The Girl They Created

Chapter 1: Homecoming

The letter had arrived three days too late to be refused.

It sat on my dresser when I returned from school, its cream-colored envelope bearing the unmistakable seal of the Dellucci family. I had turned it over in my hands countless times since then, hoping the words inside would somehow change.

They hadn't.

Now, as the Cayenne sped toward Genovia Airport, I stared out the tinted window and tried not to think about what awaited me back home.

Father had finally called me back to Wieldiss.

Not because he missed me.

Not because I had spent eight years studying abroad.

And certainly not because I had just graduated from StarBucks Technical High School with the highest score in Applied Physics and Engineering the school had ever recorded.

No.

General Dellucci wanted results.

What had he done when his son—Lachlan Dellucci, a sixteen-year-old science prodigy—received his fifth national award for a groundbreaking Physics SCI paper?

Nothing.

Not a congratulatory call.

Not a handshake.

Not even a smile.

To my father, achievements only mattered when they aligned with his ambitions.

And his ambition had a name.

M2 Elena.

A military surveillance chip capable of being embedded into virtually anything. Small. Undetectable. Efficient.

A spy's dream.

Or, more accurately, my father's dream.

The purpose of my return was simple.

He wanted me to build it.

I leaned back against the plush leather seat in the first-class cabin and closed my eyes.

Daydreaming wasn't something I often allowed myself. Most of my life revolved around solving equations, conducting experiments, and chasing scientific breakthroughs. There was never enough time to waste on fantasies.

But today felt different.

Returning home meant stepping back into a life I had deliberately distanced myself from.

A life controlled by expectations.

A life controlled by General Dellucci.

My thoughts drifted instead toward the people I actually wanted to see.

Mother.

Salish.

Even Owens.

Though things between my brother and me had become strained over the years.

Father was cold enough to freeze an ocean.

The rest of my family had always been my source of warmth.

Thinking about them made the flight pass quicker than expected.

The next thing I knew, a flight attendant was gently shaking my shoulder.

"Mr. Dellucci, we've landed."

I blinked awake and rubbed my eyes.

Outside the aircraft window, Genovia stretched beneath a sky painted gold by the afternoon sun.

Home.

Or something close to it.

I collected my luggage and stepped into the bustling airport terminal, already preparing myself for disappointment.

I hadn't expected Father to be there.

He never was.

When I left for Summerland eight years ago, he barely looked up from his paperwork long enough to say goodbye.

Expecting him to welcome me home now would have been foolish.

So imagine my surprise when I spotted a familiar figure waiting beside a fleet of gleaming Maseratis.

A woman in a stunning red evening gown stood with her hands clasped elegantly before her.

Lady Seline DiCaprio.

My godmother.

For a second, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.

Then she spotted me.

Her face lit up instantly.

"Lil' old Chlan!"

I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face.

Using my long strides, I crossed the distance between us in seconds.

"Good afternoon, Lady Seline."

Before she could protest, I bent respectfully to greet her.

She immediately grabbed my shoulders.

"Oh, enough of that nonsense."

Her eyes scanned me from head to toe.

Then they widened.

"My goodness, look at you."

I laughed.

"You make it sound like I've returned from war."

"You practically have."

She pinched my cheek.

I groaned.

Some things never changed.

"Still handsome," she declared proudly. "Still impossible."

I noticed the coral necklace around her neck and smiled.

"You still wear that?"

"Of course I do."

She touched it fondly.

"My favorite gift."

Warmth settled unexpectedly in my chest.

For all her dramatics, Seline had always treated me like one of her own children.

And sometimes...

That had meant more than she knew.The ride home was exactly as chaotic as I remembered.

One moment, Seline was talking about a charity gala she'd attended last week. The next, she was complaining about a restaurant owner who had tried to overcharge her for imported wine.

I sat quietly and listened, occasionally responding with a nod or a hum of agreement.

Truthfully, I didn't mind.

Her voice filled the silence that had accompanied me throughout most of my flight.

"Chlan, I heard about your SAT scores," she said suddenly.

I sighed.

Here we go again.

"What about them?"

"They were incredible!"

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"Thank you."

"No, seriously. Do you have any idea how proud everyone is of you?"

Not everyone.

Father certainly wasn't.

"What university are you planning to attend for your master's degree?" she asked.

That answer came easily.

"Ozford University."

Her eyes brightened immediately.

"Oh! Isn't that where Margaret was recently admitted?"

I blinked.

Margaret?

As in Margaret DiCaprio?

The cornsilk-haired menace who used to follow me around and threaten to expose my embarrassing childhood secrets?

"She's still in Genovia?" I asked.

"Of course she is."

I groaned.

Seline laughed.

"What was that reaction for?"

"Nothing."

That earned me a suspicious look.

For a moment, she remained silent.

Then she cleared her throat.

"Chlan?"

I immediately narrowed my eyes.

Whenever adults used that tone, trouble followed.

"Yes?"

"You know... since you'll both be attending the same university..."

I stared at her.

She stared back.

The realization hit me like a freight train.

"Oh no."

Her cheeks turned pink.

"Oh yes."

I groaned louder.

"Seline."

"What?"

"Please don't."

"Don't what?"

"Try to matchmake me."

The woman had the audacity to look innocent.

"I would never."

"Liar."

She gasped dramatically.

"How dare you accuse me of such things?"

"Because your face is incredibly easy to read."

Her expression immediately collapsed.

I pointed triumphantly.

"See? Exactly that face."

She crossed her arms.

"You've become too smart for your own good."

"I've always been too smart for my own good."

"Fair point."

I leaned back into my seat.

"I'm not interested in dating."

"Not even a little?"

"No."

"Why?"

I looked out the window.

Because I didn't have time.

Because Father had already planned the next few years of my life.

Because creating M2 Elena would consume every waking hour I had.

Because relationships were complicated.

And because I genuinely didn't know how to fit another person into my life.

"I have a project to complete," I finally said.

"A project?"

"Three months."

Seline blinked.

"What happens in three months?"

"I either complete M2 Elena..."

I paused.

"Or Father makes my life miserable."

She winced.

"Ah."

"Exactly."

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then she nudged my shoulder.

"Promise you'll still visit?"

I pulled out my phone and checked my schedule.

"Thursday?"

"No."

I frowned.

"No?"

"I want you at my house by Tuesday."

"Seline—"

"Your father won't refuse me."

Unfortunately, she was right.

There were very few people capable of intimidating General Dellucci.

Lady Seline DiCaprio happened to be one of them.

I surrendered immediately.

"Fine."

Her victorious grin made me regret everything.

Satisfied, she finally settled back into her seat.

Meanwhile, I plugged in my headphones.

The soft melody of Lost Boy drifted into my ears.

For the first time all day, my mind began to relax.

The rhythmic hum of the car.

The fading sunlight.

The familiar roads of Genovia.

Together, they pulled me into sleep.

The next thing I knew, laughter woke me.

Female laughter.

Loud female laughter.

I groaned.

Women.

Would they ever discover the beauty of silence?

Slowly opening my eyes, I found myself lying on my bed.

My bed.

My actual bed.

The one I'd left behind eight years ago.

For a moment, I simply stared at the ceiling.

Nothing had changed.

The room looked exactly as I remembered.

A strange sense of comfort settled over me.

At least nobody had touched my things.

Then I heard a familiar voice.

"Aww, look at him."

My entire body froze.

Mother.

I turned my head.

Sure enough, Andrea Dellucci sat comfortably on the couch beside my bed, looking far too pleased with herself.

Beside her sat Seline.

Both women were staring at me.

That couldn't possibly be good.

Mother's smile widened.

"Oh, he's awake."

Danger.

Immediate danger.

Every survival instinct I possessed began screaming at me.

Before I could react, she rushed toward the bed.

I barely had time to sit up.

"My baby!"

"Mother."

"Look at you!"

"Mother."

"When did you get so handsome?"

"Mother."

She ignored me completely.

Seline was laughing now.

Traitor.

Absolute traitor.

Mother reached forward.

I immediately grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around myself like armor.

Her eyes narrowed.

My eyes narrowed.

The battle lines had been drawn.

And somehow, despite earning national science awards and solving problems people twice my age couldn't understand...

I knew I was about to lose.The battle lasted approximately twelve seconds.

Twelve humiliating seconds.

"Mother, stop."

"No."

"Mother."

"Still no."

I tightened my grip on the blanket.

She tightened hers.

At some point, Seline had completely abandoned the idea of helping me and was now laughing so hard that tears were forming in her eyes.

"You're enjoying this far too much," I muttered.

"Absolutely."

Betrayal.

Pure betrayal.

Eventually, I managed to escape by wrapping myself like a burrito and rolling to the opposite side of the bed.

Mother finally relented.

For now.

She sat beside me and cupped my face between her hands.

The amusement faded from her eyes, replaced by something softer.

Something warmer.

"I missed you."

The words caught me off guard.

For a moment, I forgot every sarcastic response I'd prepared.

"I missed you too, Mom."

Her smile trembled slightly.

Then she pulled me into a hug.

A proper hug.

The kind that made all the years apart seem a little shorter.

I hugged her back.

When she finally released me, I noticed the faint shine in her eyes.

Naturally, I pretended not to notice.

Some things were better left unspoken.

---

Dinner that evening was loud.

Very loud.

Salish talked enough for three people.

Mother encouraged her.

Seline occasionally joined in.

And Owens...

Well.

Owens mostly watched.

The distance between us was impossible to ignore.

We weren't enemies.

But we weren't close either.

Not anymore.

The years had changed us.

The worst part was that neither of us seemed interested in fixing it.

Thankfully, Father wasn't present.

The atmosphere remained pleasant until he arrived.

The moment General Dellucci entered the dining hall, the temperature dropped ten degrees.

Everyone noticed.

No one said anything.

That was how things worked around him.

He carried authority the way other people carried briefcases.

Naturally.

Effortlessly.

Dangerously.

His gaze found me immediately.

Not Mother.

Not Salish.

Not Owens.

Me.

Of course.

"How was your journey?"

I almost smiled.

Almost.

Because I knew exactly what came next.

"It was fine."

He nodded.

Silence followed.

Three.

Two.

One.

"When do you intend to begin your project?"

There it was.

I dropped my fork.

The metallic clink echoed across the table.

"Seriously?"

Father frowned.

"What?"

"I arrived home less than six hours ago."

"And?"

I stared at him.

He stared back.

Somehow, I was the unreasonable one.

"Your first question is about M2 Elena?"

"It's important."

"More important than your son?"

The words escaped before I could stop them.

The table went silent.

Even Salish stopped talking.

Father's expression hardened.

"M2 Elena represents the future of military intelligence."

"Wonderful."

"It will change everything."

"Amazing."

"It will secure our family's legacy."

"Fantastic."

His eyes narrowed.

Mine did too.

For several tense seconds, neither of us backed down.

Then he sighed.

Actually sighed.

The sight nearly made me fall out of my chair.

"Take the rest of the day off."

I blinked.

What?

"Tomorrow," he continued, "you'll begin work."

There it is.

Back to normal.

"No excuses."

I considered my options carefully.

Then inspiration struck.

"What if Lady Seline requests my presence tomorrow?"

Father froze.

The entire table froze.

Slowly, he turned toward Seline.

She smiled sweetly.

The kind of smile that terrified grown men.

"I already invited him."

Father rubbed his temple.

I nearly laughed.

General Dellucci feared exactly three things in life.

Mother's disappointment.

Public scandals.

And Lady Seline DiCaprio.

"Fine," he muttered.

Victory.

Beautiful, glorious victory.

"Thank you, Father."

He pointed a warning finger at me.

"One day."

"I know."

"One day only."

"I know."

"No tricks."

"I know."

For the first time that evening, I genuinely smiled.

---

The following morning passed peacefully.

Which should have been my first warning.

Peace never lasted long in the Dellucci household.

I was halfway to freedom when I heard it.

"Lachlan!"

I froze.

No.

Absolutely not.

I increased my pace.

"Lachlan Dellucci!"

The footsteps behind me quickened.

I sighed.

There was no escape.

Slowly, I turned around.

Salish stood several feet away, hands on her hips.

Her expression screamed determination.

I immediately became concerned.

"What do you want?"

She smiled.

I became even more concerned.

"I need a favor."

"No."

"You don't even know what it is."

"I don't need to."

Her smile widened.

Definitely dangerous.

"Lachlan."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"No."

She gasped dramatically.

"You haven't changed at all."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I'll take it anyway."

Salish rolled her eyes.

Then she grabbed my arm.

Bad sign.

Very bad sign.

"There's a city ball in three days."

I immediately understood.

And immediately regretted understanding.

"No."

"I haven't asked yet."

"You're going to ask me to attend."

"Maybe."

"No."

"With me."

"No."

"As my date."

"Absolutely not."

She stomped her foot.

"Why?"

"Because I'm your brother."

"So?"

"So that's weird."

"It isn't weird."

"It is."

"It isn't."

"It absolutely is."

She groaned.

"You are impossible."

"I hear that a lot."

Salish folded her arms.

"Fine. Then who are you taking?"

I opened my mouth.

Then closed it.

Good question.

Who was I taking?

No one.

Because parties were terrible.

People were exhausting.

And conversations about anything other than science usually made me want to launch myself into the nearest river.

Unfortunately, admitting that would only strengthen her argument.

"I'll figure something out."

"You won't."

"I will."

"You won't."

"I will."

She pointed at me.

"You have three days."

Then she marched away.

Leaving me standing alone in the hallway.

Three days.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Now I had two impossible problems.

M2 Elena.

And finding a date.

One of those seemed significantly harder than the other.

And surprisingly...

It wasn't the military project.By evening, the city had begun to glow.

Golden lights illuminated the streets of Wieldiss, reflecting off polished roads and towering mansions. From my bedroom window, I could see the distant skyline stretching beneath a canvas of orange and crimson.

The sunset was beautiful.

Unfortunately, beauty did very little to ease my headache.

The city ball.

The project.

My father.

The endless stream of expectations waiting for me.

I needed air.

Real air.

Not the recycled kind trapped inside the mansion.

After dinner, I slipped out quietly before anyone could stop me.

The destination came naturally.

The hot spring.

It had always been my refuge whenever life became too loud.

The path leading there remained exactly as I remembered.

Wildflowers swayed gently in the evening breeze.

The meadows rolled endlessly beneath the fading sunlight.

Fireflies flickered among the tall grass like scattered stars.

For the first time since returning home, I felt myself relax.

Maybe coming back wouldn't be so terrible after all.

The thought lasted exactly five seconds.

Then I remembered Father.

Never mind.

The hot spring soon came into view.

Steam rose lazily from the surface, curling into the cool night air.

Perfect.

I quickly removed my clothes and folded them neatly beside a nearby tree.

Some habits never died.

Then I dove into the water.

Warmth enveloped me instantly.

A satisfied sigh escaped my lips.

Now this was paradise.

No family.

No responsibilities.

No discussions about military technology.

Just silence.

Beautiful, glorious silence.

I remained underwater for several moments, testing how long I could hold my breath.

A hobby I'd developed during my years away.

When my lungs finally protested, I resurfaced.

The night sky stretched above me.

Thousands of stars glittered overhead.

The moon cast silver reflections across the water.

Everything felt peaceful.

Almost too peaceful.

I stayed there for nearly an hour before boredom finally won.

Reluctantly, I climbed out.

Cold air immediately greeted my skin.

I grabbed my sleeveless vest and pulled it over my head.

That was when I heard it.

A voice.

Faint.

Distant.

I froze.

Slowly, I turned.

Nothing.

The meadow stretched endlessly behind me.

Empty.

Silent.

A chill crawled down my spine.

I adjusted my glasses.

Maybe I was imagining things.

The voice came again.

This time, it was clearer.

"...Vincent..."

I frowned.

Someone was out here.

At this hour?

"...engagement..."

The words drifted through the darkness.

Soft.

Broken.

Almost as if the speaker was talking to herself.

I remained perfectly still.

"...Mama never understands..."

A girl.

Definitely a girl.

The realization should have reassured me.

Instead, it somehow made me more nervous.

Carefully, I picked up a nearby branch.

Not because I was afraid.

Just because...

Actually, no.

I was absolutely afraid.

It was dark.

I was alone.

And horror movies existed for a reason.

Taking a deep breath, I followed the voice.

Each step brought me deeper into the meadow.

The grass brushed against my legs.

The wind whispered through the trees.

Then I saw her.

My heart nearly stopped.

A figure stood among the moonlit flowers.

Long silver-blonde hair cascaded down her back.

A white nightgown fluttered gently around her ankles.

For one horrifying second, I genuinely considered running.

Every ghost story I'd ever heard suddenly returned to me.

Because no normal person looked like that.

Not in the middle of the night.

Not standing alone in a field.

Not surrounded by moonlight.

The figure continued speaking softly to herself.

Completely unaware of my presence.

I swallowed.

Hard.

"She's just a girl," I whispered.

A very creepy girl.

But still a girl.

Hopefully.

Gathering what remained of my courage, I stepped forward.

One step.

Then another.

And another.

Until I was standing directly behind her.

Close enough to hear her breathing.

Close enough to notice her trembling shoulders.

She sounded upset.

Lonely.

Heartbroken.

My fear eased slightly.

Maybe she was lost.

Maybe she needed help.

Slowly, I reached out.

"Miss?"

My fingers touched her shoulder.

Everything happened at once.

The girl went rigid.

The air around us seemed to freeze.

And then she turned.

I forgot how to breathe.

Blue.

Her eyes were impossibly blue.

Not ordinary blue.

Not human blue.

They glowed beneath the moonlight like frozen sapphires.

My brain immediately stopped functioning.

Every scientific explanation I had ever learned vanished.

Poof.

Gone.

Reduced to dust.

She stared at me.

I stared at her.

Neither of us moved.

Then survival instincts kicked in.

I took a step backward.

Another step.

Then another.

Nope.

Absolutely not.

I was leaving.

Immediately.

I didn't care if she was human, ghost, fairy, alien, or some undiscovered species.

I was not equipped for this situation.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans.

Before I could retreat any further, a cold hand shot forward.

And grabbed my wrist.

My entire body froze.

Ice.

Her hand felt like ice.

Not cold.

Not cool.

Ice.

The temperature sent shockwaves through my body.

The girl tightened her grip.

I couldn't move.

Couldn't speak.

Couldn't even think properly.

Those glowing blue eyes searched my face.

Wide.

Uncertain.

Almost frightened.

For several endless seconds, neither of us said a word.

The wind howled around us.

The meadow swayed.

And somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbled across the night sky.

Then the girl finally spoke.

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Please..."

My heart skipped.

"Don't leave me."

And just like that, every thought of escape disappeared.