SHE REMEMBERS TOO MUCH

Chloe’s POV

“She’s remembering too much. She’s being moved tonight.”

That was the message I got. No name. No number. Just a single line.

I stared at my phone, my hands shaking. I read it over and over, hoping I misunderstood. But no. The words stayed the same—cold and final.

“She’s being moved tonight.”

I jumped off my bed and grabbed my coat.

“Where are you going?” my roommate, Jenny, asked.

“I have to find Aria.”

“Now? Chloe, it’s past midnight!”

“I don’t care. Something’s wrong. I can feel it.”

Jenny sat up on the couch. “Is it about that job again?”

“Yes. I just got a text. It says Aria is being moved tonight. She remembers too much.”

Jenny frowned. “What does that even mean?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”

The roads were dark and empty as I drove to Westwood Biotech. My mind kept replaying her voice from earlier—whispering, scared.

“Chloe… did I ever… have a baby?”

That question broke me. I knew Aria. She’d been my best friend since high school. We told each other everything—or at least, I thought we did. But now, it felt like I didn’t know her at all.

Three years ago, she disappeared for months. Said she was traveling for research. Came back thinner, quieter, and different. I asked her a million times where she’d been, but she never gave a straight answer.

And now that photo… Her belly was round and full. Dated three years ago. She was pregnant. And she didn’t even know?

I parked across the street from the lab. It was quiet. I pulled my hoodie up and walked around the fence.

I crouched low and moved through a side entrance—I'd worked with Liam for two years as a laboratory technician, I recorded data and maintained equipment, and I still remembered the hidden entrance and secret labs. And I could say that Westwood Biotech was a nice place to work.

My heart beat so fast I thought it might stop.

To my utmost surprise, I saw two black vans parked near the back gate. Men in black uniforms were loading boxes. One of them spoke into a walkie-talkie.

“She’s sedated. Bring the stretcher,” he said.

Sedated?

My blood ran cold. I crept closer and pulled out my phone, snapping a blurry picture—just in case.

Then I saw her.

Aria.

She lay on a stretcher, eyes closed, face pale. Her hands were strapped to the sides. She looked like she was sleeping—but it didn’t feel right. It felt… wrong.

“Aria,” I whispered, cupping my mouth with my hand.

“Who’s there?!” one of the guards yelled.

I ducked.

My heart pounded as I crawled backward, trying not to make a sound. I had to do something. I couldn’t just let them take her.

I pulled out my phone and dialed the only person who might help—Blake.

He was Aria’s ex. A rich tech guy. Annoying most times, but smart. And he still cared about her, even if he wouldn’t admit it.

He answered on the second ring. “Chloe? It’s late. I’m busy.”

“Listen! Aria is in big trouble. Her life is in danger.”

“Slow down. What happened?”

“I’m outside Westwood Biotech. Standing by the fence. I need your help.”

“Stay hidden. I’m coming.” He hung up.

I crouched there, waiting, heart pounding. Ten minutes felt like forever. Then I heard a soft buzz behind me.

Blake.

He pulled up in a black sports car, dressed in all black—like he expected this kind of thing.

“You’re here,” I whispered.

He looked at me seriously. “Tell me everything.”

I showed him the photo. Told him about the message, the dreams, the pregnancy—everything.

He didn’t speak for a moment. Then he said, “I knew something was off when she took that job. No one just gets called into a top-secret program like that. Especially someone with her background.”

“What do we do?” I asked.

He looked toward the vans. “We follow them.”

We stayed behind the second van. It drove for almost an hour, deep into the woods, past the edge of town. It stopped at a tall gate. Behind it stood a huge house—almost like a mansion. The lights were on. Security cameras everywhere.

The van pulled in. The gate closed behind it.

“Is this… a house?” I asked.

“More like a private estate,” Blake said. “Probably owned by someone inside Westwood.”

We got out and stood behind the trees.

“She’s in there,” I said, staring at the building.

“Yes. But how do we get in?” he asked.

Before I could answer, my phone buzzed. Another message. Again, no name.

“Stop digging, Chloe. You’re next.”

I showed Blake. His face turned pale. “They’re watching you.”

“I don’t care,” I said, though my voice shook. “I’m not leaving without her.”

He looked at me for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. But we need a plan.”

We watched from the trees. A man in a lab coat came out of the house, holding a clipboard and speaking to one of the guards.

“Keep her under,” he said. “She’s starting to remember.”

The guard nodded. “What about the other one?”

“Chloe? We’ll handle her too. Soon.”

I felt my knees go weak.

Blake grabbed my arm. “We need to get out of here. Now.”

“No,” I said. “We’re going in. I don’t care what happens. I’m not leaving her in that place.”

“Chloe, think. This isn’t a game. These people are dangerous.”

“I know. But Aria’s my best friend. She would do the same for me.”

Blake sighed. “Fine. But we do this smart. First thing tomorrow, I’ll call someone I know—he used to work for Westwood. He might know what they’re doing here.”

I nodded. “Okay. Tomorrow. But tonight, we watch.”

We hid behind the trees, waiting, watching. Hoping for a way in. My phone stayed in my hand, just in case another message came.

But nothing came. Only silence. And a million questions running through my head—why didn’t Aria remember being pregnant? What were they doing to her in that lab? And most importantly, why did someone say I was next?

My head swelled with the countless thoughts swirling in my mind.

What if Aria already had the baby… and they’re hiding it?