Every Ghost Has a Master

The metallic hiss of the unlocking door sent a chill through Jessica’s spine. The sterile, artificial voice still echoed in her ears: "Welcome home, Subject 014."

Leanna instinctively stepped in front of Jessica, shielding her. Olivia reached for her sidearm, her knuckles white. Across the room, Elias stared at the screen, his expression unreadable.

"What do we do?" Leanna whispered.

Jessica exhaled sharply. "We go through that door. We get answers."

The moment they stepped inside, the lighting changed—cold, sterile white replacing the dim glow of the server room. The walls were pristine, the air sterile. Not abandoned. This part of the facility was still operational.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor. A man in a dark suit, flanked by two armed guards, approached with the deliberate confidence of someone who had been expecting them. His face was unnervingly familiar.

Jessica clenched her fists. "You knew I’d come."

The man smiled, smooth and calculated. "Jessica. Or do you prefer Subject 014? You’ve come full circle. I knew you would."

Leanna stepped forward. "Who the hell are you?"

"Dr. Alexander Kern," he said, like he was introducing himself at a dinner party. "Project Lazarus was my idea. But I see you’ve already met the family."

Jessica’s stomach churned. "I’m not here for your experiments. I want to know what the hell I am."

Kern’s expression didn’t waver. "And you will. In fact, we have something… or someone, that will help you understand."

A side door slid open, and Elias stepped through.

Jessica’s blood ran cold. "Elias—what are you doing?"

He didn’t answer immediately. There was something off about his posture, the way he carried himself. Like something inside had clicked into place.

Kern folded his hands behind his back. "Elias has chosen clarity. He belongs here. He always did."

Leanna grabbed Jessica’s wrist. "Jess, we need to go. Now."

Elias's voice didn’t sound angry. It sounded... resolved. Practiced. Like someone reciting a lesson. "You don’t get it, do you?" His voice was eerily calm. "I never had a past because I was designed not to. Just like you. But I know who I am now. I know what I was made for. Vanguard gave me a purpose. And I’m choosing to take it."

Jessica took a step forward, her chest tightening. "Elias, we can still figure this out. You don’t have to do this."

His gaze hardened. "You’re clinging to an illusion, Jess. They gave you a life. You’re only fighting them because you don’t want to face the truth."

The guards tensed, their fingers hovering near their triggers.

Olivia whispered, "We are out of time."

Jessica’s heart pounded. This wasn’t just about Vanguard anymore. It was about who she chose to be.

She looked at Elias one last time and made her decision.

"Run."

Leanna grabbed her hand, and the three of them bolted. Alarms blared as they sprinted back through the facility, the echoes of gunfire ricocheting down the halls.

Elias didn’t follow. Vanguard didn’t need to chase them. They’d already taken what mattered.

And Jessica knew she’d see him again—and not as an ally.