As I dug through the scattered files and papers in that dark, eerie room, every nerve in my body was on high alert. The silence pressed in on me, thick and suffocating. It felt as though the walls themselves were watching, keeping the secrets of Blackwood buried in the shadows.
The papers were old, brittle under my fingers, covered in faded ink and strange symbols that I didn’t recognize. Most of it seemed like nonsense at first-old records, reports, and even blueprints of the building. But the deeper I dug, the more I found myself piecing together bits of information that sent a chill down my spine.
It seemed that Blackwood wasn’t just some ordinary place. There were records that hinted at experiments, hidden operations, and things far darker than I’d imagined. Ethan’s name wasn’t on any of these files, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that somehow, this was all connected. That maybe, just maybe, this place held the key to finding him.
As I continued sifting through the mess, I heard a faint creak behind me. My pulse quickened as I turned, scanning the shadows. The room was empty, or so I thought, but the feeling of being watched grew stronger. I held my breath, my eyes darting across the dark corners, but there was nothing there. Just the empty, hollow silence.
I forced myself to keep going, focusing on the task at hand. I couldn’t let fear distract me now. I had come too far, and I was too close to answers. Finally, I came across a file that was marked with a faded red stamp: RESTRICTED. My hands trembled slightly as I opened it, bracing myself for whatever I might find.
The file was filled with reports, documents, and strange photos that were hard to make sense of. Some of it was coded in a language I didn’t understand, but certain words stood out to me, chilling me to the core: experiments, mind manipulation, disappearances. There were mentions of individuals-patients? Subjects?-who had come to Blackwood seeking help, only to vanish without a trace.
As I read, it felt like the ground was shifting beneath my feet. Could Ethan have been brought here? Could he have been taken in by these… experiments? The thought made me sick, but I couldn’t dismiss it. The pieces were starting to fall into place, painting a picture that was more horrifying than I could’ve ever imagined.
I had to keep going, to dig deeper. I flipped through more pages, scanning for anything that could lead me directly to Ethan. My eyes fell on a name I didn’t recognize: Dr. James Cartwright. A shiver ran down my spine as I read through the notes. Cartwright was supposedly the head of the “operations” here. His name appeared over and over again in connection with the experiments and disappearances.
As I continued reading, I realized this was no ordinary doctor. Cartwright’s methods were inhumane, and his work was fueled by a twisted obsession with control and manipulation. His patients, according to the notes, had been subjected to things that defied reason, subjected to mental conditioning and psychological “tests” that broke them down piece by piece.
My hands tightened on the papers, and anger bubbled up inside me. Whoever this Cartwright was, he had something to do with the horror that had taken over our lives. And he was the one who could lead me to Ethan. I was certain of it now.
Suddenly, a low hum filled the air. I froze, looking up, my heart pounding. The sound was coming from somewhere in the building, like a generator kicking on. The lights flickered, casting the room in an eerie glow that made the shadows dance on the walls. I knew I had to get out of here, but I wasn’t going to leave without more answers.
I slipped the restricted file into my jacket and moved quietly through the hallways. Every creak of the floorboards beneath my feet seemed to echo, but I couldn’t let myself panic. I just had to stay focused, to keep my mind sharp. As I rounded a corner, I spotted a door that was slightly ajar, light spilling out from the cracks. My curiosity got the better of me, and I crept closer, peering inside.
The room was a makeshift laboratory, filled with machines and devices I didn’t recognize. There were rows of test tubes and vials, each labeled with names and numbers. The air smelled of chemicals and something faintly metallic. My stomach churned as I realized what I was looking at: this was where the experiments happened. This was where people were broken down, manipulated, and lost.
I scanned the room, searching for anything that could lead me to Ethan, but before I could step inside, I heard footsteps. I ducked back into the shadows, my heart racing as the footsteps grew louder. Two figures entered the room-a tall man in a white lab coat and a woman in scrubs. They were talking in low voices, but I could make out enough to understand.
“Dr. Cartwright isn’t pleased,” the man muttered. “He said the last subject showed too much resistance. We need to up the dosage for the next trial.”
The woman nodded, her expression unreadable. “And what about the boy? The one they brought in recently?”
My blood turned to ice. Could they be talking about Ethan?
“He’s still under observation,” the man replied. “Cartwright wants to make sure he’s… suitable before proceeding.”
I clenched my fists, barely able to contain my anger. They had him. Ethan was here, in this twisted place, and they were planning to use him for their sick experiments. I wanted to burst into the room, to demand answers, but I knew I couldn’t afford to blow my cover. I needed to be smart about this, to get as much information as I could before I made a move.
The two figures continued talking, but I tuned them out, my mind racing as I tried to come up with a plan. I had to get Ethan out of here, but I couldn’t do it alone. I needed help. But who could I trust? Who would believe me if I told them the truth about what was happening in Blackwood?
I forced myself to step away from the room, my mind reeling. I made my way back through the building, slipping out the same way I had come in. The morning sun was just starting to rise, casting a pale light over the grounds as I made my way back to my car.
As I drove away from Blackwood, my heart was heavy, my mind racing with questions and fears. I knew the truth now-at least part of it. Ethan was here, trapped in the clutches of a madman, and I was the only one who could save him. But I couldn’t do it alone. I needed to find someone who could help, someone who could stand beside me as I fought to bring him home.
And as I drove, a single name came to mind. Rachel. She was strong, braver than anyone I knew, and I knew she’d stand by me, no matter what. But could I really drag her into this nightmare? Could I risk her safety for a chance to save Ethan?
I gripped the steering wheel, my resolve hardening. I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t do this alone, and I wasn’t going to leave Ethan to suffer in that place. I’d do whatever it took, even if it meant facing the darkest parts of Blackwood and the monsters that lurked within.
I pulled out my phone, dialing Rachel’s number. The phone rang twice before she picked up, her voice filled with worry. “Harrison? Where are you?”
“I found something,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I need your help, Rachel. It’s about Ethan. He’s… he’s still alive.”
There was a pause, and I could hear the breath catch in her throat. “What? Where is he? Harrison, are you sure?”
“Yes,” I replied, my voice filled with determination. “And I’m not going to stop until I bring him home. But I need you by my side. Can you do this with me?”
There was a beat of silence before Rachel spoke, her voice steady and filled with resolve. “I’ll be there. Just tell me where to meet you.”
As I hung up, a sense of hope filled me. I wasn’t alone anymore. Together, we’d face the darkness, and we’d bring Ethan back. No matter what it took.
Does it mean Adrianne sold my son!???