The message came just past noon.
No number.
No name.
No hesitation.
Just a single line lighting up Hazel’s monitored device.
“Be ready.”
That was all.
No time.
No place.
No context.
But it was enough.
Because it meant one thing—
They were moving.
Brian didn’t wait.
He called Emma immediately.
“They’ve reached out.”
Emma stood near the window, her gaze fixed on the quiet street outside. Nothing moved. Nothing felt out of place.
And yet—
Everything was.
“What did they say?” she asked.
“Short,” Brian replied. “No details yet. Just… a prompt.”
A pause.
“They want her ready.”
Emma’s fingers rested lightly against the edge of the table.
Still.
“Good,” she said.
Brian didn’t respond to that.
But he noted it.
*****
By evening, the second message came.
This time—
Haze
