Chapter 8: The Girl Who Finally Spoke
Madison's message disappeared before I could reply.
I tried calling her.
No answer.
Dad noticed.
“Who was that?””
“Madison.””
His expression tightened.
“She sent a message?””
I nodded.
“She said she knows who helped.””
Lena immediately contacted Westbridge.
“Put Madison Carter on the line.””
The call connected.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Madison's voice came through.
“I don't have much time.””
Dad walked closer to the speaker.
“Madison, where is Nathan?””
“I don't know.””
“You were with him.””
“He left.””
“Where?””
“I don't know!””
Her voice cracked.
I had never heard Madison sound afraid before.
Not even when Principal Whitaker exposed the group chat.
This was different.
“What happened?”” I asked.
Silence.
Then:
“I found something.””
Dad looked at me.
“Tell us.””
Madison breathed shakily.
“After you all left the school, Nathan told me I had ruined everything.””
“Why would he say that?”” Dad asked.
“Because I was supposed to make Nia angry.””
My stomach tightened.
Madison continued.
“He said the entire point was to see whether Nia would use her father's power.””
I looked at Dad.
Madison's voice became quieter.
“But she didn't.””
Nobody spoke.
“He said that was the problem.””
Dad asked:
“What else?””
Madison hesitated.
Then whispered:
“He said Nia was the only one who passed.””
The room went silent.
Passed.
Like my pain had been an exam.
Like my dignity had been a score.
I felt sick.
“Madison,” I said.
“I'm sorry.””
The apology surprised me.
Not because it fixed anything.
It didn't.
But because it was the first honest thing she'd said.
“You destroyed my test.””
“I know.””
“You humiliated me.””
“I know.””
“Why?””
Her voice broke.
“Because I thought I was being chosen.””
Dad looked confused.
“Chosen for what?””
Madison answered:
“To join them.””
Lena stepped closer.
“Who?””
“The people behind Project Merit.””
I stared at the phone.
“You wanted to be part of it?””
Madison cried quietly.
“I wanted to be important.””
That sentence stayed with me.
Because for the first time, I didn't see Madison as powerful.
I saw someone desperate to matter.
“What happened next?”” Dad asked.
Madison sniffed.
“Nathan showed me the files.””
“What files?””
“Student rankings.””
My heart sank.
“Rankings of what?””
“Potential.””
She continued.
“Who could lead. Who could break. Who would become useful.””
Dad's face hardened.
“And Nia?””
Madison went quiet.
Then:
“He said your file was different.””
“How?””
“He said you were the only student who never tried to prove anything.””
I didn't know what to say.
Madison continued.
“He was angry about that.””
“Why?””
“Because he couldn't control you.””
The call ended suddenly.
Lena checked.
“Disconnected.””
Dad turned.
“Can we trace it?””
“Working on it.””
Richard sat down heavily.
“I can't believe Nathan did this.””
Dad didn't answer.
Maybe because he could.
Maybe because the worst part wasn't betrayal.
It was that someone who shared his blood had understood exactly where to hurt him.
A security officer entered.
“Mr. Brooks.””
Dad turned.
“We found Samuel.””
Everyone froze.
“Where?””
“In the old Meridian Outreach building.””
Dad grabbed his jacket.
“Is he alone?””
The officer hesitated.
“No.””
My stomach dropped.
“Who is with him?””
The officer looked at me.
“Your uncle.””
Dad immediately started walking.
I followed.
“Nia, stay here.””
“No.””
“This isn't safe.””
“Neither was school.””
He stopped.
For a moment, he looked like he wanted to argue.
Then he didn't.
Because he knew.
We entered the elevator.
As the doors closed, Lena received another alert.
Her face changed.
“What?””
Dad looked at her.
“The building cameras.””
“What about them?””
“They were disabled.””
“By Samuel?””
“No.””
She looked at him.
“By someone using your credentials.””
Dad went still.
“My credentials?””
Lena nodded.
“And there's only one person with access.””
The elevator reached the ground floor.
The doors opened.
Waiting outside was a message on the lobby screen.
Black letters.
White background.
*WELCOME HOME, ELIJAH.*
May you like
Underneath was another line.
*YOU SHOULD HAVE LET THE GIRL STAY INVISIBLE.*
