Chapter 5 - My Dead Uncle Was Waiting in the House Where My Father Had Been MurderedThe old Romero manor had been abandoned for twelve years.
My father had sold it after my mother's death.
Or so I believed.
When I arrived, the gate was open.
That alone terrified me.
I took Lucía with me despite every warning.
I told security to stay outside.
Inside, dust covered the furniture.
Old portraits lined the walls.
The smell of damp wood brought back memories.
This had been my childhood home.
Before the accident.
Before my father died.
Before my family broke.
Lucía held my hand.
“Your house is sad.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone who lived here is gone.”
She looked at me.
“Not everyone.”
Before I could ask what she meant, a voice spoke from the hall.
“Alejandro.”
I turned.
Rafael stood there.
Alive.
Older than I remembered.
But unmistakable.
“Uncle?”
He smiled.
“You look like your father.”
“You're supposed to be dead.”
“I was.”
“That isn't an answer.”
He laughed.
“You always were impatient.”
My hand moved toward my weapon.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“Because you deserve the truth.”
I almost laughed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“Do you know why your brother died?”
“You killed him?”
Rafael's expression changed.
“No.”
“Then who?”
He walked toward an old painting.
“Your father.”
I froze.
“What?”
“Your father ordered the car sabotage.”
“That makes no sense.”
“He wanted your brother dead.”
“Why?”
“Because your brother knew about Project Lumen.”
I felt dizzy.
“What is Project Lumen?”
Rafael looked at Lucía.
“That girl knows.”
Lucía stepped closer to me.
“Don't listen.”
Rafael smiled.
“She is just like her mother.”
My blood ran cold.
“You knew Sofía.”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
“Alive.”
“Where?”
He walked closer.
“She is the reason I called you.”
“What does she want?”
“She wants you to stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Searching.”
“Why?”
“Because the people behind Project Lumen are still alive.”
“Who?”
Rafael whispered:
“Your father.”
Silence.
“My father is dead.”
“His body was never recovered.”
I remembered.
The funeral.
The closed coffin.
The strange silence.
The missing records.
My father could be alive.
My entire life had been built on lies.
Rafael continued.
“He created Project Lumen.”
“What was it?”
“A medical research program.”
“For what?”
“Neurological regeneration.”
My heart raced.
“My paralysis.”
“Yes.”
“Was the accident part of it?”
“No.”
“What happened?”
“You were supposed to be killed.”
I froze.
“Why?”
“Because your father believed your brother had become a threat.”
“But he died.”
“Yes.”
“Who survived?”
“You.”
“Why?”
Rafael looked at Lucía.
“Because Sofía interfered.”
“She changed the car?”
“No.”
“She saved me?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She moved you into a different vehicle.”
I stared.
“Then why did I crash?”
“Because the other car was targeted.”
My hands shook.
“My brother took my place.”
Rafael nodded.
I couldn't breathe.
My brother had died because someone thought he was me.
I looked at Lucía.
“Did Sofía know?”
“She knew.”
“Why didn't she tell me?”
“She tried.”
“When?”
“After the accident.”
“What happened?”
“Your father found her.”
“And?”
“She disappeared.”
I sat down.
Lucía came beside me.
Rafael looked at her.
“She has your mother's gift.”
“What gift?”
“Neurological pattern recognition.”
“That's not a gift.”
“It kept children alive.”
I stared.
“What children?”
Rafael hesitated.
“The ones used in Project Lumen.”
I felt sick.
“Children?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the treatment worked differently on developing nervous systems.”
Lucía suddenly spoke.
“My mother hated them.”
Rafael looked at her.
“She tried to save them.”
I turned toward him.
“How many?”
“Thirty-two.”
“Thirty-two children?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“Some died.”
“Some survived.”
“Lucía was one of them.”
I stared at the little girl.
She looked confused.
“What does that mean?”
Rafael sighed.
“She was exposed to the treatment before birth.”
My heart broke.
“That is impossible.”
“No.”
He looked at her hands.
“Her nervous system adapted.”
That's why she could feel things.
That's why she could detect damaged nerves.
That's why she had found mine.
I knelt beside her.
“Did they hurt you?”
She shook her head.
“I don't remember.”
I hugged her.
Rafael looked away.
Then said:
“The person behind the research wants her back.”
“Who?”
He looked at the portrait of my father.
“Him.”
I turned.
My father's portrait stared down at me.
Alive or dead, his shadow was everywhere.
Suddenly the front doors slammed.
Security shouted outside.
Gunfire erupted.
Rafael grabbed a weapon.
“Get down!”
I pulled Lucía behind the sofa.
People stormed through the manor.
Rafael fired.
I pushed my wheelchair sideways.
Then I saw him.
A man in a black coat.
Gray hair.
Silver watch.
Scar over his eyebrow.
My father.
He looked at me.
And smiled.
May you like
“Alejandro.”
My world stopped.
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