The Memory Thief

Chapter13

Chapter 13 – “The Price”

They took Broker at 4:12 AM.

Kael knew it before his phone rang. He woke up with his heart hammering, the same way he used to wake up before a crash. The memory of Lena in the car was gone now, but his body remembered how to panic. His hands were cold, sweat on his palms even though the room was freezing.

The message was 10 seconds. No video. Just audio.

Broker’s voice, strained, cut off mid-word: “Don’t—”

Then static.

Kael played it 12 times. On the 12th time he heard it: the shuffle of boots on concrete, the click of a suppressor being screwed on, the muffled voice saying “Package secure.”

Dorian found him sitting on the edge of the bed 20 minutes later, phone in both hands like it might start talking again. The screen was warm from being held too long.

“They took her,” Kael said. His voice sounded hollow, like he was hearing himself from underwater.

Dorian didn’t ask how he knew. “Where?”

Kael shook his head. “Black site. Same place as before. They’re not hiding it.”

Dorian swore. “They want you to come. It’s a trap.”

Kael stood up. “Then I go.”