A Name They Never Erased

They had changed trains once more after the early stop, winding deeper into the countryside. Now, the final leg of their journey had ended at a half-forgotten platform on the edge of nowhere. The air was cold and damp as Jessica, Leanna, and Olivia stepped off the train and onto the desolate platform of the small Eastern European town. The sky was a dull gray, and the scent of burning wood mixed with diesel fumes from a passing freight car. The town itself was little more than a collection of old Soviet-era buildings, their concrete facades crumbling with time.

Jessica adjusted the scarf around her neck, pulling it up to cover her face. “So this is what salvation looks like?”

Leanna gave a dry huff but said nothing. The silence hung for a moment, heavy with cold and fatigue.

Olivia checked her phone, scanning through her notes. “Dr. Anton Kovač. Former geneticist for Vanguard. He defected after something—something bad—happened at Lazarus Prime. He’s been off the grid ever since. If anyone knows what’s really going on, it’s him.”

Leanna frowned. “And we’re sure he’s still alive?”

Olivia gave a half-shrug. “Not entirely. But I traced financial transactions to a local pharmacy. Someone using his old alias still picks up heart medication here.”

Jessica exhaled. “Alright. Let’s find him before someone else does.”

---

Kovač’s supposed address was an old apartment building on the outskirts of town. The stairwell smelled of mold and dust, and the flickering hallway light gave the place a haunted quality.

Jessica knocked twice. No answer.

Leanna exchanged a glance with Olivia before trying again, louder.

Still nothing.

Jessica cursed under her breath and moved to the side, motioning for Leanna to pick the lock. Before she could, the door creaked open an inch, revealing a wary blue eye peering through the gap.

"Go away," the voice rasped. "I don’t talk to anyone."

"Dr. Kovač," Jessica said, keeping her voice even. "We’re not here to hurt you. We just need information."

The man hesitated, then muttered something under his breath before undoing the chain. The door opened enough for them to step inside.

Inside, the apartment was a mess of old books, scattered papers, and half-empty bottles of vodka. Kovač himself was a frail man in his sixties, with deep wrinkles and a nervous twitch in his hands. He paced the room as if expecting someone to burst through the door at any moment.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he muttered. “They watch. They always watch.”

Leanna placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “We know about Lazarus Prime. We know about the experiments.”

At that, Kovač froze. His eyes darted to Jessica, his lips pressing into a thin line.

“So you are one of them. I saw your face on every internal memo before the shutdown. You were their miracle and their mistake.”

Jessica stiffened. “What do you mean?”

Kovač rubbed his temples, muttering to himself in his native tongue before turning back to them. “Lazarus Prime is not just research. It is the future of the program. The final step in perfecting what you are.”

Jessica felt her pulse quicken. “What I am?”

Kovač looked at her with pity. “Vanguard has made many of you over the years. But you… you were the first to break free. And now, they have made more.”

Jessica’s breath caught. A thousand memories surged and collapsed in the span of a heartbeat.

Leanna’s eyes darkened. “More like Jessica?”

The scientist nodded. “Many attempts. Some failed. Some discarded. But the latest? The latest is… ready.”

Jessica swallowed hard, the words sending a chill down her spine. “Ready for what?”

Kovač hesitated before answering. “For activation.”

The room went silent. Olivia typed furiously, pulling up files. “Where is this happening?”

Kovač sighed and walked to his desk, pulling out a worn map. He traced his finger over the faded ink until he landed on a location in the middle of nowhere.

“There,” he said. “That is where they perfect the process. Lazarus Prime.”

Jessica clenched her fists. “Then that’s where we’re going.”

As they prepared to leave, Jessica hesitated for a moment, glancing at Kovač. "How do you recognize me? How does everyone always know who I am?"

Kovač gave her a tired smile. "Because you were never meant to be lost. You were meant to be seen."