Chapter 16: Losing Control
1074 Words
The message burned into Isabella’s mind.
“Retrieve her. Alive or broken.”
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Because now—
There was no illusion left.
They weren’t trying to protect her.
They weren’t trying to study her.
They were coming to take her.
Isabella’s chest rose and fell unevenly.
Her pulse felt too loud.
Too strong.
Too… wrong.
“They’re not going to stop,” she said quietly.
Alexander’s eyes stayed locked on her.
“No,” he admitted.
“But neither are we.”
A strange laugh slipped from her lips.
Unfamiliar.
Uncontrolled.
“You don’t understand,” she said.
Another pulse hit her—
Harder than before.
Her body tensed.
Her fingers curled slightly—
Like she was bracing for something.
“Isabella,” Sophia said softly, stepping closer.
“It’s okay—”
“Don’t.”
The word came out sharp.
Almost instinctive.
Sophia froze.
Isabella’s eyes widened.
“I didn’t mean—”
But it was happening again.
That shift.
That feeling.
Like something inside her was waking up—
And pushing her aside.
“I need space,” she said quickly, backing away.
Alexander stepped forward immediately.
“You’re not being left alone.”
“I’m not asking,” she snapped.
Silence.
That wasn’t her.
Not fully.
Her breathing quickened again.
Her vision sharpened—
Then blurred—
Then sharpened again.
“I can hear everything,” she whispered.
Everyone froze.
“Outside,” she continued. “Footsteps… three—no—five people. Moving fast.”
Liam moved to the window.
Checked.
Then looked back.
“She’s right.”
Sophia’s heart dropped.
“They’re already here?”
“No,” Isabella said.
“They’ve been here.”
A chill filled the room.
Alexander grabbed his jacket.
“We don’t have time. We move now.”
But Isabella didn’t move.
Because something else hit her.
Another flash.
A voice.
Clear.
Cold.
“If subject becomes unstable… initiate containment.”
Her breath caught.
“No…” she whispered.
Alexander turned.
“What is it?”
She looked at him—
But her eyes weren’t the same.
“They built a way to stop me,” she said.
The words felt heavier than anything before.
“How?” Liam asked.
Her voice dropped.
“They didn’t just enhance me…”
A pause.
Her chest tightened.
“They programmed a shutdown.”
Silence.
Sophia shook her head.
“No—no, that’s not possible.”
“It is,” Isabella said.
“And I think…”
Her voice trembled.
“I think it’s activating.”
Suddenly—
Her body jerked.
Pain.
Sharp.
Violent.
She cried out—
Falling to her knees.
“Isabella!” Alexander rushed to her.
“Don’t touch me!” she gasped.
Her entire body tensed—
Like it was fighting itself.
Her hands slammed against the floor—
Cracks forming beneath her palms.
The room shook slightly.
“She’s losing control,” Liam said.
“No,” Alexander snapped.
“She’s fighting it.”
Isabella’s breathing became erratic.
Her vision flickering again—
Faster now.
More intense.
“I can’t… stop it…” she said.
Another surge—
Stronger.
Objects in the room lifted slightly—
Then dropped violently.
Glass shattered.
Lights flickered.
Sophia backed away, terrified.
“Alex…”
But Alexander didn’t move.
He crouched in front of Isabella—
Ignoring the danger.
Ignoring everything.
“Look at me,” he said.
She couldn’t.
“Isabella!”
Her eyes snapped to his.
And for a second—
She was there.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” she whispered.
His expression softened.
“You won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
Another pulse hit—
And this time—
She screamed.
The force exploded outward again—
Stronger.
More violent.
Alexander was thrown back—
Slamming into the wall.
“Alex!” Sophia shouted.
Liam grabbed her, pulling her out of the way.
Isabella froze.
Horrified.
“I did that…” she whispered.
Her hands shook uncontrollably now.
“I’m going to hurt all of you.”
Alexander pushed himself up—
Ignoring the pain.
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am!” she shouted.
Her voice cracked.
Tears streaming down her face.
“You need to leave,” she said.
“No.”
“Alexander, please!”
Her voice broke completely now.
“I can’t control it.”
Silence.
Then—
Footsteps.
Closer now.
Louder.
“They’re here,” Liam said.
Sophia’s panic rose.
“What do we do?!”
But Isabella already knew.
Her expression changed.
Resolved.
“You go,” she said.
Alexander froze.
“What?”
“I’ll hold them off.”
“No,” he said immediately.
“You don’t have a choice!”
Her voice was firm now.
Clear.
“If I go with you, I’ll just slow you down… or worse.”
“That’s not happening,” he said.
“It already is.”
Another surge ran through her—
Less chaotic now.
More controlled.
More dangerous.
“You said I was trained for this,” she continued.
“So let me do what I was made to do.”
His jaw tightened.
“I’m not leaving you.”
She stepped closer to him.
And this time—
She reached for him first.
Her hand pressed lightly against his chest.
Her touch softer now.
Real.
“You don’t have to leave me,” she said quietly.
“You just have to trust me.”
Their eyes locked.
Everything else faded.
For a moment—
Just like before.
But this time—
It hurt more.
Because this felt like goodbye.
“I’ll come back,” she whispered.
“You better,” he said.
She gave a small, broken smile.
Then—
She leaned in—
And kissed him again.
Not soft this time.
Not hesitant.
Desperate.
Real.
Then she pulled away.
“Go,” she said.
And this time—
He hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
He turned.
“Move!” he ordered.
Liam grabbed Sophia, pulling her toward the exit.
Alexander looked back one last time.
Isabella was already turning away—
Facing the door.
Facing the danger.
Facing whatever she was becoming.
The door burst open.
Armed men rushed in.
And Isabella didn’t run.
She stood there—
Still.
Focused.
Ready.
Her eyes darkened.
Her breathing steady.
And for the first time—
She didn’t look afraid.
- Writer
