The six small hands remained pressed against the glass.
\nElias couldn’t breathe.
\nLily stood beside him.
\nHer face had gone completely still.
\nThe blue light from the chamber reflected in her eyes.
\n\u201cDaddy\u2026\u201d
\nElias looked down.
\n\u201cYes?\u201d
\nLily pointed at the six figures behind the glass.
\n\u201cThey’re scared.\u201d
\nElias stared.
\nThe children weren’t moving.
\nThey were simply standing there.
\nSix girls.
\nSix pale faces.
\nSix pairs of eyes watching him.
\nThen one of them lifted her hand.
\nShe touched the glass.
\nLily raised her own hand.
\nElias grabbed her wrist.
\n\u201cDon’t.\u201d
\nLily looked at him.
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cI don’t know what’s on the other side.\u201d
\nThe girl behind the glass smiled.
\nThen she mouthed two words.<\/p>\n
HELP US.<\/strong><\/p>\n Elias’s grip loosened.<\/p>\n He stepped toward the chamber.<\/p>\n \u201cOpen it.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian immediately shouted:<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n Elias turned.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re not stopping me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you open that door, everything ends.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think this is about rescuing children?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat else would it be?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian pointed at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cThose aren’t children anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at the chamber.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are they?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cArchives.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael suddenly spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone turned.<\/p>\n Michael had reached the doorway.<\/p>\n Blood was running down his side.<\/p>\n \u201cThey’re not archives.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian’s expression darkened.<\/p>\n Michael continued:<\/p>\n \u201cThey’re witnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t know what you’re talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know exactly what I’m talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael pointed at the six girls.<\/p>\n \u201cThey remember.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked between them.<\/p>\n \u201cRemember what?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s voice dropped.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything.\u201d<\/p>\n The chamber lights turned red.<\/p>\n A computer announced:<\/p>\n MEMORY INTEGRITY: 100%.<\/strong><\/p>\n Then:<\/p>\n SUBJECT ONE THROUGH SIX: ACTIVE.<\/strong><\/p>\n Elias stared at the monitor.<\/p>\n \u201cActive?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThey never died.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah looked at Adrian.<\/p>\n \u201cYou told us they were dead.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian said nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cYou told us all six failed.\u201d<\/p>\n Still nothing.<\/p>\n Sarah’s voice broke.<\/p>\n \u201cYou lied to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian finally looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cI protected you.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah laughed bitterly.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone keeps saying that.\u201d<\/p>\n Then the chamber door unlocked.<\/p>\n CLICK.<\/strong><\/p>\n Elias raised his weapon.<\/p>\n Michael shouted:<\/p>\n \u201cWait!\u201d<\/p>\n The door opened.<\/p>\n One girl stepped outside.<\/p>\n She looked approximately ten years old.<\/p>\n She wore a white hospital gown.<\/p>\n Her hair was wet.<\/p>\n Her feet were bare.<\/p>\n She looked at Elias.<\/p>\n Then at Lily.<\/p>\n Then she smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Zero.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias froze.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n The girl answered:<\/p>\n \u201cLena.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Lena is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n The girl tilted her head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed toward the speaker.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s my memory.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re saying the voice\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWas recorded.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why did it speak to Lily?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Lily remembers me.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cI know you.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYou should.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias crouched.<\/p>\n \u201cLily, what do you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily looked at Lena.<\/p>\n \u201cWe used to play together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn the white room.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias felt sick.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long ago?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily’s face became confused.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena answered for her.<\/p>\n \u201cFourteen years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n \u201cThat would make Lily a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at Adrian.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you do to her?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian’s face remained cold.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn’t do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen who did?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian pointed toward the ceiling.<\/p>\n \u201cThey did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Founders.\u201d<\/p>\n The room went silent.<\/p>\n Elias remembered the words.<\/p>\n The people who built the first vault.<\/p>\n The people who created the organization.<\/p>\n The people everyone feared.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are the Founders?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian looked at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cThey’re coming.\u201d<\/p>\n Suddenly\u2014<\/p>\n the facility doors slammed shut.<\/p>\n A warning siren began screaming.<\/p>\n LOCKDOWN.<\/strong><\/p>\n Michael ran toward the control panel.<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stared at the screen.<\/p>\n \u201cThey’ve taken control of the facility.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah asked:<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael turned.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Founders.\u201d<\/p>\n The monitors switched on.<\/p>\n One after another.<\/p>\n Every screen displayed the same symbol.<\/p>\n A black circle.<\/p>\n Inside it\u2014<\/p>\n a white eye.<\/p>\n Then a voice filled the room.<\/p>\n \u201cGood evening, Elias.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias raised his weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cShow yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n A man laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou still give orders.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy name isn’t important.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen give me a name.\u201d<\/p>\n A pause.<\/p>\n \u201cCall me the Keeper.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLily.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias tightened his grip.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re not getting her.\u201d<\/p>\n The Keeper laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou still think this is a negotiation.\u201d<\/p>\n The screen changed.<\/p>\n A live image appeared.<\/p>\n It showed a room.<\/p>\n A chair.<\/p>\n A woman tied to it.<\/p>\n Elias’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cAmelia.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily screamed:<\/p>\n \u201cMom!\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stepped toward the monitor.<\/p>\n \u201cLet her go.\u201d<\/p>\n The Keeper said:<\/p>\n \u201cBring me Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen Amelia dies.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily grabbed Elias’s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked down.<\/p>\n She was crying.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t want them to hurt Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias squeezed her hand.<\/p>\n \u201cThey won’t.\u201d<\/p>\n The Keeper spoke again.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have ten minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n The screen went black.<\/p>\n Michael cursed.<\/p>\n \u201cThere’s another way.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael pointed toward a map.<\/p>\n \u201cThis facility has an old service tunnel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere does it lead?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo the surface.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Amelia?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cDifferent direction.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared at the map.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many men?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cToo many.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow many?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least eighty.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cThen we don’t fight eighty.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do we do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe make them fight each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias frowned.<\/p>\n Sarah pointed toward the six girls.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Founders want Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd they want the memories.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen give them what they fear.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThey’re afraid of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena answered:<\/p>\n \u201cBecause we remember what they did.\u201d<\/p>\n The other girls slowly stepped out of the chamber.<\/p>\n Maya.<\/p>\n Rose.<\/p>\n Anna.<\/p>\n Grace.<\/p>\n Emma.<\/p>\n Six girls.<\/p>\n Six witnesses.<\/p>\n Six survivors.<\/p>\n Elias looked at them.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n Maya spoke first.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n Rose said:<\/p>\n \u201cThe first betrayal.\u201d<\/p>\n Anna whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThe first murder.\u201d<\/p>\n Grace said:<\/p>\n \u201cThe first vault.\u201d<\/p>\n Emma said:<\/p>\n \u201cThe first child.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena looked at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the first lie.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias felt a chill.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat lie?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena pointed at Adrian.<\/p>\n \u201cHe told you your father started this.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at Adrian.<\/p>\n Lena continued:<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian’s face changed.<\/p>\n \u201cLena\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was trying to stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian looked away.<\/p>\n Lena continued:<\/p>\n \u201cYour father wasn’t the architect.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen who was?\u201d<\/p>\n The six girls spoke together.<\/p>\n \u201cYour mother.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n Elias’s face went pale.<\/p>\n \u201cMara.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cShe built the first system.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at Adrian.<\/p>\n \u201cYou said she founded the network.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cShe did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo protect children.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrom whom?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian looked at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the Founders.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s mind raced.<\/p>\n Then he remembered something.<\/p>\n The photograph.<\/p>\n Mara.<\/p>\n Amelia.<\/p>\n The baby.<\/p>\n Lily.<\/p>\n And the bracelet.<\/p>\n He turned toward Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere did you get that bracelet?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily looked at her wrist.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve always had it.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at Michael.<\/p>\n \u201cYou said the initials belonged to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n \u201cYou lied?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I knew what they meant.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do they mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena answered.<\/p>\n \u201cM.T.H.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias waited.<\/p>\n \u201cMara Thorne Hale.\u201d<\/p>\n The room went silent.<\/p>\n Elias whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cHale.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s face drained of color.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael took a step backward.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Mara never married.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cShe didn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared at the bracelet.<\/p>\n \u201cThen what does Hale mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael looked at Lily.<\/p>\n Then at Elias.<\/p>\n His voice barely came out.<\/p>\n \u201cIt means she had another name.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat name?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael didn’t answer.<\/p>\n Lena did.<\/p>\n \u201cAmelia Hale.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias froze.<\/p>\n \u201cAmelia\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWas Mara’s daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n Lily’s mother.<\/p>\n Mara’s daughter.<\/p>\n Michael’s reaction.<\/p>\n The bracelet.<\/p>\n The photographs.<\/p>\n Everything began connecting.<\/p>\n Then Elias noticed something.<\/p>\n The six girls were standing in a perfect circle around Lily.<\/p>\n Their bracelets were glowing.<\/p>\n Lily’s bracelet glowed brighter.<\/p>\n The lights above them flickered.<\/p>\n A low vibration filled the room.<\/p>\n Michael whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s starting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe memory network.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at Lily.<\/p>\n Her eyes were closed.<\/p>\n Then she began speaking.<\/p>\n Not like a child.<\/p>\n Like someone much older.<\/p>\n \u201cMara Thorne created the archive in 1998.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n \u201cShe created it to preserve evidence against the Founders.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily continued.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Founders discovered the archive.\u201d<\/p>\n Her voice became colder.<\/p>\n \u201cThey destroyed the original facility.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena spoke:<\/p>\n \u201cAnd killed everyone who knew about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily continued:<\/p>\n \u201cExcept Mara.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias felt his heart pound.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened to her?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily opened her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cShe disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cShe escaped.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian froze.<\/p>\n \u201cShe didn’t escape.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cShe became the archive.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n The six girls suddenly spoke together.<\/p>\n \u201cShe put herself inside us.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias couldn’t move.<\/p>\n Mara had divided her memories.<\/p>\n Her knowledge.<\/p>\n Her evidence.<\/p>\n Her identity.<\/p>\n Among seven children.<\/p>\n Seven subjects.<\/p>\n But there was something else.<\/p>\n Elias remembered the screen.<\/p>\n SUBJECT ZERO \u2014 ELIAS THORNE.<\/strong><\/p>\n SUBJECT SEVEN \u2014 LILY THORNE.<\/strong><\/p>\n He suddenly understood.<\/p>\n \u201cZero wasn’t me.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cZero was Mara.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Lily\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Lily finished:<\/p>\n \u201c…was the container.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias felt tears forming.<\/p>\n \u201cContainer for what?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily looked directly at him.<\/p>\n \u201cThe truth.\u201d<\/p>\n The facility shook violently.<\/p>\n The ceiling cracked.<\/p>\n Dust fell.<\/p>\n Michael looked at the timer.<\/p>\n \u201cThree minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias grabbed his weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re getting Amelia.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about the girls?\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at them.<\/p>\n \u201cThey come with us.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias turned.<\/p>\n Adrian’s voice was desperate.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they leave this facility, the world changes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s the point.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t understand what will happen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Founders won’t stop.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias walked toward him.<\/p>\n \u201cNeither will I.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cYour father begged me to stop you.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias froze.<\/p>\n \u201cMy father?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe knew what would happen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is he?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian looked toward the ceiling.<\/p>\n \u201cHe’s already here.\u201d<\/p>\n A gunshot exploded.<\/p>\n Adrian fell.<\/p>\n Everyone screamed.<\/p>\n Elias spun around.<\/p>\n A figure stood on the upper balcony.<\/p>\n Black coat.<\/p>\n Black mask.<\/p>\n Rifle in hand.<\/p>\n The figure raised the weapon again.<\/p>\n Elias fired.<\/p>\n The masked figure disappeared behind the railing.<\/p>\n Michael shouted:<\/p>\n \u201cMOVE!\u201d<\/p>\n The six girls ran.<\/p>\n Lily grabbed Elias’s hand.<\/p>\n Sarah followed.<\/p>\n They entered the service tunnel.<\/p>\n Behind them\u2014<\/p>\n boots thundered through the archive.<\/p>\n The Founders had entered.<\/p>\n Elias looked back.<\/p>\n Adrian was still alive.<\/p>\n Barely.<\/p>\n He raised one trembling hand.<\/p>\n \u201cElias\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian pointed toward Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever happens\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He coughed blood.<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t let her remember the last room.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat last room?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian’s eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cThe room where\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n A gunshot interrupted him.<\/p>\n Adrian went still.<\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n Then he heard something behind him.<\/p>\n A girl’s voice.<\/p>\n Lena.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias turned.<\/p>\n Lily was beside him.<\/p>\n But the voice came from deeper inside the tunnel.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Elias froze.<\/p>\n Lily looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn’t say that.\u201d<\/p>\n The voice came again.<\/p>\n Closer.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Elias raised his weapon.<\/p>\n The six girls stopped.<\/p>\n Sarah whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is that?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena looked terrified.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n The tunnel lights began turning off one by one.<\/p>\n One.<\/p>\n Two.<\/p>\n Three.<\/p>\n Four.<\/p>\n Darkness approached.<\/p>\n Elias pulled Lily behind him.<\/p>\n Then\u2014<\/p>\n a small figure stepped into the last remaining light.<\/p>\n A girl.<\/p>\n Same height as Lily.<\/p>\n Same hair.<\/p>\n Same face.<\/p>\n Same bracelet.<\/p>\n Elias couldn’t speak.<\/p>\n Lily stared at her.<\/p>\n The other girl stared back.<\/p>\n Then she smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, sister.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n The girl answered:<\/p>\n \u201cI am the one they didn’t erase.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias felt his blood turn cold.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat’s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n The girl smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cMara.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone froze.<\/p>\n Michael whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The girl looked directly at Elias.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve been searching for your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n She stepped closer.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve been searching for the Founders.\u201d<\/p>\n Another step.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve been searching for the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you never asked the most important question.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias couldn’t move.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat question?\u201d<\/p>\n The girl’s eyes became strangely calm.<\/p>\n She pointed at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy does your daughter remember being your mother?\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared at Lily.<\/p>\n Lily stared back.<\/p>\n Then the entire facility went dark.<\/p>\n And somewhere in the darkness\u2014<\/p>\n Amelia screamed.<\/p>\n \u201cELIAS! DON’T TRUST LILY!\u201d<\/p>\n A gunshot followed.<\/p>\n Then silence.<\/p>\n