The photograph remained on the screen.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody even seemed capable of breathing.
The faded plaque attached to the crib stared back at them.
PROJECT ORIGIN
SUBJECT ZERO
And beneath it—
A date.
A single date.
The exact day Evelyn Voss was born.
The room became deathly silent.
Thunder rolled across the sky outside.
Rain continued striking the broken windows.
Yet nobody noticed.
Everyone was staring at Gabriel.
Because Gabriel Morrow looked terrified.
Not surprised.
Not confused.
Terrified.
Elara saw it immediately.
Her pulse quickened.
"You knew."
Her voice barely emerged.
Gabriel didn't answer.
The silence was enough.
The answer sat plainly on his face.
He knew.
Perhaps not everything.
But enough.
Enough to fear it.
Caleb stepped forw
