{"id":5219,"date":"2026-09-01T00:54:32","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T00:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/?p=5219"},"modified":"2026-09-01T00:54:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T00:54:32","slug":"part-9-behind-the-locked-pantry-door-silas-found-the-letters-his-father-never-meant-him-to-read","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/?p=5219","title":{"rendered":"PART 9: – Behind the Locked Pantry Door, Silas Found the Letters His Father Never Meant Him to Read"},"content":{"rendered":"

PART 9<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The darkness breathed.
\nDaniel stood completely still.
\nHe could hear Claire behind him.
\nHe could hear Leah breathing.
\nBut the voice\u2014
\nThe voice was gone.
\n\u201cDad?\u201d
\nDaniel turned.
\nNothing.
\nOnly darkness.
\n\u201cSilas?\u201d
\nNo answer.
\nDaniel lifted his phone.
\nThe screen was black.
\nNo signal.
\nNo messages.
\nNothing.
\nThen\u2014
\nA small red light appeared at the end of the corridor.
\nDaniel stared at it.
\nClaire grabbed his arm.
\n\u201cDon’t.\u201d
\nDaniel looked at her.
\n\u201cThat’s the camera.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cThen someone is watching us.\u201d
\nClaire’s voice dropped.
\n\u201cThey’ve been watching you for years.\u201d
\nDaniel turned toward the red light.
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\nClaire didn’t answer.
\nA speaker crackled overhead.
\nThen a child’s voice came through.
\n\u201cDaniel.\u201d
\nHe froze.
\nThe voice sounded exactly like his own.
\nBut younger.
\nMuch younger.
\nTen years old.
\n\u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The voice repeated.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome closer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leah whispered,<\/p>\n

\u201cThat isn’t possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel took one step forward.<\/p>\n

Claire grabbed him.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon’t listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause that’s how it starts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow what starts?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe memories.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel pulled his arm away.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSilas is in here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe called me Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I’m going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel walked toward the red light.<\/p>\n

The corridor seemed to stretch with every step.<\/p>\n

Ten feet.<\/p>\n

Twenty.<\/p>\n

Thirty.<\/p>\n

Then the light disappeared.<\/p>\n

Daniel stopped.<\/p>\n

A door opened beside him.<\/p>\n

He jumped.<\/p>\n

Inside was a small room.<\/p>\n

A table.<\/p>\n

Two chairs.<\/p>\n

And an old tape recorder.<\/p>\n

Daniel recognized it.<\/p>\n

His father’s.<\/p>\n

Claire stared into the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve seen this before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was a child.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel looked at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn’t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I was afraid you’d remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stepped inside.<\/p>\n

The tape recorder turned on by itself.<\/p>\n

Static.<\/p>\n

Then Walter’s voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel closed his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you’re hearing this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

A pause.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026then you’re finally old enough to understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel whispered,<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstand what?\u201d<\/p>\n

The recording continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were never the experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel opened his eyes.<\/p>\n

Claire looked at him.<\/p>\n

Walter continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were the observer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe children were the experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n

The machine clicked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you were the one person they could not control.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stepped closer.<\/p>\n

Walter’s voice became quieter.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause you had already been exposed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire whispered,<\/p>\n

\u201cExposed to what?\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel didn’t answer.<\/p>\n

The recording continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo the first memory.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tape hissed.<\/p>\n

Daniel suddenly felt a sharp pain behind his eyes.<\/p>\n

A flash.<\/p>\n

A hallway.<\/p>\n

A little boy.<\/p>\n

A woman.<\/p>\n

A door.<\/p>\n

Then another image.<\/p>\n

A newborn baby.<\/p>\n

Daniel gasped.<\/p>\n

The image disappeared.<\/p>\n

He grabbed the table.<\/p>\n

Claire caught him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you see?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walter’s voice came through again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first memory was not human.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel froze.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire looked confused.<\/p>\n

The tape continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt came from before the Circle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stared at the recorder.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore the Circle?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was another organization.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tape crackled.<\/p>\n

\u201cOlder.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBigger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd much more dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel whispered,<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was it called?\u201d<\/p>\n

Silence.<\/p>\n

Then Walter said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe House.\u201d<\/p>\n

The recorder stopped.<\/p>\n

Nobody moved.<\/p>\n

Leah finally spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe House?\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire nodded slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve heard that name.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel looked at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom where?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour father.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter your mother disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel’s face hardened.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mother didn’t disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire looked at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe died.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s what you were told.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stared at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Claire could answer\u2014<\/p>\n

The door slammed shut.<\/p>\n

Leah screamed.<\/p>\n

Daniel grabbed the handle.<\/p>\n

Locked.<\/p>\n

The lights came on.<\/p>\n

A screen appeared on the wall.<\/p>\n

A countdown began.<\/p>\n

00:14:52<\/strong><\/p>\n

Daniel stared.<\/p>\n

\u201cFourteen minutes?\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire looked around.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn’t part of the original laboratory.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Walter never built this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel looked at the screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen who did?\u201d<\/p>\n

A voice answered from the speaker.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel froze.<\/p>\n

\u201cSilas?\u201d<\/p>\n

The voice laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel’s blood went cold.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen who?\u201d<\/p>\n

A face appeared on the screen.<\/p>\n

An elderly woman.<\/p>\n

White hair.<\/p>\n

Pale skin.<\/p>\n

A scar across one eye.<\/p>\n

Daniel didn’t recognize her.<\/p>\n

Claire did.<\/p>\n

She stepped backward.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel turned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho is she?\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire couldn’t speak.<\/p>\n

The woman on the screen smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire’s eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’re dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo was Elias.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stared at the screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman looked directly at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’ve called me many names.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve never seen you before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n

She laughed softly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’ve seen me every night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel’s face tightened.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just don’t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

The screen changed.<\/p>\n

A photograph appeared.<\/p>\n

Daniel as a child.<\/p>\n

Standing beside his mother.<\/p>\n

But there was something wrong.<\/p>\n

His mother wasn’t looking at the camera.<\/p>\n

She was looking at someone behind it.<\/p>\n

The woman on the screen.<\/p>\n

Daniel stared.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another photograph.<\/p>\n

Daniel at twelve.<\/p>\n

The woman was there.<\/p>\n

Another.<\/p>\n

Daniel at sixteen.<\/p>\n

She was there.<\/p>\n

Another.<\/p>\n

Daniel at twenty.<\/p>\n

She was there.<\/p>\n

Every photograph.<\/p>\n

Every age.<\/p>\n

Always watching.<\/p>\n

Daniel’s breathing became shallow.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m the person who raised you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father raised me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

She leaned toward the camera.<\/p>\n

\u201cWalter protected you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stared.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wasn’t your father.\u201d<\/p>\n

The room went silent.<\/p>\n

Daniel couldn’t breathe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire whispered,<\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cWalter was assigned to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAssigned?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy whom?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the House.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel’s mind raced.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen who was my father?\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is the question you’ve been running from.\u201d<\/p>\n

The screen flickered.<\/p>\n

The countdown continued.<\/p>\n

00:11:37<\/strong><\/p>\n

Daniel shouted,<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is Silas?\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman didn’t answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is my son?\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour son is exactly where he needs to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeside his father.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stared.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe’s not my son?\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman tilted her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot in the way you think.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel’s chest tightened.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen tell me what he is.\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman looked toward Claire.<\/p>\n

\u201cAsk her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel turned.<\/p>\n

Claire looked terrified.<\/p>\n

\u201cClaire.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire closed her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Silas was born\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

She stopped.<\/p>\n

Daniel waited.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026there was no heartbeat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel froze.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis heart didn’t beat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leah covered her mouth.<\/p>\n

Claire continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey tried for eleven minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe started breathing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire looked at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe opened his eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe looked at me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel’s voice became quiet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire began crying.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said your name.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stared.<\/p>\n

\u201cImpossible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a newborn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe couldn’t speak.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire whispered:<\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n

The room seemed to shrink.<\/p>\n

Daniel looked at the screen.<\/p>\n

The woman was smiling.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou understand now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’re getting closer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is Silas?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwenty minutes from here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel looked at the countdown.<\/p>\n

Ten minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happens when the timer reaches zero?\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first memory returns.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat memory?\u201d<\/p>\n

She leaned toward the camera.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one you killed to protect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stopped.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never killed anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou killed a memory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stared.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’ll remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

The screen went black.<\/p>\n

Then the door unlocked.<\/p>\n

Daniel pushed it open.<\/p>\n

The corridor outside was empty.<\/p>\n

Claire followed.<\/p>\n

Leah stayed close.<\/p>\n

Daniel looked at his watch.<\/p>\n

11:53 p.m.<\/p>\n

Seven minutes.<\/p>\n

They ran.<\/p>\n

The corridor opened into a huge underground chamber.<\/p>\n

At the center stood the machine.<\/p>\n

The same machine from the photographs.<\/p>\n

But now it was running.<\/p>\n

Lights pulsed.<\/p>\n

Wires trembled.<\/p>\n

A chair stood beneath a metal helmet.<\/p>\n

And someone was sitting in it.<\/p>\n

Daniel stopped.<\/p>\n

\u201cSilas.\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy looked up.<\/p>\n

\u201cDad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel ran toward him.<\/p>\n

Claire screamed,<\/p>\n

\u201cWAIT!\u201d<\/p>\n

Too late.<\/p>\n

Daniel reached the chair.<\/p>\n

Silas smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou came.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel grabbed him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid they hurt you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho brought you here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Silas looked behind Daniel.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrandpa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel turned.<\/p>\n

Nobody was there.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich grandpa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Silas pointed toward the glass wall.<\/p>\n

Walter stood on the other side.<\/p>\n

Daniel stopped breathing.<\/p>\n

Walter.<\/p>\n

Alive.<\/p>\n

Young.<\/p>\n

Exactly as Daniel remembered him.<\/p>\n

Daniel stumbled backward.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walter smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel’s knees almost gave way.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’re dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou died three years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walter nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stared.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat plan?\u201d<\/p>\n

Walter looked at Silas.<\/p>\n

Then at Claire.<\/p>\n

Then back at Daniel.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo make you believe the story was over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel’s voice shook.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat story?\u201d<\/p>\n

Walter’s expression changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe story about the first child.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel looked toward Silas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho is the first child?\u201d<\/p>\n

Walter didn’t answer.<\/p>\n

Instead, he pressed a button.<\/p>\n

The machine behind Silas began humming louder.<\/p>\n

Daniel grabbed the boy.<\/p>\n

\u201cTurn it off!\u201d<\/p>\n

Walter shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI gave him back his memories.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stared.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walter looked at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel froze.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy memories?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Silas was never supposed to remember himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel’s blood ran cold.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

Walter looked toward the machine.<\/p>\n

\u201cSilas is carrying something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA memory.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhose?\u201d<\/p>\n

Walter whispered:<\/p>\n

\u201cYours.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stared at Silas.<\/p>\n

The boy’s eyes were no longer frightened.<\/p>\n

They were calm.<\/p>\n

Too calm.<\/p>\n

Silas slowly stood.<\/p>\n

Then he looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n

\u201cDad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stepped backward.<\/p>\n

Silas smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember the night you came to the laboratory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel felt his stomach drop.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was ten.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember the children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silas nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember the machine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel’s voice broke.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you weren’t there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silas shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was there before I was born.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel couldn’t speak.<\/p>\n

Silas continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou carried me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stared at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Silas pointed toward the machine.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou carried me out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel looked at Walter.<\/p>\n

Walter said nothing.<\/p>\n

Silas whispered,<\/p>\n

\u201cYou promised you’d come back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel’s memories exploded.<\/p>\n

A hospital.<\/p>\n

Fire.<\/p>\n

Screaming.<\/p>\n

Walter shouting.<\/p>\n

Claire crying.<\/p>\n

A newborn baby in his arms.<\/p>\n

Daniel running.<\/p>\n

A woman chasing him.<\/p>\n

A gunshot.<\/p>\n

A door closing.<\/p>\n

Then\u2014<\/p>\n

A face.<\/p>\n

The same elderly woman from the screen.<\/p>\n

She was standing in front of him.<\/p>\n

But she wasn’t old.<\/p>\n

She was young.<\/p>\n

And she was holding a baby.<\/p>\n

The baby looked exactly like Silas.<\/p>\n

Daniel collapsed.<\/p>\n

Claire screamed his name.<\/p>\n

He saw the final memory.<\/p>\n

The memory Walter had hidden for twenty years.<\/p>\n

Daniel wasn’t the boy who witnessed the experiment.<\/p>\n

He was the boy who escaped from it.<\/p>\n

And he hadn’t escaped alone.<\/p>\n

He had carried the first child with him.<\/p>\n

Silas.<\/p>\n

But there was one thing Daniel still couldn’t understand.<\/p>\n

If Silas was the first child\u2026<\/p>\n

Why did the photograph show him standing beside Daniel twenty years before Daniel was born?<\/p>\n

The answer appeared on the machine’s screen.<\/p>\n

One sentence.<\/p>\n

SUBJECT 000 WAS BORN BEFORE HIS FATHER.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Daniel stared.<\/p>\n

Then another line appeared.<\/p>\n

SUBJECT 000 IS NOT DANIEL.<\/strong><\/p>\n

His heart stopped.<\/p>\n

A third line appeared.<\/p>\n

SUBJECT 000 IS THE CHILD WHO CREATED HIM.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The machine suddenly screamed.<\/p>\n

All the lights turned red.<\/p>\n

Silas looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n

And for the first time, the boy’s voice sounded different.<\/p>\n

Older.<\/p>\n

Much older.<\/p>\n

\u201cDad\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel stared at him.<\/p>\n

Silas whispered:<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

The machine activated.<\/p>\n

A blinding white light filled the chamber.<\/p>\n

And Daniel remembered the truth.<\/p>\n

Not about Silas.<\/p>\n

Not about Walter.<\/p>\n

Not about the Circle.<\/p>\n

But about himself.<\/p>\n

He remembered being born.<\/p>\n

He remembered opening his eyes.<\/p>\n

He remembered the woman standing over him.<\/p>\n

And he remembered the first words she ever spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are not my son.\u201d<\/p>\n

A pause.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are his father.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel screamed.<\/p>\n

The machine went silent.<\/p>\n

When the light disappeared\u2014<\/p>\n

Silas was gone.<\/p>\n

And standing in his place was a man who looked exactly like Daniel.<\/p>\n

Except he was twenty years older.<\/p>\n

He looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n

Smiled.<\/p>\n

And whispered:<\/p>\n

\u201cYou finally remembered me.\u201d<\/p>\n

TO BE CONTINUED\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Click Here to continuous Read Full Ending Story\ud83d\udc49 PART(10): – Behind the Locked Pantry Door, Silas Found the Letters His Father Never Meant Him to Read<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PART 9 The darkness breathed. Daniel stood completely still. He could hear Claire behind him. He could hear Leah breathing. But the voice\u2014 The voice was gone. \u201cDad?\u201d Daniel turned. … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5219"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5219\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5231,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5219\/revisions\/5231"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}