Chapter 5 - Daniel couldn't move.Evelyn stood ten feet away, her gun aimed directly at Arthur.
Arthur didn't react.
He simply looked at her.
"You're early."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed.
"Seven years."
"To you, perhaps."
Daniel looked between them.
"What the hell is going on?"
Evelyn turned toward him.
"You want the truth?"
"Yes."
"Then ask the right question."
Daniel tightened his grip on the rifle.
"Who betrayed us?"
Evelyn answered immediately.
"You."
Daniel's expression collapsed.
"What?"
"You were the leak."
Thomas stepped forward.
"That's impossible."
Evelyn looked at him.
"Is it?"
She pointed at Daniel.
"Every operation we ran was compromised within forty-eight hours."
Daniel shook his head.
"I never sold information."
"You didn't have to."
Evelyn walked toward him.
"You were programmed."
Daniel stared.
"What?"
Evelyn stopped.
"Seven years ago, they discovered that The Circle had been infiltrated by a group called The Architects."
Daniel had heard the name.
It was considered a myth.
A shadow organization operating above governments and corporations.
Evelyn continued.
"The Architects developed a system that could manipulate memory."
Daniel looked at Arthur.
"You said the memory procedure was experimental."
"It was."
Evelyn laughed bitterly.
"Your father didn't tell you everything."
Daniel frowned.
"My father?"
Arthur looked away.
Evelyn continued.
"Your father was one of the first people recruited by The Architects."
Daniel's hands went numb.
"My father died when I was twelve."
"He disappeared."
Arthur finally spoke.
"Evelyn."
She ignored him.
"Your father wasn't killed."
"He was taken."
Daniel stared at her.
"By whom?"
"The Architects."
"And my mother?"
"She tried to expose them."
Daniel looked down.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the tunnel.
Evelyn raised her weapon.
Thomas moved toward the door.
"How many?"
"At least ten."
Arthur looked at the black box.
"We're out of time."
Daniel turned to it.
"What's inside?"
Evelyn answered.
"Your memories."
Daniel froze.
"What?"
"The original recording of the night Evelyn was supposedly killed."
Thomas looked at Arthur.
"You kept it?"
Arthur nodded.
"Because I knew one day Number 17 would remember."
Gunfire echoed again.
Closer.
Evelyn moved to the box.
"Open it."
Daniel approached.
There was no lock.
Only a fingerprint scanner.
He placed his hand on it.
The box opened.
Inside was a tiny black device.
And a photograph.
Daniel picked up the photograph.
It showed him as a child.
Standing beside his mother.
And behind them was another man.
Daniel recognized him immediately.
His father.
Daniel's hands trembled.
The photograph had a date on it.
Daniel was five years old.
His father had supposedly died in 1996.
"This is fake."
Evelyn shook her head.
"No."
Daniel turned the photograph over.
Written on the back were five words.
HE HAS BEEN WATCHING YOU.
Daniel looked up.
"Who?"
Every monitor in the chamber suddenly switched on.
A man's face appeared.
Older.
Thin.
Gray hair.
Daniel stared at the screen.
His father.
The man smiled.
"Hello, Daniel."
Daniel's rifle slipped from his hands.
The voice came through the speakers.
"I knew you'd come."
Daniel stepped toward the monitor.
"Dad?"
The man nodded.
"I need you to listen carefully."
Gunfire erupted outside the chamber.
His father continued.
"Do not trust Arthur."
Daniel looked at Arthur.
His father smiled.
"Because Arthur is not your enemy."
The screen flickered.
"He's something much worse."
Then the video stopped.
A red message appeared.
MEMORY FILE DELETED.
May you like
And behind Daniel, Arthur whispered:
"Run."
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