Chapter 4 - The Voice From the Dark
"Claire."
The whisper came from the darkness beside Adrian’s hospital bed.
Claire froze.
The emergency lights painted the room in a deep red glow.
For a moment, she could not move.
Her eyes searched the shadows.
The machines had stopped.
The monitors were silent.
The only sound was her own breathing.
Then Adrian’s heart monitor suddenly returned.
A single beep.
Then another.
Claire turned toward the bed.
Adrian was still unconscious.
Still connected to the machines.
Still unable to speak.
But the voice had been close.
Too close.
"Who is there?"
Her voice was calm.
But her hand tightened around the envelope.
No answer.
The nurse who had delivered the letter was gone.
Daniel was gone.
The room was empty.
Or at least…
It looked empty.
Claire slowly stepped toward the window.
Nothing.
The curtains moved slightly.
The hospital floor was supposed to be secured.
Nobody should have been able to enter without being seen.
Then she noticed something on the floor.
A small black object.
A phone.
Claire picked it up carefully.
The screen was cracked.
No password.
One notification was waiting.
A video file.
Created two minutes ago.
The file name made her blood run cold.
"FOR CLAIRE."
She looked toward Adrian.
Someone had been inside this room.
Someone had left this phone.
Someone wanted her to watch.
Claire pressed play.
The screen showed a dark room.
The camera was shaking.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
Adrian.
Her husband.
But the Adrian on the screen was different.
His face looked exhausted.
His eyes looked like a man who knew he was running out of time.
"Claire."
He looked directly into the camera.
"If you are seeing this, it means I failed."
Claire covered her mouth.
The video continued.
"I wanted to tell you everything before our wedding."
Adrian looked away.
"But every person I trusted became someone who could be used against me."
Claire felt tears forming.
Not because she was scared.
Because she realized something.
Adrian had been alone.
For years.
"I need you to understand something."
The video paused briefly.
Then Adrian continued.
"The person who attacked me tonight is not trying to take my company."
His expression became serious.
"They are trying to erase what my family did eight years ago."
Claire looked at the envelope in her hand.
Evelyn.
The missing sister.
The name that kept appearing everywhere.
Adrian continued.
"My sister Evelyn discovered the truth first."
The screen flickered.
"She found evidence that someone inside our family was selling information."
Claire leaned closer.
"To who?"
But the video did not answer.
Instead, Adrian said:
"The person who betrayed Evelyn is someone you already know."
The video ended.
Claire stared at the black screen.
Someone she already knew.
The same words appeared everywhere.
Someone close.
Someone trusted.
Someone inside.
The door suddenly opened.
Claire turned quickly.
Daniel stood there.
His face was tense.
"You found the video."
It was not a question.
Claire looked at him.
"You knew about it."
Daniel walked inside and closed the door.
"Claire, give me the phone."
"No."
His expression changed.
"Please."
That word surprised her.
Daniel Park was not a man who begged.
Not in business.
Not in family matters.
Not ever.
But now he looked afraid.
"What happened to Evelyn?"
Daniel looked down.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then:
"She didn't disappear."
Claire felt her entire body become still.
"What?"
Daniel looked at Adrian.
"Everyone thinks she died."
"Everyone?"
"Almost everyone."
Claire stepped closer.
"Where is she?"
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't know."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"No."
His honesty surprised her.
"I expect you to understand that the person who did this is still watching."
Claire looked at the phone.
"Then why did Adrian leave me this?"
"Because he knew you would find it."
"Why me?"
Daniel looked at her.
"Because you're the only person he trusted who wasn't afraid of him."
Claire remembered something.
A conversation from months ago.
She had asked Adrian why he never let anyone close.
He had smiled.
"Because the people closest to you are the ones who can hurt you the most."
At the time, she thought he was talking about business.
Now she knew.
He was talking about family.
A sound came from outside the room.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Approaching.
Daniel immediately turned.
His face changed.
"Someone followed me."
Claire looked at the door.
"Who?"
Daniel didn't answer.
The handle moved.
Once.
Twice.
Someone was trying to enter.
Daniel moved toward the door.
Claire grabbed his arm.
"Wait."
The handle stopped.
Silence.
Then a voice came from the hallway.
A woman’s voice.
Soft.
Familiar.
"Daniel."
Daniel froze.
Claire saw his reaction.
He knew that voice.
The door opened slightly.
Just enough for someone to appear.
A woman stood outside.
Older.
Tired.
Her eyes were filled with fear.
Claire recognized her from the old photograph.
The same face.
The same woman Adrian had believed was gone.
The woman everyone said had disappeared eight years ago.
Evelyn Park.
Claire couldn't breathe.
Daniel whispered:
"No..."
The woman looked at him.
Then at Claire.
And said:
"I told Adrian never to marry someone innocent."
Claire stepped backward.
The woman entered the room.
She looked at Adrian lying unconscious.
Then she looked at the memory chip Claire had placed on the table.
"You found it."
Claire stared at her.
"Who are you?"
The woman’s eyes filled with sadness.
"You already know."
The room went silent.
Then Evelyn said something that made Claire’s blood turn cold.
"Adrian didn't hide that chip because he wanted you to find the truth."
She looked toward the hospital hallway.
"He hid it because he knew the person coming for it was someone who would never hurt him."
Claire frowned.
"Who?"
Evelyn looked directly at Adrian.
Then whispered:
"Someone who loved him more than anyone..."
The lights suddenly flickered.
A shadow appeared behind the glass window.
Evelyn’s face changed.
Not fear.
Recognition.
She grabbed Claire’s hand.
"He's here."
Claire looked toward the door.
The handle slowly began to turn.
May you like
And then a familiar voice came from the other side...
"Claire, open the door."
