victor needed Mia because her mother had altered the genetic record before escaping.
The child was the missing link.
Adrian stepped in front of Mia.
“Then you'll go through me.”
Victor laughed.
“You always were predictable.”
The guards raised weapons.
Adrian pulled Harper behind him.
But Mia spoke.
“Mr. Adrian.”
He looked down.
“Yes?”
“I know where the key is.”
Harper stared.
“Where?”
Mia pointed toward Adrian's chest.
“Your heart.”
Adrian frowned.
She tapped his suit pocket.
He reached inside.
A tiny metal key lay there.
He had never seen it before.
Victor's face changed.
“That was supposed to be impossible.”
Harper understood.
Mia had put it there.
She had stolen it from Victor.
The key had been hidden on Adrian.
The person Victor trusted least was the child he considered powerless.
May you like
Adrian smiled.
For the first time, Victor looked afraid.
