Chapter 7: The Man Behind the Glass
Mason Vale stood at the end of the corridor with a pistol pointed directly at my chest.
For one long second, nobody moved.
The deputy stood beside him, expression blank.
Rex was between us.
I looked at Mason.
He looked older than the man in my memories.
Thinner.
Scar running across his left cheek.
Eyes that had seen too much and trusted too little.
But it was him.
The man I'd watched disappear into smoke six years ago.
The man I'd been told died trying to pull me from a burning convoy.
“You're alive,” I said.
Mason gave a bitter smile.
“So are you.””
The deputy tightened his grip.
“Put the dog down.””
I looked at him.
“Rex isn't armed.””
“That isn't what I mean.””
Mason lowered his weapon slightly.
“Don't hurt the dog.””
Something about the way he said it made me pause.
Not fear.
Recognition.
The deputy glanced at him.
“You said he'd be compliant.””
“He's never been compliant with strangers.””
“You were supposed to handle him.””
Mason's eyes never left Rex.
“I did.””
Rex stared at Mason.
Then he took one cautious step forward.
Mason slowly lowered his gun.
“Easy, boy.””
Rex stopped.
His ears went forward.
Then he did something I never expected.
He walked straight to Mason.
I started forward.
The deputy raised his weapon.
“Don't.””
Rex reached Mason and pressed his head against the man's thigh.
Mason closed his eyes.
His hand trembled as he rested it on Rex's neck.
“Hey, old friend.””
My stomach tightened.
“You knew him.””
Mason looked at me.
“I trained him.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“You trained him too.””
The sentence made my blood run cold.
“What are you talking about?””
Mason motioned toward the control room.
“Come with me.””
The deputy stepped closer.
“I don't think so.””
Mason looked at him.
“You've lied enough.””
The deputy's expression changed.
Mason continued.
“You told him Sentinel was closed.””
“It was.””
“You told him Kane was the architect.””
“He was.””
“You told him Rex was evidence.””
“He was.””
Mason smiled without humor.
“And you forgot to mention yourself.””
The deputy said nothing.
I turned toward him.
“What is he talking about?””
His jaw tightened.
Mason answered for him.
“His name isn't Sheriff Tom Bell.””
I looked at the badge.
“Then who is he?””
Mason said,
“Agent Thomas Bell. Defense Intelligence.””
The room went silent.
The deputy didn't deny it.
He simply lowered his gun.
That frightened me more than if he'd raised it.
Mason walked toward the control room.
Rex followed.
I went with them.
The monitors came alive one after another.
Thousands of files appeared across the screens.
Names.
Dates.
Photographs.
Mission reports.
I saw mine.
I saw Mason's.
I saw Rex's.
Then another file appeared.
*SUBJECT 14 — ANDREW HALE*
My own name.
I stared at it.
“Open it.””
Mason hesitated.
“Are you sure?””
“No.””
I looked at him.
“But do it.””
He opened the file.
A video began.
I watched myself sitting in a chair inside a white room.
My hands were restrained.
My face was swollen.
A scientist stood behind me.
Another person entered the frame.
Kane.
He leaned close to my ear.
The video was dated five years ago.
One year after the convoy.
That couldn't be right.
I had been recovering in a military hospital during that period.
At least, that's what I remembered.
The scientist spoke.
“Subject continues to demonstrate selective memory resistance.””
Kane answered:
“Then change the trigger.””
The video cut.
A second clip appeared.
Me standing beside Rex.
Someone placed a photograph on a table.
I couldn't see the photograph.
But Rex could.
The dog's ears rose.
His body stiffened.
Then I heard my own voice on the recording.
“That's Mason.””
My breath caught.
The scientist looked pleased.
“Recognition remains intact.””
Kane asked,
“And the loyalty response?””
The scientist smiled.
“Complete.””
The video ended.
I couldn't speak.
Mason stood beside me.
“They used Rex to control you.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“They knew you'd follow him anywhere.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“It's true.””
“I've never been controlled by anyone.””
Mason's face softened.
“That's what they wanted you to believe.””
I turned toward the screens.
“Why don't I remember?””
“Because they never erased the memories.””
He pointed at my head.
“They buried them under something stronger.””
“What?””
“Rex.””
I looked at my dog.
He stared back.
Mason continued.
“They conditioned you to associate certain memories with him. When you saw Rex, your brain locked onto the feeling of safety instead of the memory itself.””
I felt sick.
“All these years…”
“You weren't forgetting.””
Mason paused.
“You were protecting yourself.””
The door behind us opened.
Daniel Cross stepped inside.
He was holding a flashlight.
His face had gone white.
“Mason.””
Mason turned.
“Daniel.””
They stared at each other.
Six years of anger passed between them without a single word.
Then Daniel pulled a pistol.
“You left us.””
Mason didn't move.
“You were the one who gave them our location.””
Daniel's gun shook.
“I had no choice.””
“You always had a choice.””
“I watched them put you in that chair!””
Mason's expression hardened.
“You watched them take Andrew too.””
I stepped between them.
“Enough.””
Both men looked at me.
I pointed toward the screens.
“I want the truth.””
Neither answered.
I shouted.
“I want everything.””
Mason nodded.
“Then we have to go downstairs.””
“Why?””
“Because the files you're seeing aren't the whole program.””
He looked at Rex.
“The real records are under the facility.””
A loud metallic boom echoed through the building.
Everyone froze.
Then another.
Someone was forcing the front doors.
Mason grabbed his weapon.
“Kane.””
The lights flickered.
Daniel looked toward the hallway.
“How did he find us?””
Mason stared at me.
“He didn't.””
He pointed to the monitor.
A camera feed showed the parking lot.
Three black SUVs.
Military-grade.
Men in tactical gear poured out.
Mason's voice dropped.
“They've been waiting for us to open the archive.””
He looked at me.
“And now they know where the final subject is.””
I frowned.
“Who?””
May you like
Mason looked directly at me.
“You.””
