Chapter 16: The Next Morning

It was 7:15 AM the next morning.

I sat alone at my kitchen island, the brass key, now a permanent weight around my neck, resting on the polished granite beside a hot cup of black coffee. The scent of roasted beans filled the quiet house.

The Anchorage was secure, silent. The windows offered a panoramic view of the untouched Michigan wilderness, peaceful and serene.

My phone buzzed on the counter. A single text message from Leo.

I picked it up.

“Dad. I can’t. I just… I can’t. Goodbye.”

I read the brief message. Then I set the phone face down, the screen dark.

I looked out at my empty, secure estate, the vast expanse of trees and sky.

I kept the fortress I built with my hands, but in saving my life, I showed my son the monster who built it.