Chapter 14: The Last Experiment
The sound of the lock echoed through the basement.
The detective immediately moved toward the stairs.
“Everyone stay together.””
But I wasn’t listening.
I was staring at Logan’s file.
Final subject.
Those words were carved into my mind.
“What did she do to my son?””
Daniel picked up the folder.
Inside were pages of notes.
Observations.
Dates.
Photographs.
My hands shook as I read.
*Subject: Logan Miller.*
*Reason for selection: strong memory response after trauma.*
I looked at Daniel.
“What does that mean?””
He looked devastated.
“It means she was studying him.””
“Why?””
Daniel turned the page.
A sentence was underlined.
*Children remember what adults force themselves to forget.*
My stomach twisted.
Mrs. Hart wasn’t just hurting children.
She was trying to prove something.
She wanted to control their memories.
The detective found a hidden door behind a shelf.
“This leads somewhere.””
We followed.
The hallway beyond was narrow.
Old.
At the end was another room.
Inside were cameras.
Screens.
Recordings.
A complete monitoring system.
And in the center…
Logan’s backpack.
I stopped.
“No.””
I ran forward.
It was his.
The one he carried every day.
Inside was a notebook.
I opened it.
Every page had drawings.
A classroom.
A closet.
A woman.
And one picture repeated over and over.
A man standing beside Mrs. Hart.
Daniel.
My husband.
I looked at him.
“What is this?””
His face went pale.
“I don’t know.””
“Logan saw you.””
“No.””
“Why would he draw this?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Then the speakers turned on.
Mrs. Hart’s voice filled the room.
“You finally found the missing piece.””
The detective looked around.
“Where are you?””
No response.
Only her voice.
“Rachel, you think Daniel was protecting you.””
A pause.
“He was protecting himself.””
I looked at Daniel.
His face changed.
“Tell her.””
I froze.
“Tell me what?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I made a deal.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“Years ago.””
“With who?””
He swallowed.
“Mrs. Hart.””
The room went silent.
“You worked with her.””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“I worked against her.””
“That’s not what you said.””
“Because I was ashamed.””
I stared at him.
“What deal?””
Daniel looked at Logan’s backpack.
“When I discovered Lily was alive, I tried to expose her.””
“And?””
“She threatened to hurt you.””
My voice dropped.
“So you helped her.””
“For a short time.””
I felt betrayed all over again.
“You let her take children.””
“No.””
He stepped forward.
“I helped her find where the evidence was hidden.””
“Why?””
“Because I thought I could get close enough to destroy everything.””
“And you failed.””
“Yes.””
His eyes filled.
“I failed.””
The speakers crackled.
Mrs. Hart laughed.
“Such a noble story.””
The screen turned on.
A live camera feed appeared.
Logan was sitting in a chair.
Alone.
My scream filled the room.
“LOGAN!””
The feed showed him looking around.
“Mommy?””
He could hear us.
Mrs. Hart stepped into view behind him.
She placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Your mother always comes back for people.””
I grabbed the monitor.
“Don’t touch him!””
Mrs. Hart smiled.
“That’s why she was the perfect choice.””
The detective shouted into his radio.
“Locate the child immediately.””
Mrs. Hart looked directly into the camera.
“Rachel, you spent years trying to find Lily.””
She leaned closer.
“Now find Logan.””
The screen went black.
Then one final message appeared.
A location.
May you like
The old hospital.
The place where Lily was born.
