Chapter 29: Mother's Truth
The shipyard was abandoned. Rusted containers stacked like metal mountains. Broken cranes reaching toward a moonless sky. Water lapping against rotted docks. Silence except for the wind.
Phoenix arrived at 11:45 PM. Fifteen minutes early. Old habit. Survey the area. Find exits. Identify threats.
He saw nothing. No one. Just darkness and decay.
At midnight exactly, lights flashed on. Blinding. Phoenix shielded his eyes. When his vision cleared, Sarah stood twenty feet away. The real Sarah. His mother. Or the woman wearing her face.
"Hello, Phoenix." Her voice was Sarah's. But the tone was wrong. Clinical. Cold. "Thank you for coming."
"Where's Maya?"
"There is no Maya. Not anymore. The woman who called you was one of my people. Using a voice modulator. Play
