Betrayal and Bloodshed

The gang regrouped at the motel, shaken but intact. Jess paced the length of the room while Leanna sat on the bed, reviewing everything they had uncovered. Olivia and Hannah watched her in concern, while Kevin sat in the corner, still processing what had happened at the house.

"So my own mother tried to hand me over," Jess muttered bitterly. "Guess that confirms where she stands."

"She hesitated," Leanna pointed out. "She wanted to keep you safe in her own way."

Jess whirled on her. "Drugging me and handing me over to them is not keeping me safe."

"We need a new plan," Olivia cut in. "And we need to act fast. Vanguard knows we’re here. They know we’re onto them."

Kevin sighed. "Then maybe it’s time we get some outside help. What about that FBI agent? Richter?"

A heavy silence filled the room.

Leanna hesitated, flipping through the Monroe files again. "It’s risky, but he might be our only shot at understanding what’s really going on."

"And if he’s dirty?" Hannah asked.

Jess exhaled. "Then we’re already screwed."

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

The meeting was set for a small café in Fort Wayne, just a two-hour drive from Carver. The gang stayed behind at the motel while Jess and Leanna made the trip alone, keeping things as low-profile as possible.

When they arrived, Special Agent Samuel Richter was already waiting for them, sitting in the corner of the café with a cup of black coffee. He was in his late forties, dressed in casual clothes, but there was an unmistakable sharpness in his eyes—the kind that came from years of seeing things most people never would.

"Ladies," he greeted as they slid into the booth across from him. "I assume you’re looking for answers."

Jess kept her arms crossed. "Depends. Are you giving them to us?"

Richter smirked, taking a sip of his coffee. "You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t already know Vanguard Biotechnics is more than just a research company. Monroe, rest his soul, knew it too. He was trying to stop them. And now he’s dead."

Leanna’s eyes narrowed. "And how exactly do you fit into this?"

"I was Monroe’s handler when he turned informant," Richter admitted. "He came to us when he realized Vanguard was moving forward with Project Prometheus again. He wanted protection, but he also wanted to destroy the project from the inside. I helped where I could—until he stopped returning my calls. Now I know why."

Jess leaned forward. "Then tell us what you know."

Richter sighed, rubbing his temple. "Vanguard has had ties to the Department of Defense for decades. Project Prometheus started as a genetic modification experiment meant to enhance soldiers. The gender transformation? That was just a proof of concept. A way to test if DNA could be rewritten at will. If they perfected that, they could enhance physical endurance, pain tolerance, and cognitive function."

Jess felt her stomach churn. "Super soldiers."

"Exactly," Richter said. "And if they could pass those modifications to their children? Even better. A new generation of genetically superior humans. No more limitations."

Leanna shook her head. "So why shut it down? Why bury the research?"

Richter’s face darkened. "Because the first round of experiments ended in catastrophe."

Jess tensed. "The children..."

Richter nodded grimly. "They didn’t survive. The modifications were unstable. But if they’ve restarted Prometheus, that means they think they’ve finally gotten it right." He looked Jess in the eye. "And that means you are proof of their success."

Jess’s blood ran cold. "Which is why they need me alive."

Richter nodded. "They won’t stop coming for you. You need to disappear."

Jess exhaled sharply. "That’s not happening. Not until I burn them to the ground."

Richter smirked, shaking his head. "Monroe would’ve liked you."

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

Meanwhile, back in Carver, Ryan and Kevin had managed to get themselves hired as part of the janitorial crew contracted to clean Vanguard Biotechnics.

"I can’t believe this actually worked," Kevin muttered as he pulled on the navy-blue uniform. "This is either the dumbest thing we’ve ever done or the smartest."

"Let’s hope for the latter," Ryan murmured, adjusting his badge.

They entered the facility with the rest of the cleaning crew, passing through heavy security checkpoints. The interior was sleek, sterile, with white walls and long corridors that stretched into dimly lit research areas.

Ryan made mental notes as they worked. Armed guards at every entrance. Keycard access required for most labs. Security cameras in every hallway. This wasn’t just a company—it was a fortress.

Then they saw it. There was a restricted section near the lower levels, marked with a biohazard symbol. Kevin nudged Ryan and whispered, "That looks promising."

Ryan glanced around. The door required high-level clearance, but through the glass panel, they saw containment cells. And inside? People.

"Jesus Christ," Kevin breathed. "They’re still experimenting."

Ryan pulled out his phone, snapping a quick photo. This was evidence. Proof. They had to get it to the others. Then Jess’s mother appeared.

Ryan froze as Margaret Carter strode through the hallway, her eyes scanning the area. Then she locked eyes with him.

"Run," Ryan hissed.

The next few minutes were a blur. Alarms blared as they sprinted down the corridor. Guards shouted orders. Footsteps pounded behind them. They made it to the outer fence, Ryan scrambling up first. A shot rang out. Pain tore through his side. He lost his grip, falling hard to the ground.

"Ryan!" Kevin dropped beside him, panic flashing in his eyes.

Ryan gritted his teeth. "Don’t stop."

But Kevin refused to leave him behind. He hooked Ryan’s arm over his shoulder and dragged him away from the facility, cutting through the woods. Headlights shone in the distance—a pickup truck. A middle-aged man behind the wheel rolled down his window, taking one look at Ryan’s bleeding form. "Get in."

Kevin didn’t hesitate. He hoisted Ryan into the truck, the old man peeling away down the road. "Where to, kid?"

"Hospital," Kevin panted. "Fast."

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

By the time Jess and Leanna returned to the motel, Kevin was gone. Olivia met them at the door, her face pale.

"Something happened," she whispered. "Ryan’s been shot."

The world tilted. "What?" Jess’s voice was barely a breath.

"Kevin took him to the hospital," Olivia explained quickly. "He’s alive, but it’s bad."

Jess turned on her heel and bolted for the door.

"Jess!" Leanna called after her. But she was already running. Running like her life depended on it. Running straight to Ryan