Part 4: The Intruder in the Dark
The clinking sound of falling glass cuts through the silence of the canal house. My breath catches in my throat. I snatch the blue dossier from the drawer, hastily shove it into my backpack, and press myself flat against the dark bookcase. Footsteps on the wooden floor approach the study with slow, menacing precision. It is a heavy and resolute sound — not an accidental burglar, but someone who knows what they are looking for.
"I know you're here, Lucas," a low, familiar voice cuts through the darkness. It is Marcus, my father's personal assistant and the man who always acted as his shadow. I squeeze my eyes shut and fumble in the dark for an exit. The study has only one door leading to the main hallway, and Marcus is standing right in that doorway. His silhouette stands out against the faint city light.
A heavy metal object gleams in his hand. "Your father sends his regards," Marcus says grimly as he takes a step forward. "The old woman was stubborn enough already. It would be a shame if you make the same fatal mistake." Anger and fear fight for dominance in my chest. For sixteen years they treated me like dirt, and now they want to silence me before I can reveal the truth.
As Marcus draws closer, I assess my odds. Right next to my left hand sits a heavy bronze candlestick on the table. With a sudden, explosive movement, I grab the candlestick and hurl it with all my strength at the wall mirror. The mirror shatters with a tremendous din. Marcus startles and reflexively fires in that direction. That's my chance. I rush past him into the hallway, through the front door, and out into the rain.
