THE VAULT BENEATH THE LAKE
The motorcycle sped through the rain-soaked streets of Zurich.
Marcus looked over his shoulder.
The black SUVs were still following them.
"Who are those men?" he shouted.
Eleanor didn't slow down.
"They're not police."
"They work for The Circle."
"The Circle?" Marcus asked.
"The organization that has been controlling the Henderson empire for decades."
She swerved into a narrow tunnel, losing one of the pursuing vehicles.
"They don't care about money anymore."
"They only want one thing."
"Richard's vault."
* * *
Back at the estate...
Julianne stared at her father.
"You've hidden evidence for fifteen years?"
Richard nodded.
"I never trusted banks."
"I never trusted governments."
"So I built a place no one would ever think to search."
He unfolded an old map of the estate.
There was a small blue lake behind the property.
Richard pointed to its center.
"Beneath that lake is a reinforced underground vault."
Julianne frowned.
"How is that possible?"
"It was built by your grandfather long before you were born."
"He believed it would protect the family in case of war."
"I turned it into something else."
"A vault containing every document, every recording, and every name connected to The Circle."
Before Julianne could reply, the estate's chief of security rushed into the room.
"Mrs. Henderson!"
"Thermal drones have detected armed men moving toward the lake."
Richard stood up immediately.
"They know."
"They've found it."
* * *
At the same moment...
Marcus and Eleanor arrived at an abandoned boathouse on the outskirts of Zurich.
Inside, several large monitors displayed live satellite images.
One screen showed Julianne's estate.
Another showed dozens of armed vehicles approaching from the surrounding forest.
Marcus's face turned pale.
"They're attacking."
Eleanor nodded.
"And Julianne has no idea how many are coming."
She handed Marcus a pistol.
"I told you before."
"You can't change the past."
"But you can still decide who you become."
Marcus looked at the weapon.
For years, he had failed Julianne.
Failed their children.
This time...
He wasn't going to run.
He looked Eleanor in the eye.
"Take me to my family."
Before she could answer, every monitor suddenly went black.
One by one, the screens were replaced by a single message.
WELCOME, MARCUS HENDERSON.
YOU'VE FINALLY CHOSEN THE RIGHT SIDE.
Then a live video appeared.
Julianne...
Richard...
Samuel...
Emma...
They were standing at the edge of the lake.
Completely surrounded.
And at the front of the armed group stood an elderly man with silver hair.
He slowly removed his gloves and smiled.
"Hello, Julianne."
"I believe..."
"...you've been looking for me."
Richard's face turned white.
He whispered in disbelief:
"William..."
"My God..."
"You're still alive."
TO BE CONTINUED...
