Chapter 8 - THE EMPTY CRIB
Marcus wanted to call the police.
Daniel wanted them to disappear.
Elena wanted to go home.
Both men stared at her.
“No,” Marcus said.
“She’s in our house.”
“That’s exactly why we don’t go back.”
“She has evidence there.”
“We already have evidence.”
“Not enough.”
“Elena.”
“She has the files. The trial records. Everything.”
Daniel shook his head.
“She’ll burn them.”
“Then we have to move now.”
Marcus hit the steering wheel.
“You’re pregnant.”
“Yes, Marcus. I noticed.”
“You’re having hallucinations.”
“Because she drugged me.”
“That doesn’t make you bulletproof!”
The car went silent.
Elena looked out the window.
Then Marcus sighed.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re scared.”
“So are you.”
“Terrified.”
She looked at him.
“But I am done letting fear make decisions for me.”
They returned to Hale Manor with Daniel.
The front door was open.
No lights.
No staff.
“Where is everybody?” Elena whispered.
Marcus called the house manager.
Voicemail.
Daniel looked toward the windows.
“She sent them away.”
They moved inside.
Elena hated the quiet.
Every room seemed to watch her.
They reached the nursery.
The crib was empty.
A note sat inside.
UNDER THE MATTRESS.
Marcus lifted it.
There was a flash drive beneath.
Daniel plugged it into the laptop.
Video files.
Research reports.
Emails.
Patient records.
Asterion’s hidden prenatal trials.
Some subjects had experienced severe psychosis.
One had attempted suicide.
One had died.
Marcus stared at the screen.
“My father knew.”
An email from his father appeared.
VICTORIA, STOP THE TRIAL IMMEDIATELY.
Another response from Victoria:
WE ARE TOO CLOSE TO WALK AWAY.
Elena opened a folder marked E.M.
Her initials.
Inside were dosage charts.
Seven years ago.
And new charts.
Present day.
WEEK 28 — INCREASE DOSAGE.
WEEK 30 — BEGIN ENVIRONMENTAL REINFORCEMENT.
WEEK 31 — SUBJECT DISPLAYING EXPECTED PARANOIA.
Elena gripped the desk.
“I’m a subject.”
Marcus turned pale.
Daniel whispered, “We take this and go.”
A door slammed downstairs.
All three froze.
Footsteps crossed the foyer.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Marcus picked up a fireplace poker.
Daniel grabbed the laptop.
Elena heard Victoria’s voice from the hallway.
“Elena?”
She looked at Marcus.
He shook his head.
Don’t answer.
“Elena, sweetheart?”
The voice came closer.
“I know you found the files.”
Marcus moved toward the door.
Elena grabbed him.
Then another voice came from behind them.
Victoria’s voice.
Right beside Elena’s ear.
“Too late.”
Elena screamed and spun around.
Nobody was there.
On the dresser, a hidden speaker clicked off.
May you like
Then smoke began pouring under the nursery door.
---
