Chapter 19 - The Letter No One Was Meant to Read
Richard carefully broke the wax seal.
Inside was a single handwritten letter.
The handwriting looked painfully familiar.
His own.
Not copied.
Not forged.
His own unmistakable script.
Daniel leaned closer.
"What does it say?"
Richard began reading aloud.
> If I ever read this letter again, then my memories have been altered exactly as we feared.
Everyone remained silent.
Richard continued.
> Do not trust every memory you recover.
> Some are genuine.
> Some were carefully placed inside your mind.
Richard stopped reading.
His hands trembled.
Edward closed his eyes.
"So you really wrote it..."
Richard nodded slowly.
"I remember writing many letters."
"But not this one."
He continued.
> Jonathan volunteered because I refused.
> Emily was never the target.
> She was the witness.
Maria whispered,
"Witness to what?"
Richard kept reading.
> If Meridian succeeds, history itself will become whatever they record.
Daniel frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Edward answered before Richard could.
"Whoever controls every archive..."
"...controls what future generations believe happened."
Richard read the final paragraph.
> If you reached this room, someone inside Meridian wanted you here.
> They are watching every step.
> Do not search for the enemy first.
> Search for the friend who disappeared.
Richard lowered the letter.
"The friend?"
Edward slowly nodded.
"There was someone else."
"Who?"
Edward hesitated.
"The thirteenth founder."
Daniel looked around the room.
"There were only twelve chairs."
Edward walked toward the far wall.
His fingers pressed a hidden switch.
A section of polished wood slid aside.
Behind it...
A thirteenth chair slowly emerged from darkness.
Covered by a white cloth.
Untouched by dust.
As though someone had expected its owner to return at any moment.
May you like
On the bronze nameplate were only three engraved words.
Reserved Until Found.
