Chapter 8 - The Greenhouse
Marcus wanted to call police. Elena wanted to move before whoever held Owen moved him again.
They compromised badly.
Marcus texted the deputy, then grabbed the keys to the utility cart. Elena climbed in despite his protest.
"You are not staying alone in that house," she said.
The greenhouse sat beyond the old rose garden, half hidden by black pines. Rain had started, hard and sudden, drumming on the glass roof.
The door stood open.
Inside, heat and wet soil wrapped around them.
"Owen?" Marcus called.
No answer.
They found the chair from the security feed in the center aisle.
Empty.
Rope lay cut on the floor.
On the chair was a Polaroid photograph.
A young pregnant woman stood beside Victoria twenty-five years earlier. Victoria looked almost the same: straight posture, controlled smile, eyes that never reached warmth.
Marcus stared at the younger woman.
"That's my aunt Celeste."
"Your father's sister?"
He nodded slowly. "She died before I was born. Family said it was an accident."
On the back, someone had written:
AURELIA SUBJECT ONE.
Elena's mouth went dry.
A sound came from beneath the potting bench.
Owen crawled out, bleeding from his temple.
"She knows," he rasped.
Marcus dropped beside him. "Who did this?"
"I never saw her face. Red dress."
Elena almost laughed from the horror of it. "Of course."
Owen grabbed her wrist. "The pills aren't vitamins. They're a delivery system. Low dose, slow accumulation. Designed to heighten dream states, emotional response, suggestibility."
"Why?"
"Your grandfather funded research into memory treatment after Celeste got sick. Victoria kept the formula after the trial shut down."
"My grandfather?" Marcus said.
"Not yours. Hers. Victoria married into Blackwood with the formula already in her pocket."
A hiss rose behind them.
Vents in the ceiling opened.
Sweet chemical vapor spilled into the greenhouse.
Owen's eyes widened. "Run."
The door slammed shut.
Marcus pulled the handle.
Locked.
May you like
Elena looked through the fogged glass.
Outside, a woman in a crimson dress turned the greenhouse key and walked away.
