Maya could not move.

She stood in the darkness beneath the Blackwood Inn, staring at the place where Nadia had disappeared.

Her last words were still echoing inside Maya’s head.

You were the baby I saved.

A baby.

Maya.

Saved.

From what?

The questions attacked her mind all at once.

What fire?

Why had Nadia saved her?

Why had her mother known Nadia?

And most importantly…

Why had someone spent twenty-two years hiding the truth?

“Maya.”

Adrian’s voice came from the darkness.

She felt his hand touch her shoulder.

She flinched.

“Don’t.”

Adrian immediately moved away.

“I’m sorry.”

Maya’s breathing was unsteady.

“Did you hear her?”

“Yes.”

“She said she saved me.”

“I heard.”

“She called me a baby.”

Adrian remained silent.

Maya turned toward him.

“Tell me everything.”

“Maya—”

“Everything.”

“I don’t know the whole story.”

“Then tell me what you know.”

Adrian switched on his flashlight.

The narrow underground room appeared again.

The old tape recorder sat on the table.

Maya stared at it.

“My father knew my name.”

“Yes.”

“He knew about Nadia.”

“Yes.”

“He knew I survived something.”

“Yes.”

Maya’s voice became cold.

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

Adrian looked at her.

“Because I didn’t know.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“You knew my name was connected to Nadia before tonight.”

“I knew there was a girl.”

“What girl?”

Adrian looked away.

“The child.”

Maya felt her heart sink.

“You knew.”

“Not who she was.”

“But you knew she existed.”

“Yes.”

“And you knew she survived the fire.”

“Yes.”

Maya stepped closer.

“How long?”

Adrian didn’t answer.

“How long have you known?”

“Since I was seventeen.”

Maya stared at him.

“Twenty-two years?”

Adrian nodded.

“Twenty-two years.”

Maya laughed bitterly.

“Everyone knew.”

“Everyone knew except me.”

“That’s not true.”

“My mother knew.”

“Yes.”

“Your father knew.”

“Yes.”

“Nadia knew.”

“Yes.”

“Who else?”

Adrian looked toward the walls.

“The five men.”

Maya’s eyes narrowed.

“And you.”

“Yes.”

She turned away.

Tears filled her eyes.

For the first time in her life…

Maya felt like a stranger inside her own story.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

Adrian’s voice softened.

“Because you were the reason they were afraid.”

Maya turned.

“What?”

“The truth.”

“What truth?”

Adrian stepped closer.

“You weren’t just a child who survived the fire.”

“Then what was I?”

Adrian looked at her.

“You were the witness.”

---

Maya stared at him.

“No.”

“You were there.”

“I was six months old.”

“You survived.”

“That doesn’t make me a witness.”

“You saw something.”

“How?”

“Maybe you don’t remember it.”

“Because I was a baby!”

Adrian nodded.

“Exactly.”

Maya shook her head.

“That makes no sense.”

“Trauma can affect memory.”

“Not like this.”

“You don’t remember your childhood before the age of six.”

Maya froze.

Adrian continued.

“Do you?”

Maya opened her mouth.

Nothing came out.

She remembered photographs.

Her mother.

Their house.

School.

But before the age of six…

Nothing.

Just darkness.

Maya slowly sat down.

“I always thought that was normal.”

“Not completely.”

“Why?”

“Because your mother told doctors you had severe trauma.”

“From what?”

Adrian looked at her.

“The fire.”

Maya closed her eyes.

Suddenly…

Something flashed through her mind.

A burning room.

Smoke.

Someone screaming.

A little girl crying.

A woman holding a baby.

A man shouting.

Then…

A black rose.

Maya opened her eyes.

“Wait.”

Adrian looked at her.

“I remember something.”

“What?”

“Fire.”

Adrian went still.

“What else?”

“A woman.”

“Nadia?”

“I don’t know.”

Maya pressed her hands against her head.

“Someone was holding me.”

“Who?”

“I can’t see her face.”

“Try.”

“I can’t.”

“Maya.”

“I said I can’t!”

Her voice echoed through the underground room.

Then…

A child’s laughter came from the corridor.

Both of them froze.

Adrian raised his gun.

“Maya.”

The laughter came again.

Closer.

A little girl’s voice.

“Find me.”

Maya looked toward the corridor.

“Who is that?”

Adrian didn’t answer.

The voice whispered again.

“Find me.”

Then footsteps.

Small footsteps.

Running toward them.

Adrian aimed his gun.

“Stay behind me.”

Maya whispered:

“That’s a child.”

The footsteps stopped.

Silence.

Then a small figure appeared at the end of the corridor.

A little girl.

Maybe six years old.

She wore an old white dress.

Her face was hidden by long black hair.

Maya stared.

The girl slowly lifted her head.

Maya’s heart stopped.

The girl’s face…

Was Maya’s face.

Same eyes.

Same lips.

Same small scar above the eyebrow.

Maya stepped backward.

“No.”

The girl smiled.

“Hello, Maya.”

Maya couldn’t breathe.

Adrian moved in front of her.

“Who are you?”

The girl looked at him.

“You know.”

“No.”

The girl smiled.

“You’ve always known.”

Suddenly the lights went out.

The girl disappeared.

Maya screamed.

Adrian grabbed her hand.

“We’re leaving.”

“But—”

“Now.”

They ran.

The corridor seemed endless.

The stairs disappeared behind them.

Maya looked back.

The little girl was standing at the end.

Watching them.

Then she raised her hand.

Pointing toward Maya.

And whispered:

“She remembers soon.”

---

They reached the surface just before dawn.

Maya collapsed onto the pavement outside the inn.

The rain had stopped.

The sky was turning gray.

Adrian stood beside her.

Neither spoke.

Finally Maya said:

“Take me to my mother.”

Adrian looked at her.

“She’s not in Blackwood.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know.”

Maya stood.

“Then find her.”

“Maya.”

“Find her.”

“She disappeared twenty years ago.”

“People don’t disappear.”

Adrian stared at her.

“People do in Blackwood.”

Maya looked at the old inn.

“Not people.”

“What?”

“Secrets.”

She walked toward the car.

Adrian followed.

“Where are you going?”

“To the place where Nadia died.”

Adrian stopped.

“No.”

Maya turned.

“Why?”

“Because no one goes there.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s cursed.”

Maya smiled coldly.

“I don’t believe in curses.”

Adrian looked at her.

“You saw Nadia.”

“Yes.”

“You saw a child who looked exactly like you.”

“Yes.”

“And you still don’t believe?”

Maya paused.

Then she whispered:

“I believe someone wants me to.”

---

Blackwood Manor stood at the edge of the forest.

The house was enormous.

Its windows were broken.

Its walls were covered with vines.

The roof had partially collapsed.

But the front door was still standing.

Maya stared at it.

“This is where it happened?”

Adrian nodded.

“Twenty-two years ago.”

“What was this place?”

“My father’s property.”

Maya looked at him.

“Your father owned Blackwood Manor?”

“Yes.”

“Then why is it abandoned?”

“Because after the fire…”

He stopped.

“What?”

Adrian looked toward the house.

“No one could stay here.”

“Why?”

“People heard voices.”

Maya sighed.

“Of course.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

Adrian looked at her.

“Three families tried living here.”

“All three left.”

“Why?”

“They heard a baby crying.”

Maya’s blood turned cold.

“Whose baby?”

Adrian stared at her.

“Yours.”

Maya looked at the manor.

For a moment…

She heard it.

A baby crying.

Soft.

Far away.

Maya’s heart started beating faster.

“Do you hear that?”

Adrian froze.

“Hear what?”

“Listen.”

They both stood silently.

There.

A baby.

Crying.

Coming from inside the manor.

Maya stepped forward.

Adrian grabbed her arm.

“No.”

“That’s a baby.”

“There’s no baby inside.”

“Then what is it?”

“I don’t know.”

Maya pulled away.

“I’m going in.”

“Maya!”

She entered the house.

The smell hit her immediately.

Burnt wood.

Dust.

Something rotten.

The floor creaked beneath her feet.

Adrian followed.

“Maya, wait.”

She stopped.

The crying had disappeared.

“Where did it go?”

Adrian looked around.

“I don’t know.”

Maya saw something on the wall.

A black rose.

She walked closer.

Underneath it was a date.

October 17, 2004.

Maya’s birthday.

She touched the wall.

Another memory hit her.

Fire.

Smoke.

A woman screaming.

“Take the baby!”

A man’s voice.

“Kill her!”

Maya gasped.

She fell to her knees.

Adrian caught her.

“Maya!”

She stared at him.

“Someone wanted me dead.”

Adrian went pale.

“What?”

“That night.”

“What did you see?”

“They were trying to kill me.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.”

Maya looked around.

“But Nadia saved me.”

Adrian nodded.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because she was protecting you.”

“From who?”

Adrian didn’t answer.

Maya grabbed his jacket.

“From who?”

Adrian looked into her eyes.

“My father.”

Silence.

Maya let him go.

“Your father wanted to kill me?”

“No.”

“Then why did you say that?”

“Because he ordered them to.”

“Why?”

Adrian shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

Maya looked around.

“We need to find out.”

They moved deeper into the house.

The hallway led to a large room.

The floor was blackened by fire.

Maya stopped.

“This is it.”

Adrian nodded.

“The room where Nadia died.”

Maya stepped inside.

Her body immediately became cold.

The room felt different.

Like something was watching.

Adrian turned on his flashlight.

There was nothing.

Then Maya noticed a small door.

Behind a pile of burned wood.

She moved it aside.

“What is this?”

Adrian looked.

“I’ve never seen it.”

Maya opened the door.

A narrow staircase descended underground.

Adrian whispered:

“Not again.”

Maya looked at him.

“You knew about the basement?”

“No.”

“Then why did you say not again?”

Adrian didn’t answer.

Maya stepped down.

The air became colder.

They reached the bottom.

A small room.

A chair.

Chains.

Blood stains.

Maya covered her mouth.

“This is where they kept her.”

Adrian nodded.

Maya walked toward the wall.

There were names carved into it.

Edward.

Marcus.

William.

Thomas.

Richard.

And…

Maya.

Her name was carved deepest.

Maya touched it.

“Why is my name here?”

Adrian stood behind her.

“I don’t know.”

“Stop saying that.”

Suddenly…

A sound came from the chair.

Maya turned.

Something was sitting there.

A woman.

White dress.

Long black hair.

Nadia.

Maya froze.

Nadia slowly lifted her head.

This time…

Her face was different.

She looked young.

Beautiful.

Alive.

Maya whispered:

“Nadia?”

Nadia looked at her.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

“You’re finally old enough.”

Maya couldn’t move.

“Old enough for what?”

Nadia stood.

“To remember.”

“Remember what?”

Nadia walked closer.

“You were not supposed to survive.”

Maya felt cold.

“Who wanted me dead?”

Nadia looked toward Adrian.

He immediately stepped forward.

“Don’t look at me.”

Nadia smiled.

“Why not?”

Adrian’s voice shook.

“Because I know what happened.”

“Then tell her.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because I was a child.”

Nadia’s expression became angry.

“You watched.”

“I was afraid.”

“You watched them burn the house.”

“I couldn’t stop them.”

“You watched my mother die.”

Maya froze.

“Your mother?”

Nadia looked at her.

“Yes.”

Maya’s voice was barely audible.

“Who was your mother?”

Nadia smiled sadly.

“Your mother.”

Maya’s entire world stopped.

“No.”

Nadia stepped closer.

“Your mother and I were sisters.”

Maya stared.

“You’re my aunt?”

Nadia nodded.

Maya couldn’t speak.

Her mother had never told her.

Nadia continued:

“She was supposed to die that night.”

“Why?”

“Because she knew the truth.”

“What truth?”

Nadia looked toward Adrian.

“His father was not the leader.”

Adrian froze.

Maya looked at him.

“Then who was?”

Nadia whispered:

“Your father.”

Maya’s heart stopped.

“Mine?”

Nadia nodded.

“Your father was the sixth man.”

Silence.

Adrian stared at Nadia.

“That’s impossible.”

Nadia looked at him.

“You’ve been searching for the wrong man.”

Maya shook her head.

“No.”

Nadia’s voice became colder.

“Your father killed my mother.”

“Your father killed Nadia.”

“Your father ordered the fire.”

“And your father…”

She looked directly at Maya.

“…wanted you dead.”

Maya felt the room spinning.

“My father died when I was six.”

Nadia smiled.

“Did he?”

Maya froze.

“What?”

Nadia slowly stepped backward.

“Ask your mother.”

“Nadia!”

“Ask her where he really went.”

The lights flickered.

Nadia began disappearing.

Maya ran toward her.

“Wait!”

Nadia whispered:

“The killer is not dead.”

Then she vanished.

Maya stood frozen.

Adrian looked at her.

“Your father…”

Maya turned toward him.

Her face was pale.

“My father was supposed to be dead.”

Adrian stared.

“What was his name?”

Maya swallowed.

“Samuel Sterling.”

Adrian’s expression changed.

He stepped backward.

“What?”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Adrian shook his head.

“No.”

“What?”

“I know that name.”

Maya’s heart began pounding.

“How?”

Adrian looked toward the carved names on the wall.

There were six.

Five had been crossed out.

One remained.

SAMUEL STERLING.

Maya stared.

The truth hit her like a bullet.

The murders weren’t over.

The five people connected to Nadia had been killed.

But there was one person left.

The sixth man.

The real mastermind.

Maya’s father.

Samuel Sterling.

And somewhere…

He was still alive.

Then they heard footsteps above them.

Slow.

Heavy.

Someone was walking through the house.

Adrian raised his gun.

Maya whispered:

“Who is that?”

The footsteps stopped.

A man’s voice came from upstairs.

“Maya.”

She froze.

She knew that voice.

She had heard it in old childhood memories.

In dreams.

In photographs.

Her father’s voice.

“My little girl.”

Maya looked at Adrian.

Adrian’s face had gone completely white.

The voice came again.

“Come upstairs.”

Maya slowly moved toward the staircase.

Adrian grabbed her.

“No.”

Maya whispered:

“That’s my father.”

“I know.”

“He’s alive.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you afraid?”

Adrian looked at her.

“Because I thought he was dead.”

The voice laughed.

Then…

The entire house went dark.

A door slammed upstairs.

Maya heard a man whisper:

“I waited twenty-two years for you to come home.”

And then…

A gunshot.

Adrian pulled Maya to the ground.

But the bullet had not been fired at them.

It had been fired at someone else.

A woman’s scream echoed through the manor.

Maya’s blood froze.

“Mom?”

She ran upstairs.

Adrian followed.

They reached the hallway.

A woman was lying on the floor.

Alive.

Blood covered her shoulder.

Maya stopped.

Her mother looked up.

“Maya…”

Maya fell beside her.

“Mom!”

Her mother grabbed her hand.

Her eyes filled with tears.

“Run.”

“Who shot you?”

Her mother looked behind Maya.

Her face became terrified.

“He’s here.”

“Who?”

Her mother’s lips trembled.

“Your father.”

Maya turned.

At the end of the hallway…

A man stood in the darkness.

Older.

Tall.

His face hidden by shadows.

But Maya recognized him.

Samuel Sterling.

Her father.

He smiled.

“Hello, Maya.”

Adrian raised his gun.

Samuel laughed.

“Still protecting her, Adrian?”

Adrian froze.

Samuel looked at him.

“Your father would be proud.”

Maya stood.

“Why?”

Samuel looked at her.

“Why did you kill Nadia?”

Samuel smiled.

“I didn’t.”

Maya stared.

“Then why did she say you did?”

“Because ghosts lie too.”

Maya shook her head.

“Who killed her?”

Samuel’s smile disappeared.

He looked at the blood on the floor.

Then at Maya.

“Ask your mother.”

Maya turned.

Her mother was gone.

The floor was empty.

No blood.

No body.

Nothing.

Maya screamed.

“Mom!”

Samuel disappeared.

Adrian ran toward the stairs.

Maya followed.

But the manor was empty.

No Samuel.

No mother.

Only one thing remained.

A black rose.

Lying on the floor.

Maya picked it up.

A whisper came from behind her.

This time…

It was Nadia.

“He isn’t your father.”

Maya slowly turned.

Nadia stood in the doorway.

Her eyes were full of sorrow.

Maya whispered:

“Then who is he?”

Nadia looked toward the darkness.

And said:

“The man who killed your real father.”

The door slammed shut.

Maya screamed.

And from somewhere deep inside Blackwood Manor…

A man’s laughter echoed through the darkness.