I said nothing.
"But I hope you'll let me answer your questions."
He moved toward the door.
Then stopped.
"There's one more thing."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
He looked at the blue box.
"Among those documents is a list of children enrolled in the Lumen Project."
I stared at him.
"Children?"
He nodded.
"You weren't the only one."
My heart began pounding.
"How many?"
Dad's eyes filled.
**"At least nine, Mara. And some of them were harmed much worse than you."**
---
# CHAPTER 5: I DISCOVERED NINE CHILDREN HAD BEEN USED IN THE SAME EXPERIMENT—AND MY MOTHER HAD HELPED KEEP THEM SILENT
**The photograph showed nine children sitting together in a hospital playroom. I recognized myself immediately—not because I remembered the room, but because the little girl in the center was holding the same stuffed rabbit I'd carried everywhere before I went blind.**
I stared at the picture.
Nine children.
