Chapter 24 - The Betrayal Before Sunrise
Theo answered on speaker.
Mira did not threaten him.
She offered a trade.
“Bring June and the physical core to the old Meridian Observatory before sunrise. In return, I will erase every implant connected to Mara.”
“No,” Mara said immediately.
Mira ignored her.
“If you refuse, Mara’s implant will begin transferring her remaining memories.”
Theo ended the call.
“I’m not taking June anywhere.”
But Mara saw the calculation in his eyes.
Lattice had predicted betrayal because it had created a choice in which betrayal might look like protection.
Adrian checked the implant signal.
“Mira is telling the truth. The transfer has started.”
Memories began disappearing from Mara in small pieces.
She forgot the name of June’s first teacher.
Then the color of Theo’s wedding tie.
She wrote important details on her arms before they vanished.
June watched her with growing fear.
Evelyn proposed entering Lattice through the physical core. Someone connected directly might separate Mira from Mara’s memories.
“It could erase both identities,” Adrian warned.
Mara sat beside June.
“Then we find another way.”
Theo quietly slipped Adrian’s access card into his pocket.
Mara noticed.
She said nothing.
At 3:17 a.m., Theo left the archive room alone.
May you like
Lattice’s prediction changed.
THE BETRAYAL HAS BEGUN.
