Chapter 15: The Truth Buried In Timber

Corey’s footsteps echoed across the wet concrete as he entered the abandoned mill. Every instinct screamed that something wasn’t right, the building was too quiet, too still. It reminded him of a predator waiting patiently for its prey.

“Mr. Lawson.” Shawn lowered his voice, "I've searched the perimeter and there’s clearly no sign of movement.”

Corey frowned.That doesn’t mean we’re alone. His eyes swept across the vast warehouse, broken machines, rotting timber, dust dancing beneath narrow beams of light. Everything looked frozen in time, except, one light glowed upstairs.

“Kisha.” He whispered her name before climbing the old staircase. Upstairs, Kisha refused to look away from Robert Prime. You’ve lied to me my entire life, I find it so hard to believe whatever crap you’re saying.

Robert smiled faintly. No, my mistake was that I simply allowed others to tell you their version.

“You manipulated me.” Kisha was angry, she was bent on telling him how miserable of a father he is. You used me for your selfish interest and now you want to clear things out?

“I protected you, raised you and made you strong.” His words were calm, almost fatherly. Yet every sentence felt like another chain tightening around her chest.

“You taught me obedience,” Kisha said quietly but you never loved me despite the fact that I was your flesh and blood. You only saw me as the child my mother raised with her lover. For the first time, Robert’s smile disappeared.

“You mistake love for weakness.”

“I mistake fear for cruelty.”

Silence settled between them. Then Robert slowly reached inside an old wooden cabinet. He removed a worn leather journal, the cover cracked with age. He placed it gently on the table, “Morgan Lawson wrote this.”

Kisha stared at it. Her hands refused to move.“What is this?”

“A record.” Robert replied. A record of everything.

Outside the office, Corey reached the landing. He could hear voices through the half-open door. Robert and Kisha, he stepped closer to be clear. “…Morgan never intended to leave his family forever.”

Corey’s breathing caught.

“…He was trying to protect them.” Robert’s voice continued. “But every choice has a price.” Corey pushed the door open. “Kisha!” She turned immediately, on seeing him, relief flooded her eyes.

“Corey…” Robert sighed, I wondered how long it would take. Corey positioned himself beside Kisha. “If this is another one of your games…”

Robert interrupted him. Then why don’t you read the journal? He slid it across the table. Corey picked it up carefully, the first page carried a familiar signature, Morgan Lawson. Below it contained a single sentence. If my children are reading this, then I have already failed. Corey looked up, “My father wrote this?”

Robert nodded. “He left it here twenty-three years ago.” Kisha’s fingers trembled as Corey opened another page. Inside was a photograph showing Morgan, Marla, a young Theresa and two little boys. Corey frowned. “Jethro…” Robert nodded, “Your brother.” Corey’s confusion deepened. But, there should have been another child.”

“There was.” Robert looked directly at Kisha, it's you. The room fell silent. Kisha shook her head, that’s not possible.

You lived with them.

“No.”

You laughed with them.

“No!”

“You called Morgan ‘Papa.’”

“STOP!” Her voice echoed through the empty mill.

Every word he said felt like needles puncturing her heart. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I don’t remember!” Robert’s expression softened. “I know, because someone made sure you wouldn’t.” Corey’s heartbeat quickened, What does that mean?

Robert looked toward the old ceiling. Ask yourselves one question. If your childhood was so happy, why can’t either of you remember it clearly? Neither of them answered. Because they couldn’t. Shawn suddenly rushed into the room.

“Sir.”

Corey looked toward him. “What happened?” Shawn held up a small electronic device, I found this hidden downstairs, a recorder. He pressed play, Static filled the room.

Then a woman’s frightened voice. “I won’t let you take them…” another voice answered, “We have no choice.” The recording abruptly ended.

Kisha’s entire body stiffened.I know that voice…

Corey looked at her.

“So do I.”

Robert slowly closed his eyes. “The past has begun speaking for itself.” Just then, a loud cracking sound echoed through the building. The old mill shuddered, dust rained from the ceiling. Shawn looks upward, the building isn’t stable. Corey grabs Kisha’s hand instinctively.

“We’re leaving.”

But before anyone could move a section of the upper floor collapsed behind them with a deafening crash. The only staircase leading out disappeared beneath splintered timber and clouds of dust. They were trapped. The thunderous crash echoed through the abandoned timber mill. Dust exploded into the air, swallowing the room in a thick gray cloud. Kisha instinctively covered her mouth, coughing as splinters of old wood rained around them.

“Corey!” she cried.

“I’m here.” His voice cut through the haze. A strong hand found hers before she could panic, his fingers tightened around hers instinctively. I promise I’m not letting go. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. The years between them, the misunderstandings, the resentment, none of it seemed to matter. Not when danger stood only a few feet away. Shawn quickly pulled a flashlight from his jacket. The narrow beam swept across the room.

“The staircase is gone.”

Chunks of broken timber blocked the only visible exit. Robert Prime remained surprisingly calm as he rested both hands on his walking stick as though nothing unusual had happened. His composure unsettled Corey.

“You knew this building wasn’t safe.”

Robert slowly looked toward him. This building has survived storms far worse than this. Don’t play games with me.

I’m far too old for games, Mr. Lawson.

Corey’s jaw tightened, tell me why we’re here. Robert’s gaze shifted toward Kisha. “Because there are lies that cannot survive another generation.” Silence settled over the room, only the wind howled through the broken windows.

Kisha couldn’t take her eyes off the leather journal resting on the dusty table. Morgan wrote this? Robert nodded “Every page dear.” Then why keep it hidden? Kisha was confused.

Because the truth inside destroyed everyone who touched it.

Corey stepped forward. Enough riddles, if you brought us here just to manipulate us— I brought you here,” Robert interrupted quietly, because neither of you knows who you really are.” The words lingered in the air, Kisha felt her pulse quicken. What does that mean?

Robert picked up the journal carefully. His fingers brushed over the worn cover with unexpected tenderness.

Twenty-three years ago this mill wasn’t abandoned. It was the heart of the Lawson family. Corey spoke, “My father never talked about it.”

“He couldn’t.” Robert answered. Not after what happened here. Shawn exchanged a quick glance with Corey, neither of them knew whether to believe the old man. Yet something about Robert’s voice had changed. For the first time, he didn’t sound arrogant, he sounded tired. Robert opened the journal, the pages had yellowed with age. He stopped on one entry.

“Read.”

Corey hesitated before taking the book. His father’s handwriting covered the page. He began reading aloud. If this journal is ever found, it means I failed to protect the people I loved. Corey’s voice caught in his throat. Hatred is inherited more easily than love. If my sons ever meet Marla’s daughter again… I pray they choose forgiveness instead of revenge.

Corey looked up. “My father knew…” Robert nodded, he knew the children would meet again. Kisha’s breathing became uneven.

“But…”

“How?” Robert slowly smiled. “Because fate has a cruel sense of humor.”