Her Dead Husband Walked Out of the Ocean

Chapter 4: What Damon Survived

Sienna grabbed a metal lamp from the desk.

Mara did not even flinch.

"You are frightened," Mara said. "That makes sense. But I am not here to hurt your daughter."

"Then why is her name in your file?"

"Because she may have what Damon has."

Sienna held Ava behind her. "And what is that?"

Mara stepped into the room.

"Recovery beyond normal human limits. Your husband should have died in the wreck. He did not. His organs healed. His blood changed. We spent seven years studying why."

"Studying?" Sienna's voice shook with rage. "You tortured him."

"We preserved him."

"Where is he?"

Mara's expression cooled. "Being moved."

Ava suddenly spoke. "He will come back."

Mara looked at her. "You believe that?"

Ava nodded.

"He always comes back."

For the first time, Mara looked uneasy.

Then a crash came from below.

Someone was inside the lighthouse.

Mara turned sharply.

A man's voice echoed up the stairs.

"Sienna!"

Damon.

Ava pulled free and ran to the doorway.

"Daddy!"

Damon appeared at the top of the stairs, bruised, bleeding, but alive. He held one of Mara's black devices crushed in his hand.

Mara backed away.

"Impossible," she whispered.

Damon looked at her. "You kept asking why I survived."

He stepped into the room.

"Now you know."

Sienna stared at him.

Damon looked at Ava.

"I wasn't surviving for myself."

Mara pulled a gun.

Sienna screamed.

But before Mara could fire, Ava raised her small hand.

The room lights burst.

Mara flew backward against the wall.

Then Ava collapsed.