CHAPTER 10:The Drive To Benway

Downstairs, Steve stood in his father's old office, staring at the empty chair behind the desk.

Luna entered quietly. "You okay?"

He didn't look at her. "Do you think justice really happened today? Or was it just a small piece?"

Luna walked up behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist. "Maybe it was a piece. But even one piece of truth is better than years of lies."

Steve finally turned to her, his face weary. "I can't believe my own father was behind all this. Behind your father's death. Behind Gideon's manipulation."

"I know," she said, placing her hand on his chest. "But you're not your father, Steve. You made things right."

He cupped her face in his hands. "I don't deserve you."

She smiled. "But I'm still here."

Their foreheads touched. For a moment, there was no mansion, no secrets, no pain,just the two of them, breathing as one.

That night, Luna sat in bed, flipping through the journal once more. Steve lay beside her, reading quietly. Suddenly, he paused.

"There's something here I didn't notice before."

Luna looked over. "What is it?"

Steve pointed to a scrawled note in the margin of one of the pages. It was faded, but just visible:

"If anything happens to me, go to the chapel in Benway. Third brick on the left."

Luna's eyes widened. "Benway. That's your father's old town, isn't it?"

Steve nodded. "Yeah. My father used to take me there sometimes. Said it was where his mother was buried."

"Do you think it's a clue?" Luna asked.

Steve closed the journal. "Only one way to find out."

Luna rolled her eyes playfully. "And I thought we were done with secrets."

He grinned. "i guess we just started uncovering the whole truth behind the whole thing".

The drive to Benway was long and quiet. Fields rolled by as Luna stared out the window, lost in thought.

Steve drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting lightly on her thigh. "You okay?" he asked without looking at her.

"I'm thinking," she said. "About what we'll find. About what it'll change."

Steve glanced at her, then back at the road. "Maybe it won't change anything. Maybe it'll just give us peace."

Luna nodded. "I hope so."

They arrived at a small, forgotten chapel nestled between tall trees. The air smelled of moss and old prayers. The door creaked as they stepped inside.

Cobwebs danced in the corners. Sunlight filtered through stained glass windows, casting faded colors on the floor.

"This place hasn't been touched in years," Luna whispered.

Steve walked to the left wall. "Third brick," he muttered, counting slowly. "One… two… three."

He pressed it.

A small clicking sound echoed through the chapel. Part of the floor shifted, revealing a hidden box beneath a loose panel.

They both crouched. Steve lifted the box gently, dust falling like snow.

Inside was a single envelope, yellowed with age.

Steve handed it to Luna. Her fingers trembled as she opened it.

The letter was addressed to Ebenezer Charlotte.

"If you're reading this, it means you didn't give up. You were always brave, Ebenezer. Braver than me. What we found was dangerous. If they know you've seen this, run. Run and don't look back. They're watching everyone."

It was signed: Jonathan Collins.

Luna's breath caught. "What…?"

Steve stared at the paper. "My father wrote this?"

He took the letter, eyes scanning it again. "He knew… He knew someone was watching them. Maybe he didn't want my hands bloody."

"But he let Gideon do it anyway," Luna said, voice flat.

Steve clenched his jaw. "No. There's more to this. My father might've tried to stop it,maybe he was forced. We need to dig deeper."

That night, they stayed at a small motel in town. Steve sat on the bed, rubbing his temples while Luna stood by the window.

"Are you angry with me?" he asked quietly.

She turned. "Why would I be?"

"Because of everything. Because my father… my family…"

She walked over and knelt in front of him. "Steve, your past isn't your fault. What matters is who you are now. And who you're becoming."

He looked at her—really looked.

"You keep pulling me out of the darkness, Luna."

She smiled. "Then don't go back."

Steve pulled her close, holding her tight. They stayed like that, heartbeats in sync, breathing the same quiet air.

The next morning, Steve woke to find Luna brushing her teeth, singing quietly off-key.

He chuckled. "You sound like a goat trying to rap."

Luna turned with foam in her mouth. "Mhumph?!"

He laughed louder. "Beautiful goat, though."

She rinsed and threw her towel at him. "You're lucky I love you."

Steve caught the towel. "I'm lucky, period."

They ate breakfast in a local café. Simple toast and eggs never tasted better.

Then Luna's phone buzzed. A message from Grace.

> "Ashy says hi. Also, your school just sent a reminder. You're due to resume soon."

Steve raised an eyebrow. "Are you ready?"

Luna took a deep breath. "Yes. It's time. I need to finish what I started,for myself. For my dad."