Chapter 10 - Ava stopped hearing everything around her.The monitor repeated the same image.

Margaret holding a newborn.

Ethan beside her.

His face visible.

His hands empty.

He looked directly at the camera.

Then the recording ended.

Ava turned toward him.

“You knew.”

Ethan shook his head.

“I don't remember.”

“Enough.”

“I swear.”

“You've said that too many times.”

Ava rolled toward the door.

Ethan followed.

“Ava, please.”

“Don't.”

“You're in danger.”

“You are the danger.”

He stopped.

Claire went after Ava.

“Wait.”

Ava turned.

“You knew about my pregnancy.”

“Yes.”

“You knew Margaret took my baby.”

“Yes.”

“And you still stayed.”

Claire began crying.

“I was trying to find you.”

“You had twelve years.”

“I was imprisoned.”

Ava froze.

“What?”

Claire's voice dropped.

“They kept me in a facility.”

“Where?”

“I don't know.”

“Who?”

Claire looked toward Daniel.

He closed his eyes.

“Your father.”

Ava stared.

“My father imprisoned you?”

“To protect the location of the trust.”

Ava laughed bitterly.

“So my father was a monster too.”

Daniel didn't deny it.

“He was.”

The honesty stunned her.

“I made terrible choices,” Daniel said.

“But I was trying to destroy the network from inside.”

“Why?”

“Because your grandfather created it.”

Ava stared.

“And you inherited it.”

“Yes.”

“You could have stopped it.”

“I tried.”

“And failed.”

“Yes.”

The room fell silent.

Then Rowan entered.

“We found the facility.”

Everyone turned.

“Where?”

“Below the old hospital.”

The hospital where Ava had been treated after the crash.

The hospital where Claire had supposedly died.

They entered through an underground tunnel.

The deeper they went, the colder it became.

Doors lined the corridor.

Each had a number.

ECHO-1.

ECHO-2.

ECHO-3.

Ava stopped at ECHO-2.

Inside was a child's room.

Empty.

A small stuffed rabbit lay on the bed.

Ava picked it up.

A tag was sewn beneath the ear.

MIA

She whispered:

“Mia.”

Ethan stepped closer.

“You named her.”

Ava looked at him.

“I don't remember.”

“You did.”

They found records.

The baby had survived.

Female.

Healthy.

Transferred at three months.

Destination:

HART FOUNDATION

Ava's hands shook.

“That's my company.”

Rowan opened the database.

The transfer was authorized by:

Margaret Hale.

And approved by:

Ethan Hale.

Ava stared at him.

“You signed it.”

“I don't remember.”

She turned away.

“This isn't an excuse anymore.”

Then they heard a noise.

A child.

A little girl.

Crying.

Everyone froze.

The sound came from behind a steel door.

Ava rushed toward it.

The door was locked.

“Open it!”

Rowan broke the lock.

Inside stood a girl.

Maybe eleven years old.

Dark hair.

Green eyes.

Ava stopped.

She knew those eyes.

The girl stared at her.

Then whispered:

“Mom?”

Ava collapsed.

Claire covered her mouth.

Ethan began crying.

The girl ran forward.

Ava caught her.

“My baby…”

The girl clung to her.

“Why did you leave me?”

“I didn't.”

“Yes, you did.”

Ava sobbed.

“No.”

The girl shook.

“They told me you didn't want me.”

“Who?”

“Mama Margaret.”

Ava felt rage explode inside her.

“What did she tell you?”

The girl looked at Ethan.

Then whispered:

“He killed you.”

Ava turned.

Ethan froze.

“Who did?”

“My father.”

Ava stared.

The girl's eyes filled with tears.

“He told me your father died because of him.”

Ethan looked horrified.

“What is your name?”

The girl hesitated.

“Mia.”

Ava held her tighter.

Then Mia whispered:

“Mom…”

“Yes?”

“There was another baby.”

Ava froze.

“What?”

“Another baby like me.”

Claire's face drained of color.

“That's impossible.”

Mia shook her head.

“They told us there were two.”

“Two?”

Mia nodded.

“They said one was for the trust.”

“And the other?”

Mia pointed toward the hallway.

“Was for revenge.”

Suddenly alarms began screaming.

Red lights flashed.

A recorded voice echoed:

PROJECT ECHO HAS BEEN BREACHED.

Then another message.

SUBJECTS ARE TO BE TERMINATED.

Rowan drew his weapon.

“Move!”

Ava grabbed Mia.

They ran.

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