BANG.
The gunshot echoed through the forest.
Closer than before.
Much closer.
This time, nobody froze.
We ran.
Instinct took over.
Lucas grabbed the watch.
Ethan grabbed my hand.
Vanessa followed close behind.
Branches whipped against our faces as we raced toward the sound.
Then we saw him.
Richard Blackwood.
Lying on the ground.
Bleeding.
His cane several feet away.
His expensive suit stained red.
For the first time since meeting him...
He looked afraid.
Actually, I'm afraid.
As though the monster had finally seen a bigger monster.
Ethan dropped beside him.
"Who did this?"
Richard laughed weakly.
Blood stained his lips.
"You're asking the wrong question."
His breathing was getting worse.
Much worse.
Lucas knelt beside him.
"Then what's the right question?"
Richard's eyes found the pocket watch.
The one Lucas still held.
Immediately, his expression changed.
Fear.
Pure fear.
"You found it."
Nobody answered.
Richard closed his eyes.
For several seconds he simply lay there.
Then he whispered:
"Burn it."
Lucas stared at him.
"What?"
"Burn the watch."
"Why?"
Richard looked at each of us.
One by one.
Then he said something none of us expected.
"Because if the truth comes out..."
His voice cracked.
"...everything your family built will collapse."
Silence.
The forest seemed to hold its breath.
Then Ethan shook his head.
"No more secrets."
Richard laughed.
A sad laugh.
The laugh of a man who knew it was too late.
Then he pointed toward the back of the watch.
"Open it."
Lucas frowned.
"It opens?"
Richard nodded.
Slowly.
Lucas turned the watch over.
Examined the engraving.
Then pressed a tiny hidden latch.
CLICK.
The watch opened.
Everyone leaned closer.
Inside was a photograph.
Very small.
Very old.
And the moment I saw it...
My knees nearly gave out.
Because standing together in the picture were:
Richard Blackwood.
Margaret.
Arthur Carter.
And one other person.
A woman.
A woman I'd never seen before.
Yet somehow...
She looked familiar.
Painfully familiar.
Then my eyes widened.
No.
Impossible.
I looked again.
The same eyes.
The same smile.
The same face shape.
The woman looked exactly like...
My mother.
The world stopped.
"What is this?" I whispered.
Nobody answered.
Because everyone was staring at me.
Then Richard spoke.
His voice was barely audible.
"She wasn't your mother."
My heart slammed against my ribs.
"What?"
"She was your aunt."
The photograph slipped from my fingers.
My aunt?
I never had an aunt.
At least...
That's what I'd always been told.
Then Richard whispered the words that shattered my entire identity.
"The journalist wasn't investigating corruption."
Silence.
"He was investigating her disappearance."
The air left my lungs.
My head spun.
Nothing made sense anymore.
Nothing.
Then Richard grabbed my wrist.
Weakly.
Desperately.
His eyes filled with regret.
And for the first time...
I saw genuine sorrow in them.
"Maya..."
His voice trembled.
"Your aunt didn't disappear."
My heart pounded.
"Then what happened to her?"
Richard looked toward the trees.
Toward the darkness.
Toward someone only he could see.
Then he whispered:
"She's still alive."
And suddenly—
A woman's voice came from the forest.
Cold.
Calm.
And unmistakably familiar.
"That's enough, Richard."
Every hair on my body stood up.
Because I knew that voice.
Even though I'd never heard it before.
Somehow...
Deep down...
I knew it.

Who do you think the woman is?
A. Maya's aunt
B. The real mastermind
C. Someone pretending to be Maya's aunt
D. The person who sent the letters all along