CHAPTER 9 — THE BABY THEY WANTED
CHAPTER 9 — THE BABY THEY WANTED
The elevator doors closed on Daniel.
For one second, nobody moved.
Then Luka ran.
He reached the doors just as they sealed shut.
He slammed his palm against the control panel.
“Daniel!”
Nothing.
The elevator began descending.
I stared at the disappearing floor indicator.
B2.
Then B3.
Then B4.
Luka looked at Edward.
“Where does it go?”
Edward's face had gone pale.
“There's no B4.”
Luka turned slowly.
“What?”
“There is no registered B4.”
“Then what is down there?”
Edward didn't answer.
I looked through the glass at my mother.
She was still standing.
Still pointing at the floor.
Still shaking her head.
I ran to her.
“Mom?”
She placed both hands against the glass.
Her lips moved.
This time, I understood.
Daniel.
She pointed toward the elevator.
Then she pointed at me.
Then at Emma.
Her expression changed.
Fear.
Not for herself.
For my daughter.
I turned to Luka.
“He took Daniel.”
“No.”
“He's going after him.”
Luka shook his head.
“Daniel took himself.”
The distinction hurt.
But it was true.
My husband had lied to me.
Again.
I held Emma closer.
“Then we go after him.”
Edward blocked the corridor.
“No.”
I stared at him.
“My husband just disappeared with the only person who knows where that baby is.”
“Exactly.”
“Move.”
“You don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“No.”
Edward's voice became urgent.
“If Richard Bennett is waiting below, he wants you to follow.”
“Then I'll follow.”
“That's what he wants.”
“I don't care.”
Luka stepped between us.
“She has to know.”
Edward looked at him.
“And you think charging into a hidden facility with a newborn is knowing?”
“No.”
Luka looked at me.
“I think leaving her behind is worse.”
A loud metallic crash echoed from somewhere below.
Then another.
The hospital lights flickered.
My mother's eyes widened.
She pointed at Emma.
Then toward a small maintenance door beside the room.
I followed her gesture.
“What is she trying to tell us?”
Edward stared.
Then his expression changed.
“The nursery.”
“What?”
“Your father built an emergency nursery here.”
“For Emma?”
“For any M-17 child.”
“Where?”
Edward opened the door.
“Behind this wall.”
A hidden passage appeared.
We entered.
The corridor was narrow.
At the end was a room filled with old medical equipment.
But the equipment wasn't abandoned.
It was active.
Warm lights.
Working monitors.
A small crib.
A heating unit.
And a security camera pointed directly at the doorway.
I stopped.
“Someone's been using this.”
Edward nodded.
“Recently.”
Luka checked the room.
“There's no one here.”
I looked at the crib.
A blanket lay inside.
Still warm.
My heart began pounding.
“Someone had a baby here.”
Edward picked up a medical chart.
His face changed.
“What?”
He handed it to me.
PATIENT: M-17-03
NAME: EMILY VOSS
AGE: 11 DAYS
I stared.
“Eleven days?”
“She was born eleven days ago,” Edward said.
“Then the photograph was taken three days ago.”
“Yes.”
“Why move her?”
“Because someone discovered the facility.”
I looked at the empty crib.
“Where is she now?”
A small sound came from the monitor.
A heartbeat.
Not one.
Two.
My eyes widened.
“There's someone in the room next door.”
Luka was already moving.
He opened the door.
Inside was a woman.
Unconscious.
Her wrists were tied.
Her hospital gown was stained.
I rushed toward her.
“Who is she?”
Edward looked at the identification bracelet.
His expression hardened.
“Evelyn.”
The mother.
The woman Daniel had mentioned.
She was alive.
Barely.
Luka cut the restraints.
Evelyn's eyes opened.
She looked at me.
Then at Emma.
Then she whispered:
“They took her.”
“Who?”
“Richard.”
My blood ran cold.
“Where?”
She tried to sit up.
“地下…”
Her voice failed.
“What?”
“Below.”
Edward understood.
“B4.”
I stared at him.
“You said B4 didn't exist.”
“It doesn't.”
“Then how does Richard get there?”
Edward looked toward the floor.
“Through the old surgical shaft.”
Luka helped Evelyn sit up.
“Can she walk?”
“No.”
“I can.”
I took her hand.
“Tell me where my daughter is.”
Evelyn stared at Emma.
“Not yours.”
The words shocked me.
“What?”
“Emily.”
I frowned.
“She isn't your daughter.”
“No.”
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“She is mine.”
I froze.
“But…”
“I gave birth to her.”
“Then why does M-17-03—”
“Because they took her from me.”
Her voice cracked.
“Right after delivery.”
I looked down at Emma.
Evelyn reached toward her.
I hesitated.
Then allowed her to touch the baby's cheek.
She cried.
“She looks just like her father.”
“Who is her father?”
Evelyn looked at Luka.
He became still.
Then she whispered:
“Victor Moretti.”
Luka's face changed.
“My brother.”
I stared.
“Your brother?”
He nodded slowly.
“He died twelve years ago.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“He didn't.”
Luka stepped closer.
“What are you saying?”
“Victor was alive when Emily was conceived.”
“No.”
“He was working for Meridian.”
Luka's jaw tightened.
“That's impossible.”
“He wasn't dead.”
“Who told you he died?”
“Richard.”
Luka looked toward Edward.
“Did you know?”
Edward didn't answer.
Luka's eyes hardened.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor asked me to hide the truth.”
“Where is he?”
Edward looked away.
“He died eleven days ago.”
Silence.
The baby.
Emily.
Her mother.
Her father.
All connected.
And Richard had taken her.
I turned to Luka.
“We have to get her.”
“Yes.”
Evelyn grabbed my wrist.
“No.”
I looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because Richard doesn't want Emily.”
My stomach dropped.
“What?”
“He wants Emma.”
I tightened my grip on my daughter.
“Why?”
“Because Emily is incomplete.”
I looked at Edward.
“What does that mean?”
“Her sequence is unstable.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Emma has the missing repair mechanism.”
I understood.
“They need my daughter to stabilize Emily.”
“Yes.”
“And then?”
Evelyn's eyes filled with terror.
“Then they won't need either child anymore.”
The room went silent.
Luka's voice became dangerously calm.
“What does that mean?”
Evelyn looked at him.
“They will extract the sequence.”
“From both?”
“Yes.”
“What happens to them?”
Evelyn couldn't answer.
She didn't need to.
I knew.
“No.”
The word came from my mouth before I realized it.
“No one is touching my daughter.”
Edward nodded.
“Then we move now.”
The surgical shaft was hidden beneath an old operating theater.
The elevator didn't work.
So we used the stairs.
The deeper we went, the colder it became.
B1.
B2.
B3.
Then the number painted on the wall changed.
There was no B4.
Only a black door.
Luka tried the handle.
Locked.
Edward stepped forward.
He placed his hand against the scanner.
The door opened.
A voice came through the speakers.
“Edward.”
Richard.
Edward stopped.
“Richard.”
“You brought her.”
Edward looked at me.
“Yes.”
Richard laughed.
“You always were predictable.”
I held Emma tighter.
“Give me the baby.”
“Which one?”
My blood froze.
“Emily.”
“You're too late.”
A monitor flickered on.
Richard appeared.
He was standing inside a laboratory.
Behind him was a transparent chamber.
Inside was Emily.
The baby was crying.
Evelyn screamed.
“My daughter!”
Richard didn't react.
“You have no idea what your father built.”
I stepped toward the screen.
“Let her go.”
“You think this is about money?”
“No.”
“You think it's about revenge?”
“No.”
“Then why do you think I need Emma?”
“Because you're afraid.”
Richard smiled.
“Of what?”
“Of dying.”
His smile disappeared.
For the first time, I saw the truth.
Richard was sick.
His hands trembled.
His skin was gray.
He looked exhausted.
“I have six months.”
Edward stared.
“Your disease progressed.”
Richard nodded.
“Faster than expected.”
“You need the treatment.”
“I need the cure.”
I looked at Emma.
“And you think my daughter is your cure.”
“No.”
Richard leaned toward the camera.
“I know she is.”
Luka stepped forward.
“You're not touching her.”
Richard laughed.
“Luka.”
He looked directly at him.
“Your father said the same thing.”
Luka froze.
“What?”
“Victor Moretti knew what Emma could do.”
“He protected her.”
“No.”
Richard smiled.
“He sold her.”
Luka's face changed.
“Liar.”
“Ask Evelyn.”
Everyone looked at her.
She was crying.
Luka turned.
“Is it true?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“Not the way he says it.”
Richard interrupted.
“Victor agreed to the procedure.”
“No,” Evelyn whispered.
“He signed the consent.”
“Under threat.”
“He signed.”
Luka looked devastated.
“My brother…”
Richard smiled.
“Everyone has a price.”
I stepped closer to the screen.
“Except my daughter.”
Richard's eyes moved to Emma.
“Especially your daughter.”
A door opened behind him.
Two men entered.
They were pushing a medical table.
On it was Emily.
Evelyn screamed again.
Richard turned toward the baby.
“Bring Anna Bennett down.”
Edward stepped forward.
“No.”
Richard looked at him.
“You misunderstand.”
He pressed a button.
A red light appeared above us.
Then another.
Then another.
The entire underground facility locked down.
Steel doors slammed shut.
Luka tried the exit.
Locked.
Edward looked at the ceiling.
“Richard has control.”
Richard smiled.
“Correct.”
I held Emma tighter.
“Let us out.”
“No.”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Emma's genetic sequence is derived from yours.”
I shook my head.
“You can take my blood.”
“I don't need your blood.”
“What then?”
Richard smiled.
“I need the original.”
I felt cold.
“The original what?”
“Your father's work.”
I stared.
“My father destroyed it.”
“No.”
Richard's smile widened.
“He hid it.”
“Where?”
“Inside you.”
I couldn't breathe.
Edward whispered:
“Oh God.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
Richard answered for him.
“Alexander didn't just alter your DNA.”
He paused.
“He encoded the original M-17 formula inside your genetic sequence.”
The room went silent.
I looked down at Emma.
My entire body felt numb.
“You're saying…”
“Yes.”
Richard's voice became almost gentle.
“Your body is the only surviving archive.”
Luka stared at me.
“That means…”
“Exactly.”
Richard smiled.
“The cure isn't in Emma.”
He looked at me.
“It's in her mother.”
I stepped backward.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Then why does Emma matter?”
“Because she inherited the key.”
Richard leaned closer.
“Your daughter can unlock what your body contains.”
I felt sick.
“She is a child.”
“She is a biological key.”
“No.”
Richard's expression hardened.
“Bring Anna down.”
The doors around us opened.
Armed men appeared.
Luka immediately moved in front of me.
Edward raised his hands.
“Richard, don't do this.”
“You had your chance.”
Richard looked at the screen.
“Anna.”
I stared back.
“You want me?”
“Yes.”
“Then release Emily.”
“No.”
“Release her and I'll come.”
Richard laughed.
“You think you're negotiating?”
I looked at Evelyn.
Then Luka.
Then Emma.
And suddenly I understood.
Richard didn't need to win.
He needed me to believe I had no choice.
I looked at the security camera.
Then smiled.
Richard's expression changed.
“What?”
“You made one mistake.”
“What?”
“You showed me where Emily is.”
I pointed toward the monitor.
“You showed me the room.”
Richard frowned.
“So?”
“So I don't need to go through you.”
Luka understood first.
He looked at the ceiling.
“The ventilation.”
Edward nodded.
“The emergency medical system.”
“Can you access it?”
Edward smiled.
“Yes.”
He pulled out a small device.
Richard's face changed.
“Edward.”
“Sorry, old friend.”
The lights went out.
Smoke filled the laboratory.
Alarms screamed.
The doors unlocked.
Luka moved.
He reached the laboratory before the guards could react.
Gunfire erupted.
I dropped behind a medical station, shielding Emma.
Evelyn crawled toward the exit.
Edward activated the emergency sprinklers.
Water exploded from the ceiling.
The room became chaos.
Then I saw Emily.
Her chamber had opened.
The baby was lying alone.
Crying.
I ran.
I lifted her.
Two babies.
One in each arm.
Both crying.
Both helpless.
Both innocent.
And for the first time, I understood what my father had been trying to protect.
Not a cure.
Not a formula.
Children.
Luka appeared beside me.
“Go!”
We ran.
Behind us, Richard screamed:
“TAKE THE BABY!”
I didn't look back.
We reached the emergency stairs.
Edward slammed the door.
Then something struck it from the other side.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The metal bent.
Luka looked at me.
“We need to move.”
I nodded.
I held Emma in my left arm.
Emily in my right.
And climbed.
But halfway up the stairs, Emily suddenly stopped crying.
Her eyes opened.
She stared directly at Emma.
Emma's eyes opened too.
For a moment, the two babies simply looked at each other.
Then both began crying at exactly the same time.
A strange sound echoed through the stairwell.
Every electronic device around us switched on.
Lights.
Phones.
Medical monitors.
Security panels.
All displaying the same message:
M-17-02 + M-17-03
Then:
COMBINATION DETECTED.
Luka stared.
“What is happening?”
Edward's face went pale.
“Your father built an automatic response.”
“What response?”
Edward looked at the two babies.
“The system knows they're together.”
A final message appeared.
FINAL PROTOCOL ACTIVATED.
I looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
Edward didn't answer.
The hospital lights outside suddenly turned red.
Then every alarm in Manhattan seemed to begin screaming.
Luka looked toward the city.
“Someone just activated the network.”
“Who?”
Edward checked the screen.
His expression changed.
“Richard.”
I tightened my arms around the babies.
“Why?”
Edward looked at me.
“Because now he knows something even worse.”
“What?”
He pointed to the final line appearing on the screen.
LOCATION OF ORIGINAL ARCHIVE: IDENTIFIED.
I stared.
“Where?”
Edward whispered:
“Inside the Bennett family home.”
My blood ran cold.
The home I had left years ago.
The home my father had died in.
The home I thought had been empty.
Luka looked at me.
“That's where he's going.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“Anna—”
“My father didn't hide the cure in a laboratory.”
I looked down at the two babies.
“He hid it somewhere Richard would never think to look.”
“Where?”
I remembered something.
A childhood memory.
A locked wooden box beneath my mother's old bedroom floor.
My father had once told me never to open it.
I had forgotten about it.
Until now.
I looked at Luka.
“The archive isn't inside my DNA.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Then where?”
I whispered:
“It's under my mother's bedroom.”
Behind us, the underground hospital shook.
A distant explosion rocked the walls.
Richard had escaped.
And he was going home.
Not for money.
Not for revenge.
Not even for Emma.
He was going after the one thing my father had hidden from everyone.
The original M-17 formula.
And if he reached it first, the two babies in my arms wouldn't be the only lives at risk.
Because my father's final message had been incomplete.
There was one more file.
One more secret.
May you like
And it had a name.
PROJECT M-17 — FINAL SUBJECT: ANNA BENNETT.
