My father said one word.
—Run.
Nobody moved.
The man at the entrance smiled.
—Still giving orders, Daniel?
My father stepped in front of me.
—Stay behind me.
Adrian moved beside him.
—Who is he?
My father didn’t answer.
The man walked into the theater.
He looked ordinary.
Dark coat.
Gray hair.
Calm expression.
That somehow made him more frightening.
—You really don’t remember me, Sophia?
I stared at him.
Something inside my mind shifted.
A garden.
My father laughing.
A man standing beside him.
A birthday cake.
A little girl running toward him.
I blinked.
The memory disappeared.
The man smiled.
—There it is.
Adrian looked at him.
—What did you do to her?
—Nothing.
He looked at me.
—Daniel did that himself.
My father’s expression hardened.
—Leave her alone.
—You always were protective of her.
The man took another step.
—Even when she wasn’t yours.
I froze.
My father went completely still.
Adrian looked at him.
—What does that mean?
The man smiled.
—Ask him.
I turned toward my father.
—Dad?
He didn’t look at me.
—Don’t listen to him.
The man laughed softly.
—That’s the problem with Daniel.
He always thinks silence protects people.
I stepped forward.
—Who are you?
He looked at me.
—My name is Victor Hale.
The name meant nothing.
But my father’s face told me it should.
—Victor was my father’s friend?
—I asked.
Daniel nodded reluctantly.
—Yes.
Victor smiled.
—We were friends for twenty years.
—Then why do you hate each other?
—Because your father betrayed me.
Daniel looked at him.
—You betrayed yourself.
Victor’s smile disappeared.
—You took the file.
—To stop you.
—You destroyed everything.
—You were hurting people.
Victor’s eyes hardened.
—You don’t know what you’re talking about.
—Neither does she.
He pointed at me.
—Because you erased her memories.
I felt my chest tighten.
—Why?
Victor looked at me.
—Because you saw us.
I swallowed.
—Doing what?
Victor didn’t answer.
My father did.
—Planning the next operation.
Adrian frowned.
—Operation?
Daniel nodded.
—The organization wasn’t just collecting information.
Victor interrupted.
—Enough.
For the first time, his calm expression disappeared.
—You’ve said enough.
He looked at me.
—Come with me, Sophia.
Adrian stepped forward.
—No.
Victor looked at him.
—You really think you can protect her?
—Yes.
Victor laughed.
—You couldn’t even protect your brother.
Adrian froze.
Julian stepped forward.
—Don’t.
Victor looked at him.
—Still pretending to be someone else?
Julian’s expression hardened.
—You know nothing about me.
—Oh, I know exactly who you are.
Victor smiled.
—And so does your father.
Julian went silent.
I looked at him.
—What does he mean?
Julian shook his head.
—Not now.
Victor looked at my father.
—Tell her.
Daniel didn’t move.
—Tell her who she really is.
My heart stopped.
—What does that mean?
Victor continued.
—Tell her why the organization wanted her.
Daniel looked at me.
His eyes were filled with regret.
—Because you’re not just Daniel Bennett’s daughter.
I stared at him.
—Then who am I?
He hesitated.
Victor answered.
—You’re the daughter of the woman who founded the organization.
Silence.
My mother stepped forward.
—Victor, stop.
I turned toward her.
—Mom?
She was crying.
—It’s not what you think.
—Then what is it?
She looked at Daniel.
—Tell her.
Daniel closed his eyes.
—Your mother was part of the organization.
I couldn’t breathe.
—No.
My mother shook her head.
—Only at the beginning.
—You lied to me too.
—I was trying to protect you.
—Everyone says that.
My voice broke.
—Everyone is always protecting me by lying to me.
Adrian came closer.
—Sophia— I stepped away.
—Don’t.
He stopped.
Victor watched us.
Then he smiled.
—Now you understand.
I looked at him.
—Understand what?
—Why Daniel was afraid of you remembering.
—Why?
Victor’s voice became quieter.
—Because your mother didn’t just help create the organization.
He paused.
—She created its system.
I looked at my mother.
She shook her head.
—No.
Victor continued.
—The memory system.
My stomach dropped.
—The thing that erased my memories?
My mother nodded slowly.
Tears filled her eyes.
—Yes.
I stared at her.
—You taught them how to erase people.
—Not people.
She looked at me.
—Memories.
—What’s the difference?
She didn’t answer.
My father stepped toward me.
—Your mother realized what they were doing and tried to destroy it.
Victor laughed.
—Too late.
Daniel ignored him.
—She left the organization.
—And met you?
My father nodded.
—Yes.
I looked between them.
—Then why did they come after me?
My father answered: —Because they believed you inherited your mother’s ability.
I frowned.
—What ability?
My mother whispered: —You remember things other people forget.
I felt a chill.
The flashes.
The memories.
The photographs.
The strange feeling that I knew things before anyone told me.
It all suddenly made sense.
Victor stepped closer.
—You are the only person who can recover every memory that was erased.
Adrian looked at him.
—Why does that matter?
Victor smiled.
—Because if Sophia remembers everything, the organization falls.
I stared at him.
—Then that’s why you want me.
—Yes.
—To erase my memories again?
Victor shook his head.
—No.
He looked at my father.
—This time, we want you to remember.
My father stepped forward.
—Don’t listen to him.
Victor smiled.
—Too late.
He pulled something from his pocket.
A photograph.
He held it up.
It was me.
At thirteen.
Standing beside my father.
But there was someone else in the picture.
A boy.
Adrian.
My heart stopped.
—When was that taken?
Adrian stared at the photograph.
—That’s the night Daniel disappeared.
I looked at him.
—You were there.
He nodded.
—Yes.
Victor looked at me.
—And you gave him something.
I frowned.
—What?
He turned the photograph around.
Written on the back were five words.
SOPHIA GAVE HIM THE KEY.
I stared at the sentence.
The silver key.
The same key Martin had.
The same key my father had hidden.
I looked at my hands.
—No.
A memory surfaced.
My younger self.
Standing in the hallway.
Holding the silver key.
Adrian beside me.
My father shouting.
And then…
I handed the key to someone.
I couldn’t see his face.
I gasped.
Adrian caught my shoulder.
—What did you remember?
I looked at him.
—Me.
—What?
—I gave the key to someone.
Victor smiled.
—Exactly.
My father looked terrified.
—Sophia, stop.
I looked at him.
—Who did I give it to?
He didn’t answer.
Victor did.
—Me.
The theater fell silent.
I stared at him.
—You?
He nodded.
—You trusted me.
My stomach twisted.
—Why?
Victor looked at my father.
—Because Daniel told you I was safe.
My father closed his eyes.
I felt betrayed all over again.
—You told me to trust him?
Daniel nodded.
—Yes.
—Why?
—Because I didn’t know he had betrayed us.
Victor smiled.
—And that’s how it began.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside.
Victor looked toward the entrance.
—They’re here.
Adrian turned.
—Who?
Victor’s smile returned.
—Your father.
Adrian froze.
My father looked at me.
—Sophia, listen to me.
—What?
—Whatever happens next, do not go with him.
Victor stepped backward.
—You heard him.
He looked at me.
—Don’t go with me.
I frowned.
—What?
Victor smiled.
—Run.
Then he disappeared through the side door.
A second later, the main doors of the theater burst open.
Several people entered.
And behind them stood Adrian’s father.
He looked at Adrian.
Then at me.
Then at Daniel.
His expression changed.
—You.
Daniel stepped forward.
—It’s been a long time.
Adrian’s father stared at him.
—You were supposed to be dead.
Daniel answered quietly: —So was your son.
Adrian turned sharply.
—What does that mean?
His father looked at Julian.
Then at Adrian.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
—Because Julian was never the one who disappeared.
Julian stepped forward.
—Then who was?
Adrian’s father looked at me.
And whispered: —Sophia.