Chapter 13 - Elena's Last SecretElena finally told us everything.
Not because she wanted to.
Because the fortress had run out of places to hide.
Years earlier, she had worked for a private research division controlled by Helix.
She had developed identity encryption technology.
The original goal was financial security.
Helix transformed it into something else.
A system that could bury identities.
Erase records.
Transfer access privileges.
Create people who officially did not exist.
“Daniel discovered the project,” she said.
“And you helped him?”
“I tried.”
“Then why did you come to my house?”
“Because my son was threatened.”
I looked at Caleb.
“And Gabriel?”
“He was part of the original program.”
Daniel entered the room.
Blood still stained his shirt.
He looked at Elena.
“You never told him the whole truth.”
She lowered her head.
“What truth?”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Caleb was born with a defect.”
Elena stared at him.
“Don't.”
“He wasn't supposed to survive the implant.”
Caleb looked confused.
“What implant?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Your mother agreed to the procedure when you were three.”
Elena broke down.
“They said it would save him.”
“What was wrong with him?”
Daniel looked at me.
“Nothing.”
Silence.
“They lied.”
I understood.
They had used Caleb because his genetic profile matched mine.
He wasn't sick.
He was valuable.
That was why they had watched him.
That was why Helix wanted him alive.
Suddenly the floor shook.
An explosion rocked the fortress.
The lights died.
Gunfire erupted outside.
Thomas's voice came through the radio.
“Marcus!”
I grabbed it.
“Where are you?”
“In the east wing.”
“Are you working for Helix?”
Silence.
Then:
“I was.”
I froze.
“What does that mean?”
“I was undercover.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I knew it.”
Thomas continued.
“Victor recruited me three years ago. Helix killed my family. I infiltrated them.”
“You let me think you were a traitor.”
“I needed you to believe it.”
“You could have told me.”
“They were listening.”
A second explosion.
Thomas shouted.
“Get the children out!”
The radio went dead.
We moved fast.
Adrian carried Gabriel.
Daniel carried Caleb.
Elena followed.
I took the rear.
We reached an underground tunnel.
At the end was a steel door.
Locked.
Caleb touched it.
Nothing happened.
Gabriel touched it.
Nothing.
Then both boys placed their palms against the metal.
The door opened.
Beyond it was a massive underground chamber.
Hundreds of filing cabinets.
Thousands of names.
And in the center, behind reinforced glass, sat a single man.
Old.
Pale.
Hooked to machines.
My father.
He looked at me.
Then smiled.
“So.”
He pressed a button.
A display appeared.
It showed a family tree.
My name.
Elliot's name.
Adrian's.
Daniel's.
Caleb's.
Gabriel's.
But one line went farther.
To a name I had never seen.
THE FOUNDER.
My father spoke.
“Helix did not begin with me.”
“Then who?”
He smiled.
“Your grandfather.”
I stared.
“My grandfather died before I was born.”
“Another lie.”
The machines beside him beeped.
Then the chamber door opened.
An old man walked in.
I recognized him from childhood photographs.
My grandfather.
Alive.
He looked at me.
“You've finally come home.”
Then he looked at Caleb.
“And you brought the key.”
He raised his hand.
Soldiers surrounded us.
Daniel raised his gun.
My grandfather laughed.
“No.”
He pointed at Gabriel.
“The real key is him.”
Everyone turned.
Gabriel looked confused.
My grandfather smiled.
“Caleb was never the chosen boy.”
I looked at Elena.
“What does that mean?”
She whispered.
“Gabriel was born with your father's original genetic sequence.”
I stared at the boy.
My grandfather spoke again.
“And now that both boys are here, I can finally restore what your family destroyed.”
The chamber doors sealed.
Gas began filling the room.
Daniel shouted.
“RUN!”
But there was nowhere to go.
Then Caleb grabbed my hand.
“Uncle Marcus.”
“What?”
He pulled something from his pocket.
A white pill.
“My heart medicine.”
He smiled faintly.
“Dad told me to save one.”
May you like
Then he placed it in my hand.
“And I know what it's for.”
