Chapter 8 - The memory card contained only one file.Adrian waited until they were upstairs.
They locked every door.
Then Olivia connected the card to her laptop.
The video loaded.
A hospital room appeared.
Adrian recognized it immediately.
The night Emma was born.
Vanessa was lying on the bed.
A doctor stood beside her.
Then Adrian's father entered.
Adrian whispered:
"That's him."
His father looked older than Adrian remembered.
Tired.
Cold.
He leaned over the newborn.
Emma.
He touched her tiny hand.
Then said:
"She's perfect."
Vanessa on the video asked:
"What happens now?"
His father answered:
"We disappear."
Adrian stared.
The video continued.
A second man entered.
Adrian's face hardened.
Victor.
The same man Vanessa had described.
Victor said:
"The board wants confirmation."
Adrian's father shook his head.
"They won't get it."
"You promised."
"I promised them research."
Victor looked at Emma.
"They'll take the child."
"They'll take nothing."
"Then why create her?"
Adrian's father stepped closer.
"Because I knew they'd come."
Victor looked confused.
"The experiment was never about money."
Adrian leaned toward the screen.
His father continued:
"It was about control."
Victor whispered:
"And if the child survives?"
His father looked at Emma.
"Then she can destroy everything."
The video cut.
A second file appeared.
Security footage.
The Mercer mansion.
Years earlier.
Adrian watched his younger self walking through the hall.
His father was talking to a stranger.
The stranger was Daniel.
But Daniel looked much younger.
Then another person entered the frame.
Clara.
Young.
Maybe eighteen.
She was carrying a folder.
Adrian stared.
Clara whispered:
"I don't remember this."
The video showed Clara handing Daniel the folder.
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a list of names.
Then Clara said:
"They're coming tomorrow."
Daniel looked at her.
"How many?"
"Six."
"Who?"
"Doctors."
"And?"
"Two executives."
Daniel nodded.
"Then we're out of time."
The footage ended.
Adrian stared at Clara.
"You worked with him."
Clara shook her head.
"I don't remember."
"Then why were you there?"
"I don't know."
Vanessa quietly said:
"Because your father erased her memory."
Everyone turned.
Clara stared.
"What?"
"He had a machine."
"A machine?"
"Memory suppression."
Adrian felt sick.
"How do you know?"
"Because he used it on me."
Olivia stared at her mother.
"How many times?"
Vanessa looked at her.
"Three."
Adrian whispered:
"Why?"
"Because I tried to leave."
"Leave what?"
"The program."
Adrian's voice became cold.
"And every time?"
"He brought me back."
Olivia looked at her mother.
"Why did you stay?"
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
"Because the last time I tried..."
She stopped.
Adrian waited.
"What happened?"
Vanessa whispered:
"He threatened Olivia."
Olivia froze.
"You never told me."
"I wanted to protect you."
The laptop suddenly flickered.
The screen went black.
Then a message appeared.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Adrian stood.
"Someone is hacking us."
The message disappeared.
A second message appeared.
LOOK OUTSIDE.
Adrian walked to the window.
Across the street stood several black vehicles.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Men were getting out.
All wearing dark suits.
Olivia whispered:
"That's a lot of people."
Clara grabbed Emma.
Adrian locked the door.
Then the lights went out.
Again.
A loud metallic sound came from downstairs.
Someone had broken the front door.
Adrian whispered:
"Stay upstairs."
"What are you going to do?"
"Protect you."
He took a fireplace poker.
Footsteps entered the house.
One.
Two.
Three.
Then a voice called from below:
"Mr. Mercer."
Adrian's stomach tightened.
Victor.
"We don't want your wife."
A pause.
"We don't want your daughter."
Another pause.
"We want the girl."
Adrian looked at Clara.
She stopped breathing.
The voice continued.
"Clara Reyes."
The floor creaked.
May you like
"We know what you remember."
Then the footsteps began climbing the stairs.
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