PART 21 — THE CHILD BENEATH THE MOUNTAIN

The darkness lasted only seconds.

But in those seconds, Nora heard everything.

Someone breathing.

Someone crying.

Then the sound of footsteps running through the underground settlement.

Silas caught her hand.

“Stay behind me.”

“I can’t.”

“You can if you want to live.”

A lantern suddenly flared.

Samuel stood beside the old man, holding a match.

“Everyone stay where you are.”

Another lantern came alive.

Then another.

The underground chamber slowly emerged from the darkness.

The families were still there.

But one person was missing.

A little girl.

Perhaps eight years old.

She stood at the far end of the corridor.

Barefoot.

Holding something in her hands.

Nora took one step toward her.

“Hey.”

The girl didn’t move.

“What is your name?”

The child looked at the adults around her.

Then at Jonathan.

Jonathan stared back at her as if he had seen a ghost.

“No…”

The girl’s eyes filled with fear.

She stepped backward.

Jonathan whispered,

“That’s impossible.”

Nora looked at him.

“You know her?”

He didn’t answer.

The girl suddenly turned and ran.

Samuel moved first.

“Nora, stay here.”

But Nora followed.

The corridor twisted sharply.

Silas followed close behind.

They found the girl crouched beside an old wooden door.

Nora slowed.

“I’m not going to hurt you.”

The girl looked up.

“You’re Nora.”

Nora froze.

“How do you know my name?”

The child held out what she had been carrying.

A photograph.

Nora took it.

Her heart stopped.

It showed a younger Thomas Whitmore.

Beside him stood a woman.

Margaret Vale.

And in Margaret’s arms—

was a baby.

The baby’s face was partly hidden.

But the date written on the back was clear.

Twenty-seven years earlier.

Nora looked at the girl.

“How old are you?”

“Eight.”

“Who is your mother?”

The child swallowed.

“Margaret.”

Silence.

Nora’s fingers tightened around the photograph.

“Margaret Vale?”

The girl nodded.

Jonathan appeared at the end of the corridor.

He looked as though the ground had disappeared beneath him.

“Her name is Anna.”

The girl stared at him.

Jonathan slowly lowered his weapon.

“I thought you were dead.”

Anna shook her head.

“You left me here.”

Jonathan’s face broke.

Not with anger.

With shame.

Nora turned toward him.

“What is she to you?”

Jonathan couldn’t answer.

Anna did.

“He’s my father.”

Silence.

Even Elias looked stunned.

Nora looked from the child to Jonathan.

Then back at the photograph.

Margaret Vale had not disappeared.

She had left behind a child.

And Jonathan had known.

But there was something else.

Nora turned the photograph over.

A second line had been written beneath the date.

The daughter will inherit what the mother built.

Nora’s blood ran cold.

“What did Margaret build?”

Jonathan whispered,

“Everything.”

Nora stared at Anna.

The child looked frightened.

But not confused.

As if she had known the truth all her life.

“Why did you hide her here?”

Jonathan’s voice was barely audible.

“Because everyone who knew she existed wanted to use her.”

“Who?”

Jonathan looked toward Elias.

Elias slowly smiled.

“Not everyone.”

Then the old man shouted from the main chamber.

“WE HAVE COMPANY!”

A gunshot echoed through the tunnel.

Anna screamed.

Silas grabbed Nora.

Samuel raised his rifle.

And Jonathan finally picked up his weapon again.

This time—

he stood between Anna and the gunfire.