Chapter 15 - The Unseen Shadow
Tonight was a quiet, warm Sunday evening in summer.
The sunset painted the sky in shades of pink gold.
Lily was fast asleep in her wooden bed upstairs.
I sat on the front porch drinking warm tea.
A mail courier van pulled up to my driveway.
The driver stepped out holding a brown paper box.
"Delivery for Ms. Maren Alden," the courier called.
I signed the digital pad, taking the small box.
The cardboard package had zero return address listed anywhere.
I pulled open the brown sealing tape with fingers.
Inside lay a sleek silver encrypted flash drive unit.
Beside the flash drive rested an old color photograph.
The photo showed an old research facility in the mountains.
Standing in front was a tall man in a suit.
He held a newborn baby girl in his arms.
My blood ran completely ice cold in a second.
The man in the photo was my late father.
A message was written on the back of the photo:
"Hello, my brave and brilliant daughter Maren," he wrote.
"Wade and Lorraine were executing my instructions all along."
"I created the trust fund to test your mind."
"You passed the ultimate test, my brilliant girl."
"Now it is time for you to take over."
"I am waiting for you at the mountain facility."
A slow, heavy floorboard creaked on the porch outside.
Footsteps approached our heavy front oak entrance door fast.
The electronic deadbolt lock chimed with a soft beep.
The keycard reader flashed green on the door frame.
The heavy oak front door swung open slowly inside.
A tall man stepped into the dimly lit hallway.
He wore an immaculate, expensive dark tailored silk suit.
His silver hair was styled neatly, his eyes cold.
His facial features matched the photo down to every line.
It was my biological father, standing right before us.
He looked at my terrified face and smiled warmly.
A chilling, terrifying smile of pure paternal pride.
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"Lower your hands, my sweet daughter," he whispered.
The most shocking part is yet to come. Comment 'yes' so I can drop Part Two immediately!
