The Architect’s Truth

She gritted her teeth, twisting against the zip ties cutting into her wrists, forcing her body to stay upright in the dimly lit room. The pain settled deep, sharp and unforgiving, but she didn’t make a sound.

The men who had taken her weren’t sloppy. They hadn’t left bruises where they could be seen. No broken skin, no broken bones. Just pain, measured and controlled. A lesson, not a punishment.

Jessica exhaled through her nose, flexing her fingers as she took in her surroundings.

Concrete walls. No windows. A single light flickering above.

A holding room. Not a prison cell. Dominion didn’t work that way. They didn’t detain people. They corrected them.

The heavy door creaked open, and she forced herself still, steady, unshaken.

And then a familiar silhouette stepped inside. Mr. Black. He moved like a shadow, deliberate and effortless, his black suit crisp, his posture composed. The scent of faintly burning tobacco followed him, though Jessica saw no cigarette this time.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, finally. “I was wondering when we’d do this face-to-face,” Jessica murmured.

Mr. Black smirked faintly, his sharp features barely shifting. “And here I thought you preferred the mystery.”

Jessica rolled her shoulders, testing the restraints. “I like my ghosts better when they stay dead.”

Mr. Black stepped closer, hands in his pockets. “And yet, I remain.”

Jessica watched him carefully.

Mr. Black had never revealed too much, never played a direct hand. He orchestrated from behind the scenes, a kingmaker, not a king.

So why now?

He was watching her, too. Studying. Measuring. Not gloating, waiting.

Jessica tilted her head. “This is different for you. Normally you let other people do the talking.”

Mr. Black exhaled, his voice smooth, almost indulgent. “You’re not other people.”

Jessica smirked, but there was no humor behind it. “That’s what you said when you turned me into Jason.”

For the first time, a flicker of something unreadable crossed his face. Then it was gone.

Mr. Black stepped closer, and when he spoke, his voice was lower. “I didn’t turn you into Jason. I saved you.”

Jessica’s stomach tightened.

His voice was calm. Matter-of-fact. Like it was the truth. She hated how much she wanted to doubt her own anger.

“You wanted me gone,” she countered. “Out of the way. A pawn off the board.”

His smirk returned. “No, Jessica. I was keeping you safe.”

Her chest felt tight. The words felt too heavy in the silence between them. But she wouldn’t let him take control of the conversation.

Jessica leaned back against the chair, forcing a smirk. “So what’s next? You reprogram me? Make me one of them?”

Mr. Black’s expression barely shifted. “I never needed to reprogram you.”

Jessica’s skin went cold.

“Because I made you free,” he continued. “That’s why you’re still alive.”

Jessica’s pulse hammered, but she didn’t let it show. She wouldn’t give him that.

Mr. Black’s voice was quiet, measured. “You understand now, don’t you? Dominion isn’t about control.”

Jessica scoffed. “That’s exactly what it’s about.”

“No.” His gaze locked onto hers. “It’s about order.”

She exhaled sharply through her nose. “And you get to decide what that means?”

Mr. Black studied her for a long moment. Then, almost gently, “Wouldn’t it be better than the chaos the world is in now?”

Jessica swallowed. Because she’d seen what Dominion could do. The efficiency of their work. The way they had rewritten leaders without the world even noticing. The smoothness of it, the seamlessness.

It was horrifying. And yet, what if he wasn’t wrong?

Mr. Black watched her hesitation, the flicker of doubt. He took another step forward, his voice lowering. “You could be part of something greater, Jessica. Not just a pawn.”

Jessica exhaled. “You think I want to be you?”

His smirk deepened, knowing. “I think you already are.”

Her fingers curled into fists, nails pressing against her palms.

Mr. Black tilted his head. “The truth is, I don’t need to force you into anything. Because I know how this ends.”

Jessica met his gaze. “Then tell me.”

His smirk faded. “You’ll make the right choice.”

She exhaled slowly, pulse steadying. “Then let’s hope it’s the one you’re not expecting.”

A flicker of amusement crossed his face. He turned, walking toward the door, his voice lingering in the air behind him.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

Then he was gone. And Jessica was left alone with her thoughts. With the weight of what was coming.