CHAINS OF THE HEART

CHAPTER 2 Lab reports

"I found these buried in the lab," Kolton said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I've no idea what they mean, but I'm certain they weren’t supposed to be found." Ezekiel, slouched in one of the worn armchairs, barely glanced at them. He tapped a cigarette against his lighter but didn’t light it. "More ghost stories?"

Miles flipped open the Phoenix file, revealing pages of fragmented notes. "Subject A... genetic markers... adaptive regeneration." He exhaled sharply. "This isn’t just research pieces." Alexander picked up one of the pages, jaw tightening. "And Ember’s at the end of it." Kolton, perched on the arm of the couch, frowned. "Or someone wants us to think she is." A beat of silence. Then Ezekiel finally lit his cigarette, the flare of the match casting sharp shadows across his face. "Even if it doesn’t matter. We follow it anyway." Kolton snorted. "Of course you’d say that."

Ezekiel blew out smoke, unbothered. "Got a better idea?" Alexander cut in before the tension could rise. "I’ll handle Tatiana." As they dispersed, Kolton lingered in the doorway, watching Ezekiel crush his cigarette into an already-overflowing ashtray. "You really think this’ll work?" he muttered. Ezekiel didn’t look up. "It doesn’t have to. Just has to hurt the right people." Kolton shook his head and left.

---

The humid evening pressed down as Kolton and Miles exited the sleek, modern archives building, the sterile scent of preserved paper replaced by the city's exhaust and distant rain. Miles suggested a quiet jazz bar tucked down a side street known for its aged bourbon and dim lighting. Inside, the air was thick with the rich aroma of tobacco, expensive leather, and slow-burning candles. Low, mournful saxophone notes wove through the murmur of hushed conversations. They found a secluded booth upholstered in cracked burgundy leather, the tabletop scarred by decades of glass rings. Two glasses of amber liquid appeared, the ice cracking softly.

"Still nothing concrete," Miles murmured, swirling his drink. His eyes, usually sharp and analytical, looked weary in the candlelight. "Just shadows within shadows." Kolton leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "And Ember... vanished into thin air. Or was _made_ to vanish." He took a slow sip, the bourbon burning a welcome path down his throat. "That folder appearing right after... it’s too convenient.

Frustration tightened his jaw. "We need leverage. Something Alexander or Ezekiel slips up on." Miles nodded, his gaze scanning the room almost unconsciously. "Patience, Kolton. They’re watching us too. We push too hard..." He trailed off as his eyes caught on a figure near the bar. Kolton followed his gaze.

Near the far end, partially obscured by a pillar and the haze of smoke, stood a woman. She was tall, effortlessly commanding the space around her. She leaned slightly against the bar, one long leg crossed over the other, the slit in her deep emerald dress revealing a glimpse of toned calf. Her profile was sharp against the warm gloom: high, defined cheekbones, skin the colour of warm honey. Her hair, a cascade of thick, dark waves, tumbled over one shoulder. Even from this distance, the distinct blend of her heritage was arresting – the elegant structure hinting at Chinese ancestry softened by the rich, dark beauty characteristic of India. She raised a glass of something clear to lips that were full and painted a deep, almost blackberry shade. As she tilted her head slightly, listening to the bartender, the candlelight caught the almond shape of her eyes, large and dark, framed by impossibly long lashes.

For a split second, as she turned fractionally towards their booth, Kolton’s breath hitched. "Miles..." Kolton’s voice was a low rasp, barely audible over the music. "Look. _Now._" Miles was already staring, his analytical cool momentarily shattered by sheer disbelief. "Impossible," he breathed. "The height... the bone structure... It’s..." "Ember?" Kolton finished, the name tasting strange, hopeful, and terrifying all at once. The woman lowered her glass. Her eyes, those deep, fathomless pools, swept across the room.

They passed over their booth. Then, smoothly, elegantly, she set her glass down on the bar with a soft click. She turned and began walking towards the back of the bar, towards the restrooms and a shadowed exit sign. "Wait!" Kolton was half out of the booth before Miles grabbed his arm. "Kolton, _think_," Miles hissed, his voice urgent. "Is it really her? _We._ can't just accost her in here."

Kolton watched, heart pounding against his ribs, as the woman reached the dim corridor leading to the restrooms. She paused, one hand resting lightly on the wall. For a fleeting moment, she turned her head, looking back directly towards their booth. The light was behind her now, casting her face in deeper shadow, but the silhouette was unmistakable – the proud set of her shoulders, the long neck, the cascade of dark hair. Her expression was unreadable in the gloom, a beautiful, haunting enigma. Then, she pushed open the door marked 'Exit' and stepped through, swallowed by the darkness beyond.

The heavy door sighed shut behind her. Kolton slumped back into the booth, his drink forgotten. The smooth jazz suddenly felt jarring, intrusive. The encounter hadn't been fleeting. The scent of her perfume – something exotic and spicy, like sandalwood and orchids – seemed to linger in the air near their table, or was it just his imagination? Miles stared at the closed exit door, his knuckles white where he gripped his glass. "That wasn't a trick of the light, Kolton," he said, his voice flat, devoid of its usual certainty. "That was her. Or someone meticulously crafted to _be_ her."

The bourbon tasted like ash. The comfortable shadows of the bar now felt like a cage, and the haunting image of the tall woman with the piercing eyes and the impossible resemblance burned in their minds, leaving behind a deeper, colder unease than ever before. She wasn't vanishing; she was appearing. On her terms. Over the next few days, they reported more encounters with the same woman resembling Ember, each time with more questions. Then, a car accident occurred.

---

Ember deliberately veered into the path of an oncoming car, her eyes fixed on the road. She wanted to escape the pain and guilt that had tormented her since her betrayal. However, fate intervened. Alexander, driving the other car, swerved to avoid her, but it was too late. The cars collided, and Ember's world went dark. When she awoke, she was in a hospital bed, surrounded by beeping machines and antiseptic smells. A doctor leaned over her, his face etched with concern. "Miss...?" Ember's eyes flashed defiance. "I don't want treatment." The doctor's expression turned firm. "That's not an option. You're fortunate to be alive." Ember's gaze dropped, her face devoid of colour. She knew she didn't deserve to live, not after what she had done. But for now, she was trapped, forced to confront the consequences of her actions. The doctor was speechless. Patients in similar situations strive to escape the clutches of death: but not this lady -- she was a totally different story.

In the study, Alexander pulled a document from the drawer and handed it to Ezekiel, his voice steady and even. "Take some time to follow up on this project and reach out to them as soon as possible." Ezekiel glanced at the document. It was a collaboration project between the knight family and the Meyer family that hadn't officially kicked off.

Before Alexander and his brothers left the manor a year ago, the old man divided the Knight family assets amongst the 5 of them with Alexander getting the largest share as the eldest. "Got it," Ezekiel replied nodding. He closed the file for a moment, staring intently at Alexander. "It seems like Tatiana has been unusually quiet lately."

Kolton nodded in agreement, looking at Alexander with curiosity. "Do you think she might be plotting something bigger?" Tatiana was known for her cunning schemes, always up to something. Her sudden silence was completely out of character, especially with her son in their custody.