Chapter 32 - Thomas Hale’s Last BetrayalAugust ordered Daniel to take the vials.
Daniel moved toward Victor.
Noah stepped into his path.
“Grandfather said I would lead Orchard.”
“You will,” Daniel said. “Move.”
Noah remained still.
Daniel grabbed him.
Ethan screamed and pushed the second key deeper into its lock.
A warning filled the laboratory.
DESTRUCTION SEQUENCE ARMED.
August attempted to rise, tearing one of the tubes from his arm.
“Remove the key!”
The floor vibrated.
Metal cabinets opened around the chamber. Their contents descended into hidden furnaces.
Celeste had not designed the system to explode.
She had designed it to destroy every biological sample August possessed.
Elias rushed to the control panel.
Mara struck him with a metal tray.
Marcus broke one restraint and freed Adrian.
Daniel released Noah and aimed at Ethan.
Lily moved first.
The gun fired.
She fell beside the table.
Victor reached Daniel and drove him against the wall.
Marcus took the weapon.
Ethan knelt beside Lily.
Blood spread across her blue dress.
“Stay with me,” Victor said.
Lily looked at Ethan.
“I said I would stay until he felt safe.”
“You are staying longer.”
She tried to smile.
Across the laboratory, August crawled toward the storage controls.
Noah picked up one of the vials.
August held out his hand.
“Give it to me.”
Noah looked at Victor.
Then he dropped the vial.
It shattered.
Adrian destroyed the second.
August watched the blood soak into the floor.
The machines around him began shutting down.
For the first time, the chairman looked frightened.
“You do not know what you have ended.”
Victor lifted Lily.
“Yes.”
May you like
He looked at Ethan and Noah.
“We ended your right to choose who they become.”
Related Stories
