Pierceton, MA
A private estate sat on the outskirts of town, its presence both imposing and elusive. Thirty minutes from Worcester, the grand stone mansion was surrounded by an iron gate, and beyond it, the landscape was pristine gardens, a marble fountain, and the soft glow of lanterns illuminating the private driveway. It exuded both wealth and secrecy, a place where power operated behind closed doors.
A phone rang in one of the dimly lit rooms.
A woman, whose face was partially obscured, picked up the receiver. The only things visible were the faint lines of age that hadn't fully claimed her features and the auburn strands of hair that caught the light. She looked to be in her sixties but carried a timeless presence, an aura of command that never fades.
"Any results?" she asked, her voice smooth, but edged with expectation.
"No, not yet," Robert's voice came through, laced with frustration. "I need another lead. I was compromised and may have attracted police attention."
The woman sighed, a subtle amusement playing in her tone. "You got sloppy. Well, they have indeed started looking into your case. You haven't really been low-key these past few years. It was bound to happen."
"Can you help me or not?" Robert snapped.
"Oh, Robert, always so eager." A small chuckle followed. "You were never one to enjoy waiting."
Fine.
"There's a location I want you to check—Laurel Wharf, just outside the city."
"You'll find him there."
A brief pause.
"Hopefully you're right," Robert muttered.
"When have I ever been wrong?"
The line clicked off.
Robert pulled into an underground parking lot, his car gliding smoothly into a shadowed space. The engines sound faded as he shuts it off, leaving only a distant echo of footsteps from somewhere in the structure.
He sat still for a moment, fingers drumming against the steering wheel, thoughts swirling. Then, exhaling slowly, he pulled out his phone and started dialing.
It rang twice before Ethan answered.
****************************
The football field was bathed in bright artificial light, long shadows stretching across the grass. The empty bleachers loomed in the background, their silence amplifying the isolation of the moment.
I stepped onto the field, my eyes locking onto Lidia, who sat on one of the benches, her posture stiff, her expression unreadable. The field lights illuminated her profile, but something about the way she sat—motionless, gaze distant—made my stomach tighten.
"Finally here," she said, not bothering to look up immediately.
"Yeah," I replied, shoving my hands into my pockets, the cool night air brushing against my skin.
She glanced at me then, her expression measured. "You're going to need to come with me. There's someone who might be able to help us examine your situation."
I felt the weight of those words settle over me. "And how exactly is this person going to do that?"
"That's what we're going to find out," Lidia said simply.
Before I could respond, my phone vibrated.
I quickly glanced down at the screen.
Dad.
I hesitated, then answered. "Yes, Dad?"
"How are you, son?" Dad's voice came through steady but carried an undertone of something deeper.
I paused, torn between telling the truth and keeping the insanity of my new reality buried. The secret weighed heavily on my chest, but I swallowed it down.
"I'm fine," I finally said.
A pause, then, "I think I'm getting closer, son. I know I've hit roadblocks over the years, but this time… it's different. It's like I can feel it."
I didn't know what to say. My father had been chasing answers for so long—
"Dad, it's okay," I said, my voice soft. "You don't have to do this alone."
"I should be the one worrying about you," he countered. "Not the other way around."
"Now just focus on getting along at school. Focus on your studies, and remember—if anything happens, call me."
"Yes, Dad. I will," I said, feeling my heart squeezing tighter.
The call ended, leaving me with the weight of everything unsaid.
I exhaled and turned back to Lidia.
She was watching me carefully.
"Let's meet back here tommortow , hope your ready?" she said.
I wasn't sure if I ever would be.
But I nodded anyway.
I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen, and it felt closer than I ever thought.