Is That Mom

Part 10 of Chapter 6

Chapter 6:

Shadows of the Past

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Part 10:

A Glimpse of Hope

Ethan staggered out of the warehouse, clutching his side where the attacker’s blade had left its mark. The pain was sharp, each breath a reminder of how close he had come to losing his life. The empty streets of the desolate town stretched out before him, but he had no choice but to keep moving. There was no one left to rely on. Not Sarah. Not anyone.

But he wasn’t ready to give up. Not yet.

As he limped back toward the motel, Ethan’s mind churned, replaying the events of the past few days. The attacks, the revelations, Sarah’s disappearance—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle he couldn’t quite fit together. He needed answers, and if Sarah wasn’t going to help him find them, he would do it on his own.

Once back in the relative safety of his room, Ethan sank onto the bed and pulled his mother’s journal from his bag. He had gone over it a dozen times already, but there was something about the way the last few pages felt thicker than the rest. Frowning, he carefully examined the back cover, running his fingers over the edges until he felt a slight ridge. His pulse quickened.

With a bit of effort, he pried open a hidden compartment embedded in the back of the journal. His heart skipped a beat as he revealed what had been tucked away—a small, tarnished key. His mother had left him something, hidden all these years. Alongside the key was a crumpled slip of paper with a single word written on it: Morningside.

Ethan stared at the key for a long moment, his mind racing. He had heard the name "Morningside" before—it was a small bank located in the city, miles away from where he was now. His mother had been meticulous. If she left this key behind, it had to be for something important. It was his first concrete lead in days, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Ethan allowed himself to feel the tiniest bit of hope.

Maybe this key held the answers. Maybe it would tell him what had really happened to his mother and why she had been involved in something so dangerous. The idea of finally getting some closure sent a surge of relief through him, even though he knew the road ahead would be perilous.

He was far from safe, but at least now, he had direction.

As Ethan sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the key, he felt a strange mix of emotions swirling inside him. Relief, certainly, but also trepidation. Whoever had come after him wasn’t going to stop now, not with this new clue in his possession. But there was no turning back. Not after coming this far.

He clenched the key in his fist, a sense of renewed purpose settling in. The last few days had pushed him to his limits—physically and emotionally—but this discovery felt like a lifeline. Even if Sarah was gone, even if he had to continue this journey alone, he would. He owed it to his mother. He owed it to himself.

The weight of everything he’d been through still pressed heavily on him, but for now, he allowed himself to take a breath. The journey was far from over, but this moment, this small victory, felt like a glimmer of hope in the darkness that had consumed him for so long.

He tucked the key safely into his jacket pocket and stood up, his mind made up. There was only one thing left to do—find Morningside and uncover the secrets his mother had hidden away. Whatever was waiting for him in that safety deposit box, it had to be the final piece of the puzzle.

And he was ready to face it, no matter the cost.