Chapter 19 - The ChoiceMy eyes reflected in a broken mirror.
They looked normal.
Almost.
A faint ring surrounded each pupil.
Blue.
Then gone.
Vale stepped back.
“You activated it.”
I didn't know what he meant.
“What did I activate?”
“Adaptive consciousness.”
Mara stared.
“That's impossible.”
Vale shook his head.
“He isn't healing anymore.”
He looked at me.
“He's evolving.”
The room went silent.
I could feel everything.
The temperature.
The vibrations in the floor.
The electrical current inside the walls.
Even the blood moving inside my father's body.
It was terrifying.
And strangely calm.
Vale smiled.
“You finally understand.”
I didn't answer.
He continued.
“You're not a patient.”
“You're a species.”
I stepped toward him.
“And that's why you killed children?”
“We sacrificed individuals for humanity.”
“No.”
I looked at the files.
“You sacrificed people for power.”
Vale laughed.
“Power is what keeps civilization alive.”
I looked at Evan.
He was holding his chest.
His body was changing.
The scars on his arms were disappearing.
The baby was crying.
Mara was helping my father.
Everyone was breaking.
And I realized something.
Vale would never stop.
Even if we destroyed this facility, another one would appear.
Another laboratory.
Another child.
Another Connor.
I looked at the main database.
“What's that?”
Mara followed my gaze.
“The Genesis core.”
“Can we destroy it?”
“Maybe.”
Vale shook his head.
“You'll destroy the cure for humanity.”
I looked at him.
“Then humanity can find another cure.”
I walked toward the server room.
Soldiers raised weapons.
I didn't stop.
One fired.
The bullet struck my shoulder.
Pain.
Then nothing.
The bullet dropped.
The wound closed.
The soldier stared.
I pulled the bullet from my shoulder.
“Stop.”
Nobody fired.
My voice sounded different.
Stronger.
Vale whispered:
“You could save millions.”
“By letting you control me?”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“By controlling yourself.”
He offered the syringe.
“Take it.”
“What is it?”
“Phase Three.”
Mara shouted:
“Don't!”
Vale smiled.
“It will stabilize his adaptation.”
I looked at the syringe.
Maybe he was lying.
Maybe not.
Then I realized the truth.
I didn't need the drug.
I needed a choice.
I turned the syringe toward myself.
Everyone froze.
Then I injected it into my arm.
Mom screamed.
“No!”
The fluid entered my bloodstream.
Pain exploded through me.
I fell.
My bones felt like they were burning.
My heart stopped.
For three seconds.
Then started again.
I opened my eyes.
Vale stared.
“What did you do?”
I stood.
“I chose.”
The Genesis core began shutting down.
Every screen went black.
Every machine stopped.
Vale looked horrified.
“No.”
Mara looked at me.
“What did you do?”
I answered:
“I changed the code.”
The facility doors opened.
Sirens filled the halls.
Government agents flooded the building.
Vale tried to run.
Evan stopped him.
“You made me.”
Vale looked at him.
“Yes.”
Evan smiled sadly.
“And now I'm making my own choice.”
He stepped aside.
Voss appeared behind Vale.
They stared at each other.
Two men who had spent decades controlling lives.
Now trapped by the people they created.
Police entered.
They arrested both.
My father was taken to surgery.
My mother stayed beside me.
Mara disappeared before anyone could question her.
The baby was taken into protective custody.
Evan sat beside me.
For the first time, the world was quiet.
Then one government agent entered.
He placed a file on the table.
“Connor Hayes?”
“Yes.”
“You need to see this.”
I opened it.
Inside was one photograph.
A hospital room.
A newborn baby.
My face.
The date:
March 14, 2007.
Underneath was a handwritten note.
ONE SUBJECT STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR.
Then I saw the name.
I stopped breathing.
It wasn't Evan.
It wasn't me.
It wasn't the baby.
The name was:
CONNOR HAYES.
I looked at Evan.
He stared at the photograph.
“That's impossible.”
The agent quietly replied:
“No.”
Then he placed another photograph beside it.
This one showed a man.
Thirty years old.
My face.
He was standing in front of a mirror.
May you like
And written beneath the photograph were four words:
SUBJECT FOUR IS ALIVE.
