Chapter 7 - Daylight Traitors
Clara used all her weight to slide the iron grate aside, hauling Lily up into the narrow blind spot between two concrete office buildings. They crawled onto the tarmac just as the beam of a heavy flashlight illuminated the drainage canal below them. Lily kicked the iron lid back into place, the clang muffled by passing delivery trucks.
They stood in the financial district, two disheveled children in filthy dresses amidst a sea of suits and briefcases. People glanced at them with brief curiosity before looking back at their smartphones. In a city of millions, their tragedy was invisible.
Clara kept Lily close to the glass facades, heading toward the granite arches of the St. Jude Commerce Building. As they approached the revolving doors, Lily spotted a familiar face near the concierge desk. It was Marcus, Julian’s senior law partner and godfather to the twins.
"Uncle Marcus!" Lily shouted before Clara could stop her.
The man turned sharply, his face draining of color. He looked around the lobby nervously, then hurried out the glass doors toward them. "My god, girls. The news reported Julian was taken from the park. Where have you been?"
May you like
He knelt before them, wrapping an arm around Lily. But as he pulled her close, Clara’s gaze dropped to his left wrist. The watch he wore was ticking, but on his inner cuff, embroidered in silver thread, was the serpent coiled upon itself.
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