Chapter 16: The Woman in Daniel's Cell
The video froze on Daniel's smiling face.
Victoria stared at the woman sitting beside him.
She appeared to be in her early thirties, with pale skin, dark hair pulled tightly behind her head, and a thin scar running from her temple to her jaw.
The caption beneath her photograph remained visible.
*GENESIS SUBJECT 014 — THE ORIGINAL SUCCESSOR.*
"Who is she?"" Victoria demanded.
Robert, now surrounded by federal agents, smiled as though he had been waiting years for this moment.
"Her name is Anna.""
Matthew looked furious.
"You're not supposed to show her.""
Robert turned toward his eldest son.
"You're not supposed to question me.""
Victoria stepped closer to the screen.
"Why is she with Daniel?""
Robert's smile widened.
"Because Daniel was never the final product.""
One of the agents grabbed Robert's arm.
"Enough. You're coming with us.""
Robert didn't resist.
Instead, he looked directly at Victoria.
"You can arrest me. You can arrest Matthew. You can even shut down Vance Global. But you cannot undo what has already been created.""
The agents led him out.
Margaret rushed toward Victoria.
"Darling, we need to leave.""
Victoria embraced her mother.
"Are you hurt?""
"No. But we don't have much time.""
"What do you mean?""
Margaret glanced at the frozen screen.
"Anna was never supposed to survive.""
Victoria looked at the woman again.
"Tell me everything.""
Margaret lowered her voice.
"Subject 014 was born after the others. She was the only child who received the complete genetic treatment. The others were attempts to create a particular combination of inherited traits. Anna was the first successful result.""
"What traits?""
"Resistance to certain neurological diseases. Unusual cellular repair. An extraordinary ability to tolerate the compound your father developed.""
Victoria felt sick.
"And Daniel?""
"Daniel was the control subject. Robert wanted a child who could inherit the company and control the research. Anna was meant to become the biological foundation for the next generation of experiments.""
Victoria looked toward Matthew.
"That's why you wanted the archive.""
Matthew's expression was cold.
"Anna's genetic profile is worth more than every patent Vance Global owns.""
Margaret shook her head.
"She's a person, not an asset.""
Matthew laughed.
"That's what you should have remembered before signing the first consent form.""
Margaret slapped him.
The sound echoed through the conference room.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Matthew smiled.
"You really haven't changed.""
The agents pulled him toward the door.
Victoria looked at the screen.
"Where is Daniel?""
Matthew stopped.
"Ask him.""
The federal team transported Victoria and Margaret to a secure office.
Samuel and Veronica arrived twenty minutes later.
Veronica immediately embraced her mother.
Margaret held her tightly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Veronica closed her eyes.
"I know.""
Victoria showed them the video.
Samuel examined the screen.
"Daniel is supposed to be in federal custody.""
"He escaped," Victoria said.
Samuel shook his head.
"Again?""
"Apparently.""
Veronica looked at the woman beside him.
"Anna.""
Margaret nodded.
"She was raised in a private facility. Robert told her that her parents had died.""
"Does she know who she is?"" Victoria asked.
"She knows her designation. She doesn't know her family.""
Samuel paused the video and enlarged the image.
"Look at the background.""
Behind Daniel was a concrete wall with a narrow window.
A digital clock showed 10:42.
Samuel checked the timestamp.
"The video was recorded this morning.""
Victoria looked at him.
"Can you trace it?""
"I'm trying.""
He opened the file's technical details.
Then his expression changed.
"This wasn't recorded in a prison.""
"Where?""
"An old Vance Global research building in Providence.""
Margaret went pale.
"Building Seven.""
Samuel turned.
"You know it?""
"I signed the original construction authorization.""
"What was there?""
Margaret hesitated.
"The first Genesis laboratory.""
Veronica stood.
"Then we go there.""
Victoria shook her head.
"Not without a plan.""
Samuel pointed to the map.
"There's an underground entrance. The building was officially decommissioned, but the power records show activity last night.""
Elena entered the room.
"I've spoken to the investigators. They're preparing a team.""
Victoria looked at her.
"How long?""
"At least an hour.""
Victoria looked back at Daniel's frozen image.
"We don't have an hour.""
Elena took her hand.
"Then we make sure we don't walk into another trap.""
Building Seven stood behind a rusted industrial fence on the outskirts of Providence.
The windows were dark.
The front entrance had been sealed with metal panels.
A federal tactical team surrounded the property while Victoria, Veronica, Samuel, Elena, and Margaret waited near the service entrance.
Margaret pointed toward a narrow staircase.
"The laboratory is below ground.""
Victoria looked at her.
"How many levels?""
"Three.""
Samuel checked the floor plan.
"The power is coming from the lowest level.""
A loud metallic sound came from inside.
Then a woman's voice.
"Help me!""
Veronica moved toward the door.
Victoria caught her arm.
"Wait.""
The voice came again.
"Please!""
It sounded like the woman from the video.
Anna.
Margaret covered her mouth.
"She's alive.""
The tactical commander gave the signal.
The door was forced open.
Inside, a narrow corridor descended into darkness.
The group moved carefully.
At the bottom, they found a glass observation room.
Anna stood behind the glass.
She looked exactly like the woman in the recording.
Her wrists were free.
A small table stood beside her, holding a glass of water and several medical files.
She looked at Victoria.
Then at Margaret.
"You're late," she said.
Victoria approached the glass.
"Anna?""
"That's what they call me.""
"We're here to get you out.""
Anna shook her head.
"You shouldn't have come.""
A door opened behind them.
Daniel stepped into the corridor.
He wore a dark suit.
His hands were empty.
But his smile was familiar.
"Hello, Victoria.""
Veronica raised her weapon.
"Don't move.""
Daniel glanced at her.
"Still pointing guns at your husband?""
"You're not my husband.""
Daniel's smile disappeared.
"Legally, you might disagree.""
"Legally, you're a criminal.""
Daniel laughed.
Then he looked at Victoria.
"You brought everyone. How thoughtful.""
Victoria stood between him and Margaret.
"Where are the guards?""
"Somewhere useful.""
Samuel reached for his phone.
Daniel raised one hand.
A red light began blinking above the corridor.
The security doors slammed shut.
The commander shouted from behind them.
"Everyone down!""
A sharp alarm filled the building.
Anna stepped away from the glass.
"He's activated the purge.""
Margaret stared at Daniel.
"No.""
Daniel smiled.
"Yes.""
A countdown appeared on the wall.
*00:09:59*
Victoria looked at the screen.
"What happens when it reaches zero?""
Anna answered.
"The laboratory floods with VX-17.""
Margaret grabbed her daughter's arm.
"Daniel, stop it!""
He tilted his head.
"Why would I?""
Victoria looked at the countdown.
Then at Anna.
"What do we need to shut it down?""
Anna pressed her hand against the glass.
"Someone has to open the original archive.""
Samuel looked toward the lowest level.
"Where is it?""
Anna pointed to a door behind Daniel.
"Down there.""
Daniel stepped aside.
"Go ahead.""
May you like
His smile returned.
"Let's see which one of you is willing to die for the truth.""
