Chapter 8: The Password
The following morning, Elara sat cross-legged on the floor of Killian's study, the encrypted flash drive plugged into his laptop.
A single file blinked on the screen:
"FATH3R-FI13" — Encrypted
Password required.
Killian paced behind her, tense. "You said you didn't remember anything."
"I didn't," Elara murmured. "But sometimes… sometimes my hands move like they remember more than I do."
She typed in her birthday.
Wrong.
Her father's name.
Wrong.
She tried combinations of her full name. Pet names. Favorite books.
Each one failed.
"Wait…" she whispered.
She stared at the file name again. FATH3R-FI13
She suddenly remembered a necklace. A silver chain with a tiny locket. Inside was a picture of her and her dad—and three carved words:
"Find the fire."
She typed it in.
F-I-N-D-T-H-E-F-I-R-E
Access granted.
Killian leaned in.
Onscreen, a folder unfolded with dozens of documents: bank statements, ledgers, client names tied to Damon Thorne's illegal transactions. A full paper trail.
Elara's breath hitched. "This… this could destroy him."
Killian nodded. "It's everything we need."
Just then, a notification popped up in the corner of the screen.
Incoming Email: Unknown Sender — Subject: "You Found It."
Elara's blood turned to ice.
She clicked it open.
> You shouldn't have remembered.
Now, you'll both pay.
— D.T.
A chill spread down her spine.
"He knows," she whispered.
Killian immediately shut the laptop and stood. "We have to move. He's watching us."
Elara stood too. "So what do we do?"
Killian's jaw clenched. "We stop playing defense."
For the first time, his voice wasn't just protective—it wa
s furious.
"He went after you. After your family. Now it's my turn."