Chapter 36 - The Forgotten Name
The Keeper introduced herself simply as Vivian.
"I stopped using my family name years ago."
Daniel immediately asked why.
Vivian smiled faintly.
"Because names are dangerous here."
She walked toward one of the crystal memory panels.
With a gentle touch, the dark surface illuminated.
Instead of showing moving memories, a list of names appeared.
Dozens of them.
Some had been crossed out.
Some glowed softly.
Margaret noticed one entry without any surname.
Only a first name.
Michael
Her heart skipped.
"My father was named Michael."
Vivian nodded.
"So was someone else."
Arthur looked puzzled.
"There were two Michaels?"
"There were two identities."
Vivian opened another hidden compartment beneath the panel.
Inside rested a worn identification badge.
The photograph showed Margaret's father.
But the printed name beneath it wasn't Michael Ellis.
It read:
Michael Rowan
Rebecca frowned.
"A false identity?"
Vivian shook her head.
"No."
"The Ellis family was the false identity."
Margaret's mind raced.
Everything she believed about her family history suddenly felt uncertain.
Vivian carefully folded the badge back into its case.
"Eleanor discovered this thirty-nine years ago."
"And she spent the rest of her life trying to understand why your father agreed to disappear without leaving."
Daniel whispered,
"So our family wasn't hiding from someone..."
Vivian looked directly at him.
"No."
May you like
"Your family was hiding as someone."
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