Chapter 8 The Killer In The Fire

• "Your parents' killer is inside that building right now."
• The words hit me harder than the explosion. For a moment, everything else disappeared. The screams, the smoke and the chaos. All I could hear was Victor's voice repeating inside my head. Your parent's killer, inside, right now. My pulse exploded.
• "What?"
• I stumbled forward. Victor pointed toward the burning warehouse.
• "There."
• The flames climbed higher. Black smoke rushed toward the scene. Emergency vehicles started arriving from every direction. I could barely breathe. After twenty years, twenty years. The person responsible for destroying my family was finally within reach.
• "No."
• I pulled away from Marcus.
• "I'm going."
• His grip tightened immediately.
• "Absolutely not."
• "Let me go."
• My voice cracked.
• "Elena"
• "Let me go!"
• The anger shocked even me. Marcus froze. I turned towards Adrian.
• "You knew."
• My eyes burned.
• "You knew my father."
• His jaw tightened.
• "Not now."
• "Not now?"
• I laughed bitterly.
• "Someone murdered my parents."
• Pain ripped through my chest.
• "And you're telling me not now?"
• Adrian looked exhausted, guilty and haunted. I didn't care anymore. Too many lies, too many secrets, too many years stolen from me. The warehouse groaned loudly as another section collapsed. Everybody turned. The fire was spreading fast. Victor watched the flames calmly, far too calmly. Something felt wrong. Very wrong. I looked at him.
• "If the killer is inside, how do you know?"
• A strange smile touched his lips.
• "Because that's where he was supposed to meet me."
• The air seemed to freeze. Marcus cursed, Adrian's eyes darkened. My stomach dropped.
• "What?"
• Victor sighed.
• "He contacted me yesterday."
• Fear crawled through me.
• "Why?"
• "He wanted the key."
• Of course the key. Everything kept leading back to that stupid key. Victor looked toward the fire.
• "But somebody got there first."
• My heartbeat accelerated. Somebody, another player, another enemy, another secret. I was getting tired of discovering how little I actually knew. An officer suddenly ran toward us.
• "Sir!"
• The police chief turned.
• "What happened?"
• The officer looked shaken.
• "There's a body inside."
• My pulse skipped, nobody moved, nobody spoke. The officer swallowed hard.
• "Male."
• Fear rushed through me.
• Was it him? Was it really him? The person who destroyed my family? My hands started trembling. The police chief immediately started giving orders. More officers rushed toward the building. Marcus moved closer to me, protective, alert and watching everything. Victor remained strangely calm. Too calm. I noticed Adrian watching him. Suspicion filled his expression then Adrian spoke.
• "You knew this would happen."
• Victor looked at him.
• "No."
• "You expected it."
• Victor smiled slightly.
• "Maybe."
• The answer made my skin crawl. I looked between them. Both men seemed to understand something I didn't again. Always again. The frustration became unbearable.
• "What aren't you telling me?"
• Nobody answered. I nearly screamed. Before I could push further, another officer emerged from the warehouse. This one looked even worse, paler, shaken. The police chief frowned.
• "What is it?"
• The officer hesitated then spoke.
• "The victim isn't alone."
• My stomach dropped.
• "What do you mean?"
• The officer swallowed.
• "We found a second person."
• Silence. Complete silence. Fear wrapped around my throat. The officer continued.
• "Female."
• My heart stopped.
• No! No!! No!!! Vivian. The thought slammed into me immediately. Adrian stiffened beside me. Marcus looked alarmed. The police chief spoke quickly.
• "Alive?"
• The officer nodded. Relief flooded everyone. For one second, one brief second then the officer added.
• "Barely."
• Adrian moved instantly.
• "Take me there."
• The police chief tried stopping him. Adrian ignored him. Within seconds he was heading toward the warehouse. Part of me wanted to follow, another part couldn't move. My legs felt weak, my mind felt overloaded. Everything was happening too fast. Victor suddenly laughed. The sound snapped my attention towards him.
• "What is wrong with you?"
• The anger in my voice surprised me. Victor looked at me carefully then his expression softened.
• "You're finally asking the right questions."
• I stared at him.
• "What does that mean?"
• His eyes drifted toward the fire.
• "The people behind this are scared."
• Fear settled deeper inside me.
• "Why?"
• Victor looked directly at me.
• "Because you're alive."
• The answer made no sense. My confusion must have shown because he sighed.
• "You still don't understand."
• "Then explain."
• His gaze sharpened.
• "The list."
• My stomach twisted.
• "What about it?"
• Victor took a step closer.
• "The names on that list belong to people who would do anything to protect themselves."
• A chill ran through me. Anything. I already knew what that meant. Murder, threats, kidnapping and destruction. Victor nodded slowly.
• "As long as the list exists, they're vulnerable."
• My pulse quickened.
• "And they think I have it?"
• "No."
• His answer came immediately. I frowned.
• "Then what?"
• Victor's expression darkened.
• "They think you're the key to finding it."
• The words landed heavily. I stared at him, unable to speak, unable to think. Me? Why me? I was four years old. I remembered almost nothing. What could I possibly know? Victor seemed to read my thoughts.
• "Children see more than adults realize."
• Fear exploded inside my chest. Memories flashed through my mind. Broken pieces, fragments, face, voices, darkness, a woman crying, a man shouting, a silver object. My breathing became uneven. Victor noticed immediately.
• "What do you remember?"
• I stepped back. Nothing. I remembered nothing. At least that's what I kept telling myself but suddenly I wasn't sure anymore. The fragments felt stronger, closer, like something buried deep inside my mind was trying to surface. Marcus grabbed my shoulder.
• "Stop."
• Victor looked annoyed.
• "She deserves the truth."
• "Not from you."
• The hatred between them was obvious, ancient, personal and dangerous. Before Victor could respond, a shout erupted near the warehouse. Everyone turned. Officers were rushing towards a stretcher. A woman lay motionless on it. Vivian. My heart sank. She looked terrible, burns covered one arm, blood stained her clothes. Several paramedics surrounded her. Adrian followed closely behind. His expression was impossible to read then something happened. Something nobody expected. Vivian's eyes opened, barely, weakly but they opened. One paramedic leaned closer, trying to hear her. Vivian whispered something. The paramedic frowned.
• "What?"
• She repeated it. The paramedic's face changed instantly. Fear, pure fear. The man immediately looked toward us, toward me. My stomach dropped. The paramedic rushed forward.
• "What did she say?"
• Adrian demanded.
• The paramedic hesitated then answered. Every word hit like a bomb.
• "She said..."
• The crowd fell silent, the fire crackled behind us. Nobody breathed, nobody moved then the paramedic delivered the message.
• "She said Elena is next.”