EPISODE 3: THE MESSAGE
Amara stared at her phone.
The call had lasted less than twenty seconds.
But one sentence changed everything.
“I'm sorry it took me nineteen years to find you.”
Her mother, could she really be alive?
She called the number back, it was unavailable.
For the first time, Amara wondered if the story of her mother's death had been a lie.
THE NEXT MORNING
At 6:13 a.m., her phone buzzed
UNKNOWN NUMBER
Don't trust the woman who calls herself your mother. Elena isn't the only person who survived that night.
Amara typed: Who are you?
No reply.
Then a photograph arrived.
Her mother stood beside a burning car.
Amara zoomed in.
A little boy stood in the background.
Her heart stopped.
It was Daniel.
*DANIEL'S SECRET*
Amara rushed to Michael.
“You knew Daniel as a child.”
She showed him the photograph.
Michael stared at it.
“I've never seen this.”
“That's Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“Why was he there?”
“I don't know.”
Michael looked uneasy.
“Stop responding to these messages, Amara.”
“Why?”
“Because whoever is sending them knows too much.”
“You're hiding something.”
Michael sighed and answered “Daniel knew your mother was alive.”
Amara froze.
“For how long?”
“A year.”
“Why didn't he tell me?”
“He was afraid.”
“Of my mother?”
“No.”
Michael lowered his voice.
“He was afraid of what would happen if you found her.”
That afternoon, another message arrived.
Go to the old railway station at 11 p.m.
Come alone.
Bring the photograph.
Amara knew it was dangerous.
But she needed answers.
At 10:45 p.m., she left.
Alone.
*THE OLD RAILWAY STATION*
The station was deserted.
“Hello?”
A man's voice came from the darkness.
“You came.”
He stepped into the light.
It was the man from the black SUV.
“Where is my mother?”
“You're asking the wrong question.”
“What question should I ask?”
“Why did your mother leave you?”
“She didn't.”
“You don't know what happened that night.”
“Then tell me.”
He handed her a photograph.
Victor Adeyemi stood beside Elena.
Daniel was between them.
Behind them stood Daniel's father.
Amara's heart sank.
“What does this mean?”
The man handed her a letter.
“Your mother wanted you to have this.”
Amara opened it.
My dearest Amara,
I never abandoned you
Someone I trusted betrayed me, and that person is still close to you.
Your father did not die that night.
Find the road where the accident happened. Look beneath the old sign.
That is where the truth began.
Love,
Mum
“Mum…”
Amara looked up.
The man was gone.
Then her phone rang.
Daniel.
“Daniel! Where are you?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Why?”
“They're listening.”
“You knew my mother was alive.”
Silence.
“Yes.”
“You lied to me.”
“I was protecting you.”
“From what?”
His voice trembled.
“From the truth.”
Before he could continue, another man's voice came through the phone.
“Daniel, your time is up.”
The call ended.
Amara's phone buzzed again.
You have 24 hours to find the road.
A location appeared.
It was the exact place where her parents supposedly died nineteen years ago.
Then another message:
Come alone, Amara.
This time, you will meet your father.
Amara stared at the screen.
Her mother might be alive.
Her father might be alive.
Daniel was missing.
And someone was watching her.
She started her car.
She was done being afraid.
As she drove into the darkness, a black SUV followed.
Inside, a man held a photograph of eight-year-old Amara.
He stared at it and whispered:
“She still doesn't remember.”
TO BE CONTINUED...
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