Chapter 9 - Room Seventeen
Roman refused to let Nora come.
Nora refused to stay behind.
“I am not sitting here while my sister is trapped somewhere.”
“You don't know if she's there.”
“My mother does.”
Celeste nodded.
“She is.”
Roman stared at her.
“How?”
“I remember the sound.”
They returned to the hotel.
The sealed floor was empty.
Room 17 stood open.
Inside was a crib.
An old photograph.
And a hospital bracelet.
Nora picked it up.
The name had been scratched away.
Roman looked at the floor.
There were fresh footprints.
Someone had been there recently.
Then the lights came on.
A projector began playing.
Celeste gasped.
On the wall appeared footage of a young woman holding a newborn.
Nora recognized her mother.
Beside her was Roman's father.
And another woman.
Selene's mother.
Nora whispered:
“No.”
The recording continued.
Roman's father spoke.
“Which child?”
Celeste answered:
“The girl.”
“Which girl?”
“The firstborn.”
The recording ended.
Roman stared at Celeste.
“You gave them my daughter.”
Celeste cried.
“I thought I was saving Nora.”
“You chose.”
“Yes.”
Roman turned away.
Nora touched his arm.
“Roman.”
He looked at her.
“I don't know what to say.”
“You don't have to.”
“I do.”
He held her hand.
“I should have been there.”
Nora whispered:
“You didn't know.”
“I should have.”
A sound came from behind the wall.
A baby's cry.
Nora froze.
Roman's head snapped toward it.
Again.
A baby.
Crying.
Nora stepped forward.
“She's here.”
Roman moved toward the wall.
He found a hidden panel.
It opened.
Behind it was a narrow room.
Inside stood a young woman.
She was holding a newborn baby.
Her face was covered in tears.
She looked at Nora.
Then Roman.
And whispered:
“You finally came.”
Nora couldn't move.
The woman looked exactly like her.
Same eyes.
Same smile.
Same birthmark beneath the left eye.
Roman stared.
Celeste collapsed into a chair.
Nora whispered:
“You're my sister.”
The woman nodded.
“I am.”
Roman stepped closer.
“What is your name?”
She looked at Nora.
“My name is Elena.”
Nora reached toward her.
Elena hesitated.
Then took her hand.
For one second, everything was quiet.
Then Elena whispered:
“There's something you need to know about your baby.”
Nora's blood ran cold.
“What?”
Elena looked at Roman.
“The baby you're carrying…”
She stopped.
May you like
Then someone behind them whispered:
“Not all of them are yours.”
