A Fractured Mind

The gang sat around the Airbnb’s dining table, the tension still lingering from the note left in their kitchen. No one had slept much, least of all Jess, who had kept the lights on in her room and checked the locks twice before bed.

"So, what’s the plan?" Kevin asked, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed. "We’ve got a name, right?"

Leanna nodded, flipping through her notes. "Yeah, our living test subject is someone named Elliot Grayson. He’s in a group home just outside of town."

Olivia had her phone out, already searching. "I found the place—Shady Pines Rehabilitation Center. Says here that it mostly houses elderly patients and people with neurological conditions."

"So what do we do? Just walk in and ask to see him?" Hannah asked.

Olivia sighed. "I just called them. Visitors aren’t allowed until Wednesday. It’s Monday afternoon now."

Ryan frowned. "That means we’ve got two days to kill. We need to be careful. Whoever left that note knows we’re here."

Jess nodded slowly, her grip tightening around the edge of the table. "Then let’s lay low. Be smart."

***************************************

That evening, Jess and Ryan went to a local grocery store to stock up for the next few days. The shopping trip started out simple enough—loading a cart with snacks, frozen meals, and a few healthier options Leanna insisted on. But as they left the store, stepping into the dimming evening light, something felt… off.

Jess glanced around, her skin prickling.

Ryan noticed. "What’s wrong?"

"I don’t know… I feel like—"

Then she saw it. A white SUV parked near the exit, its windows tinted, engine idling. The doors opened—two men in black tactical gear stepped out, moving fast.

"Ryan!" Jess grabbed his wrist, yanking him toward the car. "Run!"

The men shouted something, but Jess didn’t stop to listen. She and Ryan sprinted, dodging through the parking lot, weaving between cars. A loud POP—a gunshot?—rang out behind them, but they didn’t slow.

Ryan pointed to a side alley. "This way!"

They dashed down the alleyway, feet pounding against the pavement. Jess’s breath came in short, panicked bursts. The SUV couldn’t follow them down the narrow path, but they kept running until they reached a busy street.

Only then did they dare stop, both of them bent over, gasping for breath.

"What… the hell… was that?" Ryan panted.

Jess shook her head, hands trembling. "They tried to take me. They know who I am."

Ryan grabbed her shoulders, steadying her. "We need to get back to the house. Now."

****************************************

That night, Jess lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. Every sound made her jump. Every shadow felt like a figure lurking just out of sight.

She rolled onto her side, glancing at Leanna in the bed beside her. "Leanna?"

Leanna stirred slightly, then mumbled, "Mm? What’s up?"

"Can I…" Jess hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Can I just hold onto you for a little while?"

Leanna blinked, waking up properly. "Of course. Come here."

Jess scooted closer, pressing against her warmth. Leanna draped an arm around her, rubbing gentle circles on her back.

"I was almost taken today," Jess murmured. "I don’t feel safe."

Leanna’s hold tightened. "You’re not alone, Jess. I’ve got you."

For the first time that night, Jess closed her eyes and felt a little less afraid.

**************************************

The next day, in an attempt to break the tension, the gang decided to play tourists. They walked through historic sites, took photos by the Headless Horseman statue, and tried to pretend things were normal for a few hours. But by lunchtime, reality loomed again.

By mid-afternoon, they arrived at Shady Pines Rehabilitation Center. The group home was quiet, the halls filled with the slow shuffle of patients moving about with the help of nurses.

They were led to a small room where Elliot Grayson sat in a wheelchair by the window. He was frail, his skin pale, his hands trembling slightly in his lap. His eyes, milky with age, flickered toward them as they entered.

"Mr. Grayson?" Olivia asked gently.

He didn’t respond at first. His gaze drifted, unfocused.

Jess swallowed. "We… we’re looking into some old research. Project Prometheus. Do you know anything about it?"

Elliot flinched at the name. His breathing quickened.

"They shouldn’t have made us," he rasped. "We were never meant to… never meant to last."

The room went silent.

Leanna knelt beside him. "What do you mean? What happened to the others?"

Elliot’s hands trembled harder. "Gone. One by one. Like clockwork. I shouldn’t be here either."

Jess felt a chill crawl up her spine. "Why did they all die? What was done to you?"

He turned his head slightly, his gaze sharpening, just for a moment. "The laboratory. It’s still there. In the woods. You… you have to…"

His voice broke into a coughing fit. A nurse hurried in, gently guiding them back.

"I think that’s enough for today," she said, looking at them suspiciously. "He needs rest."

The gang stepped back into the hall, exchanging uneasy glances.

Kevin let out a low whistle. "So, do we believe him? Or is he just some poor old man rambling about things that don’t exist?"

Ryan’s jaw was tight. "I don’t know. But if there is a lab out there… we need to find it."

Jess exhaled, her heart still racing. If the lab was still there, buried in the woods, then Project Prometheus wasn’t just a forgotten experiment. It was something more. And they were about to walk straight into it.