Chapter 15: Activation
1007 Words
The message didn’t disappear.
It stayed on Liam’s phone.
Cold.
Simple.
Terrifying.
“Phase Two initiated.”
No one spoke at first.
Because no one needed to.
They all felt it.
Something had just changed.
“What does ‘activate’ even mean?” Isabella asked.
Her voice was steady—
But her hands weren’t.
Liam didn’t sugarcoat it.
“It means whatever they built into you…”
He paused.
“…is about to wake up.”
A sharp chill ran down her spine.
“I don’t feel anything,” she said quickly.
“Not yet,” he replied.
Alexander stepped closer immediately.
His focus locked entirely on her now.
“Listen to me,” he said. “If anything feels off—anything—you tell me.”
She let out a small, breathless laugh.
“Everything already feels off.”
But even as she said it—
Something shifted.
A pulse.
Deep.
Inside her.
She froze.
“…Wait.”
Sophia stepped forward.
“What is it?”
Isabella pressed a hand lightly against her chest.
Her breathing slowed again—
But not by choice this time.
“I feel…” she started.
Then stopped.
Because she didn’t know how to explain it.
“It’s like… something’s moving,” she whispered.
The room went completely still.
Alexander’s expression hardened instantly.
“How strong?” he asked.
She swallowed.
“Getting stronger.”
Another pulse.
Sharper this time.
Her vision flickered.
Just for a second.
But enough to make her stumble.
Alexander caught her immediately.
“I’ve got you.”
But even his touch—
Felt different.
Too loud.
Too intense.
Too much.
She pulled away suddenly.
“Don’t—!”
Everyone froze.
Even she did.
Because that reaction?
Wasn’t hers.
“I didn’t mean that,” she said quickly.
But her voice sounded… off.
Liam stepped closer, studying her carefully.
“It’s starting.”
“No,” she said. “No, I’m fine. I’m still—”
Another pulse hit.
Harder.
Her body jerked slightly.
Her eyes shut tightly.
And then—
Images.
Flashes.
A white room.
Bright lights.
Voices.
Cold hands.
“Subject responding.”
“Increase the dosage.”
“She’s stabilizing.”
Isabella gasped—
Staggering backward.
“They’re not memories,” she said quickly. “They’re—”
“They are,” Alexander said quietly.
Her heart raced.
“No, I don’t remember this—I’ve never—”
“You did,” he said.
“They just buried it.”
Her breathing became uneven.
Her mind spinning.
“I don’t want to see this,” she whispered.
Another flash.
A child.
Sitting in a chair.
Small.
Still.
Watching.
Learning.
Her.
“No—”
She dropped to her knees.
Hands gripping her head.
“I don’t want this!”
Alexander moved instantly, crouching in front of her.
“Isabella, look at me.”
She couldn’t.
“I need you to focus,” he said.
“Stay here. Stay with me.”
Another pulse—
Stronger.
And suddenly—
Everything sharpened.
The room.
The sounds.
The people.
Too clear.
Her head snapped up.
Eyes locking onto Liam.
“You lied.”
The words came out sharp.
Certain.
Liam froze.
“…What?”
Her breathing steadied.
But her expression?
Changed.
Colder.
“You knew this would happen sooner,” she said.
Silence.
Sophia looked between them.
“Liam…?”
He didn’t answer.
Isabella stood slowly.
Her movements now—
Too controlled.
Too precise.
“You’ve been tracking my progress,” she continued.
“Even before the attack.”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“Is that true?”
Liam exhaled slowly.
And that was enough.
“That’s not what you think,” he said.
“Then explain it,” Alexander snapped.
“I was trying to stay ahead of it,” Liam replied.
“Of them.”
Isabella shook her head.
“No,” she said quietly.
“You were waiting.”
“For what?” Sophia asked, confused.
Liam didn’t answer right away.
And that hesitation—
Was everything.
“For me to activate,” Isabella finished.
Silence.
Heavy.
Alexander stepped forward slowly.
“If that’s true…”
His voice dropped.
“…you better start talking.”
Liam looked at all of them.
Then finally—
He said it.
“They gave me access.”
The words landed like a bomb.
Sophia’s eyes widened.
“What?!”
“They wanted someone close to monitor her,” Liam continued.
“Someone she wouldn’t suspect.”
Isabella’s chest tightened.
“And you agreed?” she said.
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice,” Alexander said coldly.
Liam’s jaw tightened.
“Not when it comes to your father.”
That shut everything down for a second.
Because they all knew—
Victor didn’t ask.
He forced.
Still—
The damage was done.
“You used me,” Isabella said quietly.
Liam’s voice softened.
“I protected you.”
“While reporting on me?” she snapped.
“I never gave them anything that would hurt you.”
“You don’t get to decide that!”
Her voice rose—
And something inside her snapped.
A sudden force exploded outward.
Glass shattered.
Objects flew.
Everyone stumbled back.
Isabella froze.
Her own hands shaking.
“…I didn’t touch anything,” she whispered.
No one spoke.
Because they saw it.
That wasn’t normal.
That wasn’t just instinct.
That was something else entirely.
Something dangerous.
Alexander stepped toward her slowly.
Carefully.
“Hey,” he said softly.
“You’re okay.”
She looked at him.
Eyes wide.
Terrified.
“No,” she said.
“I’m not.”
And for the first time—
Alexander didn’t have an answer for that.
Behind them—
Liam’s phone buzzed again.
No one wanted to look.
But he did.
And his expression went completely still.
“…What now?” Sophia asked.
Liam didn’t respond immediately.
Then slowly—
He turned the phone toward them.
Another message.
This one simpler.
More direct.
“Retrieve her. Alive or broken.”
- Writer
