A low, sinister laugh resonated from the darkness, making my skin prickle. That voice—it was unmistakable, slicing through the fog clouding my thoughts like a razor.
I blinked, my vision adjusting to the flickering light above as a shadowy figure stepped closer. My breath caught in my throat.
Calvin.
The same Calvin who once stood by my side—the one I had trusted without question. His eyes, dark and calculating, glinted beneath the mask as he crouched in front of me, his expression unreadable.
I struggled against the ropes cutting into my wrists, my pulse pounding. “W-What’s happening, Calvin? Why are you wearing that mask? What is this?”
He hesitated briefly, scanning the room with a keen gaze. “A deception,” he said flatly. “I can’t let you interfere.”
His words sent a jolt of fear through me. “What do you mean?” I demanded, my voice shaking.
The old wooden door groaned as it swung open. Calvin straightened abruptly, his posture stiff. He glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “Don’t speak,” he ordered.
I had no choice but to obey. The masked intruder stepped in, moving with slow, deliberate precision, surveying the dimly lit space as if searching for something—or someone. Calvin remained at the room’s edge, seamlessly blending into the darkness, mirroring the man’s rigid stance.
With a subtle nod, Calvin spoke, his voice unnervingly steady. “Nothing to report.” It was detached, practiced—like he had rehearsed this moment countless times before.
The intruder offered no response, lingering for a moment before finally turning and exiting the room.
The second the door clicked shut, Calvin rushed to my side, slicing through the restraints with practiced efficiency. “We don’t have much time. We need to leave,” he urged, gripping my arm and hauling me upright.
My legs buckled beneath me, my head still spinning. “Where… where are you taking me?” I gasped, struggling to regain my balance.
“You’ll know soon enough,” he said cryptically, dragging me toward the exit. I barely had time to react before he pulled me down the dim hallway, his pace relentless.
Distant footsteps thundered through the corridor, making my heart pound. I instinctively tried to pull back.
Calvin abruptly stopped, his grip tightening. “You have to trust me, Kelsey. This is the only way.”
I hesitated, glancing behind us as voices grew louder. A sickening knot twisted in my stomach.
Without another word, Calvin yanked me through a narrow passage and into the dense forest outside the abandoned facility. The crisp night air hit my face like a slap, forcing me to gasp as my senses reeled.
But there was no time to stop. Calvin pressed forward, pulling me through the tangled undergrowth. The uneven ground made every step a struggle, but I pushed on, desperate for answers.
“Let go of me!” I yelled, wrenching my arm. “Tell me what’s going on!”
I stumbled as Calvin abruptly halted, turning to face me with an unreadable expression.
Then his eyes landed on it—the faint birthmark just behind my ear, something I had never paid much attention to. A mark no one had ever mentioned. But in the silver glow of the moonlight, it stood out.
HE HAD KNOWN ABOUT IT.
Calvin stiffened, his breath catching. “It’s real… It’s there,” he murmured under his breath. “The mark…”
A cold wave of panic washed over me. “What mark? What are you talking about?” I demanded, my voice barely above a whisper.
His expression darkened as though everything had suddenly fallen into place. “Kelsey… you’re Dr. Chelsea’s real daughter,” he confessed, disbelief laced in his tone.
Time seemed to freeze. My mind struggled to grasp the weight of his words. “That’s not possible.”
“You’re her biological child,” Calvin continued, his voice tinged with guilt. “Kristie… she was adopted. She was never supposed to be in your place.” He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I was the one who switched you two at birth. It was the only way to keep you safe.”
My entire world tilted as I tried to comprehend the revelation. “Why? Why would you do that?!”
Calvin’s expression was haunted, regret flashing in his eyes. “Because I had to. If your real father ever discovered your identity, he would’ve used you. He would’ve destroyed everything. The only way to protect you was to make sure you never existed in his world.”
His words felt like a crushing weight, suffocating and inescapable. My whole life—every truth I thought I knew—was a lie.
Before I could speak, shouting erupted in the distance. Calvin’s gaze snapped toward the looming mansion up ahead, his face darkening.
We ran. Faster. Deeper into the trees.
After what felt like an eternity, we reached our destination—a massive estate hidden within the thick forest.
Then, a voice.
A single, chilling pause—followed by the sharp, unmistakable crack of gunfire.
“W-We have to get out of here! It’s not safe. H-He killed Dr. Chel—”
