The Second Coming of Atlas Prime

Chapter 10

Atlas's hands trembled as he opened the leather-bound journal. The pages were filled with Anola's elegant handwriting, each entry meticulously dated. He flipped through quickly, scanning for his name, and froze when he found the first mention.

{March 15th - The boy continues to be a problem. Marius refuses to see how Atlas undermines everything we've built. The way he looks at us, as if he knows something..}

Atlas continued reading, his pulse quickening with each revelation.

{June 21st - Aaron agrees with me now. Atlas must be removed. The adoption was Marius's greatest mistake. I've never considered that orphan part of our family, and I never will.}

But it was the entries from the weeks before Marius's death that made Atlas's blood run cold.

{October 3rd - The plan is set. Aaron has acquired the compound. Tasteless, odorless, and undetectable in standard toxicology. We'll begin administering small doses tomorrow. The doctors will find nothing but natural causes - a heart weakened by stress and age.}

{October 10th - Marius complained of fatigue today. It's working faster than expected. Aaron worries we're moving too quickly, but I reminded him what's at stake. With his father gone, the entire Finnegan empire falls to him.}

Atlas gripped the journal tighter, his vision blurring with rage and disbelief. The final entry hammered the truth home.

{October 17th - It's done. The funeral arrangements are being made. Marius died in his sleep, just as planned. The doctor called it cardiac arrest - exactly as we predicted. Now there's only one loose end: Atlas Prime must disappear permanently.}

"They murdered him," Atlas whispered, his voice breaking in the silent room. "They poisoned my father."

All these years, he'd believed Marius had died naturally. The revenge he sought for his own mistreatment now paled in comparison to the justice his adoptive father deserved.

Working quickly, Atlas used his phone to photograph every page of the journal, ensuring each damning confession was captured clearly. He checked the images twice, making sure nothing was missed.

With the evidence secured, he carefully returned the journal to its hidden compartment, ensuring it sat exactly as he had found it. The headboard drawer slid shut with a soft click.

Next, he moved to Anola's unconscious form on the chaise lounge. With practised efficiency, he removed her skirt completely, leaving her in her expensive lingerie. He arranged her limbs in a position suggesting exhaustion after passion, then partially undressed himself, removing his shirt and loosening his pants.

Satisfied with the scene he'd created, Atlas reclined in a nearby chair to wait. The minutes ticked by slowly as he contemplated his discovery.

The Finnegans hadn't just cast him out - they had murdered the only person who had ever shown him true kindness.

…

The first light of dawn was filtering through the curtains when Anola stirred. Atlas moved quietly to sit on the edge of the chaise lounge, his expression carefully arranged into one of satisfied concern.

Her eyes fluttered open, confusion clouding her features as she took in her state of undress and Atlas's bare chest beside her.

"Good morning," he said softly, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face.

Anola blinked rapidly, struggling to orient herself. "What... what happened?"

"You don't remember?" Atlas let a slow smile spread across his face. "You were magnificent, Anola."

A flush crept up her neck as she pulled herself to a sitting position, wincing slightly. "I remember starting, but the rest is..." She trailed off, her hand moving unconsciously to her lower back.

"You were insatiable," Atlas continued, his voice low and intimate. "I've never seen anyone with such... stamina. You rode me until you literally collapsed from exhaustion."

Anola's expression shifted from confusion to pride as she absorbed his words. "Did I?" A smug smile tugged at her lips.

"How are you feeling?" Atlas asked, subtly placing his hand on her bare shoulder. "Ma'am?"

"Don't call me ma'am," she corrected automatically, then paused as the warmth from his touch spread through her. "Anola. Always Anola between us."

As his fingers rested on her skin, Atlas channeled his energy, focusing it into a gentle golden glow that remained invisible to Anola but sent waves of satisfaction flowing through her body. The sensation of fulfillment, of having experienced intense pleasure, settled into her muscles and mind.

"What happened yesterday?" she asked, her voice husky as the false memories took root.

Atlas leaned closer, the warmth from his hand intensifying. "You were wild. Demanding. Commanding." Each word strengthened the fabricated memory he was implanting. "You couldn't get enough."

Anola's eyes glazed slightly as her mind filled with invented images of passionate encounters. "Yes," she whispered. "I remember now."

Atlas withdrew his hand, the golden energy fading. "I'm glad I could please you."

She reached for him, fingers tracing the contours of his chest. "More than pleased. I want you as my personal security detail."

"But Hannah-"

"Can share," Anola interrupted. "I'll double whatever she's paying you. You'll serve us both." Her hand slid lower. "In every capacity."

Atlas caught her wrist, bringing it to his lips instead. "I'd be honored."

Anola's smile was predatory as she pulled him closer. "Seal it with a kiss."

Suppressing his revulsion, Atlas leaned in. Just as their lips were about to meet, the study door swung open.

"Mother, I need to discuss—" Aaron froze in the doorway, his eyes widening at the scene before him.

Atlas sprang back, affecting surprise and embarrassment as he reached for his shirt. Anola straightened, pulling a throw blanket over her lingerie with remarkable composure.

"What are you doing here?" Aaron demanded, glaring at Atlas.

"Mr. Reed was attending to my security concerns," Anola replied smoothly, not a hint of shame in her voice. "As requested."

Atlas nodded stiffly. "Mrs. Finnegan wanted to review the security protocols personally."

Aaron's suspicious gaze darted between them, but Anola cut off any further questioning.

"You should be here when I summon you, Mr. Reed," she said, her tone suddenly professional. "That will be all for now."

"Yes, ma'am," Atlas replied with a respectful nod, gathering his belongings and slipping past a still-glowering Aaron.

He walked briskly through the corridors, maintaining his composure until he reached the privacy of his room. Once alone, he locked the door and pulled out his phone, transferring the photographs to an encrypted drive.

With swift keystrokes, he composed an email to his contact, attaching the damning evidence.

{Found proof. M. Finnegan murdered. Poisoned by A and A. Journal confirms everything. Moving to phase three.}

He sent the message, then erased all traces of it from his device. Standing at the window, Atlas watched the morning sun illuminate the Finnegan estate.

"It's time," he whispered, his reflection in the glass transforming momentarily from James Reed back to Atlas Prime.

"Not just for my revenge now. For my father."