Chapter 13 - SOMEONE ELSE KNOWS ABOUT LILA
Emma called her father fourteen times.
No answer.
On the fifteenth call, the number was disconnected.
Daniel hired an investigator.
Martin Ward's house in Connecticut had been empty for six weeks.
His car remained in the garage.
Neighbors thought he was traveling.
Nobody knew where.
Emma stared at the report.
“He knew this was coming.”
Evelyn said nothing.
Emma turned toward her.
“What aren't you telling me?”
“I haven't spoken to Martin in years.”
“That wasn't my question.”
Evelyn's jaw tightened.
Emma stepped closer.
“My father arranged for me to meet Daniel.”
“It appears so.”
“Why?”
“Because he believed bringing the lines together might eliminate the instability.”
Daniel frowned.
“What instability?”
Evelyn looked at Lila.
“Some children transform unpredictably. Others become ill when kept too far from saltwater.”
Emma remembered Lila refusing milk.
“You knew.”
“I feared.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
Evelyn sighed.
“Martin spent years studying old records. He became convinced the Holloway line might stabilize ours.”
Margaret crossed her arms.
“So he played matchmaker.”
“He arranged one event.”
Daniel laughed humorlessly.
“One event that led to marriage and a child.”
“He didn't control your choices.”
“That doesn't make it acceptable.”
The doorbell rang.
Everyone froze.
Security checked.
Delivery driver.
Package addressed to Daniel.
No return sender.
Daniel ordered the guard to open it outside.
Inside was a tablet.
Nothing else.
The tablet powered on automatically.
A video began.
The aquarium room.
Margaret holding Lila.
The transformation.
Not a photograph this time.
A full recording.
Emma covered her mouth.
Someone had filmed the entire thirteen seconds.
From outside.
Then text appeared on the screen.
SUBJECT L-01 CONFIRMED.
Another line.
DUAL-LINE EXPRESSION OBSERVED.
Daniel smashed the tablet against the table.
Evelyn grabbed his arm.
“Don't!”
“Why?”
“It may be transmitting.”
He stepped back.
The screen flickered despite the cracked glass.
A final message appeared.
WE ONLY WANT TO HELP THE CHILD.
Then:
SHE CANNOT REMAIN ON LAND INDEFINITELY.
Emma whispered, “Meridian.”
Evelyn nodded.
Daniel ordered the entire device sealed.
Margaret stared at the phrase L-01.
“Why number her?”
Evelyn looked uneasy.
“Research classification.”
“Is she the first?”
“I don't know.”
“You do know.”
“No.”
Margaret stepped closer.
“You lived among these people.”
“I escaped them.”
“How many children have they taken?”
Evelyn's silence turned the room cold.
Emma whispered, “Mom.”
“Over the decades?”
“Yes.”
“I don't know.”
“How many did you see?”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Seven.”
Emma backed away.
“Seven children?”
“Some were teenagers.”
“What happened to them?”
“I don't know.”
Daniel's voice became dangerous.
“You left them.”
“I was twenty-three.”
“You don't age normally.”
“I was still twenty-three in every way that mattered.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“And I have hated myself for leaving ever since.”
Lila began fussing.
Emma picked her up.
The baby's skin seemed unusually dry.
Her lips slightly pale.
Emma panicked.
“She needs water.”
Evelyn touched Lila's arm.
“Yes.”
Daniel filled the controlled basin.
Lila's feet entered.
Scales appeared faster this time.
Ten seconds.
Then five.
Emma looked at Evelyn.
“It's getting quicker.”
“Yes.”
“What does that mean?”
Evelyn didn't answer.
The baby relaxed.
Her legs merged partially.
Daniel watched, torn between fear and fascination.
The moment they removed her, the transformation reversed.
But it took longer.
Five minutes.
Then ten.
Evelyn looked worried.
Emma noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Stop saying that.”
Evelyn looked at her granddaughter.
“The adaptation is strengthening.”
“Is that bad?”
“I don't know.”
Daniel nearly shouted.
“You've said that enough.”
Before Evelyn could respond, Daniel's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He ignored it.
It rang again.
Emma said, “Answer.”
Daniel turned on speaker.
A male voice.
Calm.
Educated.
“Mr. Holloway.”
“Who is this?”
“My name is Dr. Adrian Voss.”
Evelyn went completely still.
Daniel noticed.
“You know him.”
Voss continued.
“I represent people who understand your daughter's condition better than anyone currently in your home.”
Daniel looked directly at Evelyn.
“What do you want?”
“Nothing from you.”
A pause.
“We want Lila.”
Emma's grip tightened around her baby.
Daniel's face hardened.
“You're never coming near my daughter.”
Dr. Voss remained calm.
“You misunderstand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“No, Mr. Holloway.”
The man's voice dropped.
May you like
“We are not asking because we need your permission.”
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