Chapter 2 - The Woman Who Came Back From the DeadThree hours later, the emergency room doors slammed shut behind Evelyn.
Julian stood in the hallway with Toby asleep against his chest, staring at the red sign above the trauma bay.
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For the first time since finding his wife beneath the house, Julian had nothing to fight.
He couldn't break down a door.
He couldn't threaten anyone.
He couldn't tear apart another wall.
All he could do was wait.
A detective approached him from the far end of the hallway.
"Mr. Vale?"
Julian looked up.
"Detective Marcus Reed."
Julian didn't offer his hand.
"Is Cassandra in custody?"
"Yes."
"Is she talking?"
Reed hesitated.
"She's asking for a lawyer."
Julian's jaw tightened.
"Of course she is."
Reed lowered his voice.
"There is something else."
Julian's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
"We searched the wine cellar."
"And?"
"The bunker wasn't on the original building plans."
Julian stared at him.
"What does that mean?"
"It means whoever built it wanted it hidden."
A nurse suddenly rushed out of the trauma room.
"Family of Evelyn Vale?"
Julian stepped forward.
"That's me."
"She's awake."
The words nearly knocked the air from his lungs.
He entered the room.
Evelyn looked impossibly small beneath the white hospital sheets.
But her eyes were open.
And they were alive.
Julian sat beside her.
"Hey."
Her lips trembled.
"Julian."
He took her hand.
"I'm here."
She stared at him for several seconds.
Then she whispered four words.
"Cassandra wasn't alone."
Julian froze.
"What?"
Evelyn swallowed painfully.
"She had someone else."
"Who?"
"I never saw his face."
Julian leaned closer.
"Tell me everything."
Evelyn's fingers tightened around his.
"He came the night before she locked me away."
"Where?"
"The house."
Julian felt the blood drain from his face.
Evelyn continued.
"He told Cassandra that if she didn't finish what they started, both of us would die."
"Both of us?"
Evelyn looked toward the hospital door.
"Me and Toby."
Julian stood.
The chair scraped violently across the floor.
"No."
Evelyn grabbed his wrist.
"Listen to me."
Julian looked at her.
"The nightmare didn't end when you found me."
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She whispered:
"It just changed locations."
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