Vanta Empire

FRACTURED TRUTHS

Silence didn’t just fill the room it suffocated it. Zyra stood frozen between them, her pulse loud in her ears as Soren’s words echoed over and over again You belong to me. It sounded insane, impossible but something about the way he said it didn’t feel like a lie, and that scared her more than anything. She turned sharply to Kael, searching his face for something denial, anger, anything but found nothing she could trust. “Say something,” she demanded, her voice steady but tight. Kael didn’t answer. His silence cut deeper than any words. “That’s what I thought,” Soren said quietly, almost amused, and Zyra’s jaw clenched.

“Stop talking like you know me,” she snapped, her eyes locking onto him. “I do,” Soren replied without hesitation. “No, you don’t.” A beat passed, heavy and tense, before he spoke again, his voice lower now, more serious. “I knew you before he erased you.” The words hit like a blow to the chest. Zyra’s breath caught as her mind scrambled to process it. “Erased me?” she repeated, her voice quieter now, uncertain. Her gaze snapped back to Kael. “What is he talking about?” Kael’s expression didn’t change, but there was something darker behind his eyes now. “He’s manipulating you,” he said. “Don’t listen.” Soren let out a soft, humorless laugh. “You’re really going with that?” He stepped closer, his attention fully on Zyra. “Ask him why you don’t remember your past. Ask him why everything starts after the fire.”

Her chest tightened painfully.

That part was true.

She had always known there was a gap a missing piece she never dared to question too deeply. Survival had always come first. But now…

Now it felt like everything was a lie.

“Kael” her voice dropped, quieter, almost fragile, “why don’t I remember?” Silence stretched too long. Then he spoke, calm but heavy. “I did what I had to do.” Something inside her cracked. “That’s not an answer.” “It’s the only one you’re getting.” Her hands curled into fists. “You erased my memories?” He didn’t deny it. Didn’t even try. That hurt more than if he had. “Why?” she demanded, anger rising fast. “Because if you remembered,” Kael said, his voice low, “you wouldn’t be standing here.” Her breath hitched sharply. Soren’s voice cut in immediately. “No. She wouldn’t be standing with you.”

“Enough!” Zyra snapped, the tension finally breaking. “I’m not something you two fight over. I want the truth.” Kael stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, controlled. “You’re not ready for it.” “Stop deciding that for me!” she shot back. Soren watched her, something almost approving in his expression. “You see it now,” he said. “Control. That’s all he’s ever given you.” Zyra turned on him instantly. “And you? What are you giving me?” Soren didn’t hesitate. “Choice.”

That word landed differently.

It settled in her chest, heavy and dangerous.

Before she could respond, Soren reached into his coat and pulled out a small, sleek black device. Zyra tensed immediately. “What is that?” “Something that belongs to you,” he said. Kael moved fast, stepping forward. “Don’t.” But it was already too late. Soren pressed the button.

Pain exploded through Zyra’s head.

Sharp. Violent. Unstoppable.

She gasped as memories crashed into her mind flashes of fire, screaming, a burning building collapsing in on itself. A dark symbol carved into steel. A room filled with people watching her, studying her, testing her. Voices echoed around her. “Subject ZV-01 is progressing faster than expected.” Her body trembled as more images forced their way in cold metal restraints, needles, screens filled with data, her own voice screaming in protest.

“Make it stop!” she cried, clutching her head as her knees gave out.

Kael caught her instantly, his grip firm and steady. “Soren, stop it!” His voice wasn’t calm anymore it was sharp, furious, almost desperate. Soren stood still, watching, his expression unreadable. “She deserves to know,” he said quietly. “Not like this!” Kael snapped.

The pain faded as suddenly as it came, leaving Zyra shaking, breathless, barely able to stand.

“What was that” she whispered, her voice broken.

“Fragments,” Kael said quickly. “Nothing more.” “Liar,” Soren replied without hesitation.

Zyra pushed away from Kael, stumbling slightly but forcing herself to stay upright. “Don’t touch me,” she said, her voice cold now. Kael froze. For a second, something flickered in his eyes hurt but she ignored it. She turned to Soren instead. “What did you do to me?” “I gave you back a piece of yourself,” he said. “That didn’t feel like a piece,” she snapped. “That felt like hell.” “It was your life,” Soren replied.

Her chest tightened painfully.

“No that’s not possible.”

Soren stepped closer, his voice quieter now but more intense. “You were never just a hacker, Zyra.” A pause. “You were built for something bigger.” Her mind spun. “What does that even mean?” Kael cut in sharply. “It means he’s lying.” Soren didn’t even look at him. “He’s afraid,” he said.

Zyra frowned. “Of what?”

Soren’s gaze locked onto hers.

“Of who you really are.”

Silence fell heavy between them.

Zyra shook her head slowly, trying to ground herself, trying to make sense of everything crashing down around her. “No you’re both lying.” Neither of them answered and somehow, that was worse than anything they could have said. She stepped back, putting distance between herself and both men, her breathing uneven. “I need space,” she said. “You’re not leaving,” Kael said immediately. “I wasn’t asking.” She turned and walked out before he could stop her.

No one followed.

That made it worse.

The hallway felt colder now, like the walls themselves were closing in. Zyra leaned against the metal surface, closing her eyes for a second, trying to steady herself but the images wouldn’t stop. Fire. That symbol. That voice.

Her stomach twisted.

“Who the hell am I” she whispered.Her phone buzzed.Of course it did With shaking hands, she picked it up.

Unknown sender.

A video file.Her chest tightened as she pressed play.The screen lit up a lab,Cold White Clinical.

People in uniforms moving around like it was routine.And in the center Her.Younger Strapped to a chair Screaming.

Zyra’s breath stopped.

“No…”

The video continued.

Her younger self struggled against restraints, panic and fear written all over her face. A voice echoed through the room cold, detached.

“Memory wipe initiated.”

Zyra dropped the phone like it burned her.

Her blood ran cold.

Slowly very slowly she turned her head, looking back toward the room she had just left. Toward Kael. Toward Soren.

Her chest tightened painfully.

“They did this to me”