LOGINNatasha barely slept that night. Not because she was afraid or something. But because she was planning. She replayed every corridor she had seen since entering Eden. The lower containment level and the Cerberus wing. The main research section, the Omega corridor, and residential Four. The elevator system, the security classes, and the prime access. By morning, Natasha understood one thing clearly. Escaping Eden would not depend on overpowering every guard. That would be impossible. It would depend on making Adrian believe she was cooperating long enough to reach the right places. Then moving before he understood what was happening. The door opened. And Adrian entered. “You’re awake.” “I assumed today was important.” “For both of us.” Natasha stood. “No restraints?” “Not unless you give me a reason.” “I’m touched.” “You shouldn’t be.” “Good. I wasn’t.” He almost smiled. *** The Omega level sat behind three independent security barriers. Natasha counted every one. Th
Victor Mathew stood on New Haven’s western wall before sunrise. Below him, Arsenal vehicles were being moved into position. They're not there for an attack, but for readiness. Heavy transport trucks. Armored personnel carriers. Fuel carriers, and medical vehicles. Several pieces of equipment brought from the Strategic Reserve Arsenal had not been used since arriving in New Haven. And Victor intended to change that. Ryker joined him. “Eastern units are set.” “Good.” “Ross has requested another update.” Victor looked toward the city. “He has requested eight updates in three hours.” “Nine.” Victor sighed. “Of course.” Ryker almost smiled. “He is not handling this well.” “He is handling it better than most men would.” “Would you?” Victor looked at him. “If my woman drugged me and disappeared into an enemy fortress?” “Yes.” Victor thought for a moment. “No.” Ryker laughed quietly. Then Victor became serious again. “Keep the western teams ready.” “You think she is coming
Aaron woke with a headache and Natasha’s name already on his lips. For several seconds, he did not understand why his body felt so heavy. Then he saw the empty space beside him, and everything returned. The syringe, Natasha catching him. Her tears and her voice. “Forgive me.” Aaron sat upright too quickly, and the room tilted. But he ignored it. “Nate!” There was no answer. He grabbed his communicator and checked. Three missed calls popped up. Marcus. Rowan. Elias. Then he saw the recorded message waiting on Natasha’s device. Aaron stared at it. But he already knew. Still, he pressed play. Natasha appeared on the screen. “Aaron, if you are watching this, then I am already gone.” His jaw tightened. By the time the message ended, he was standing. His anger was so strong that for a few seconds he could barely think. She had drugged him despite her promise. And then she went exactly where he begged her not to go. And that alone. Aaron dressed quickly and left the penthouse. *
The guards did not take Natasha back through the same corridors, but she noticed that immediately. After what happened with the two Prime Cerberus commanders, Eden changed its approach. Four armed guards remained around her instead of two. Another team walked ahead, checking every secured door before Natasha reached it. Her reinforced restraints were still locked around her wrists, and a second suppression device had been attached around her upper arm. Natasha could barely feel either one. But she did not tell them that. Prime One and Prime Two were left behind under heavy security. At least, Eden tried to leave them behind. As Natasha was escorted toward another elevator, a deep metallic crash echoed from the corridor behind her. Every guard stopped. Natasha turned her head. Another impact followed. One of the guards touched his earpiece. “What happened?” A voice answered through the communication system. “The Prime units are refusing transfer.” Natasha almost smiled. The g
Natasha watched his face. There it was. For the first time since she arrived, Adrian Moss looked genuinely shocked. Then one of the senior scientists stepped toward him. “Sir, we need to stop this.” Adrian did not answer. “Her signal is overriding the Prime command structure.” “I can see that.” “Those units control lower-level Cerberus deployment.” Adrian slowly turned toward him. And the scientist continued. “If her authority spreads through the command network, we could lose control of every Cerberus unit connected to them.” The room became even quieter. Natasha understood immediately. Prime One and Prime Two were not simply the stronger Cerberus. They were commanders. If they obeyed her, then every lower Cerberus under their authority could eventually follow. The scientist looked toward Natasha. “She is too dangerous.” Adrian’s gaze remained on her. “We need to terminate the experiment.” The scientist paused, then spoke more carefully. “Possibly the subject.” Natasha
The first needle entered Natasha’s arm ten minutes later. She watched the scientist draw out her blood. The restraints remained tight around her wrists and chest. Adrian stood behind the glass with two senior researchers. Elias would have hated this room. Too clean. Too controlled. Too much expensive technology in the hands of people willing to use it without permission. The scientist removed the first vial. Then filled another. “How much are you taking?” “Enough.” Natasha looked at him. “That is not a medical answer.” He ignored her. A third vial filled. Natasha turned toward the glass. “Adrian.” The speaker activated. “Yes?” “If your people take enough blood to make me weak, you defeat the purpose of studying me.” The scientist hesitated. Adrian looked at him. “Three is enough.” Natasha smiled faintly. “Good. At least one of us remembers I’m valuable.” Adrian did not smile. The scientist carried the samples toward a sealed workstation. Natasha watched everything. O
The morning air felt cold. Josh paced along the porch, his eyes fixed on the heavy iron gates. Natasha had been taken away for the past twenty-four hours, and there was nothing he could do to bring her back. The weight of it sat deep in his chest. “She’s gone, Josh,” Martha said as she sipped her
“Wait… don’t tell me you’re infected?” Martha said, her voice rising in panic. “Stop, Mom. What are you talking about?” Josh cut in quickly, trying to shut her down. Even as he spoke, he understood what she meant, and that made his chest tighten. Natasha forced herself to stay calm. “I don’t know
Josh didn’t have an answer to Natasha’s questions—because there wasn’t one. But Natasha took his silence as an answer anyway. Once again, nothing was settled. It felt like her marriage was falling apart, and she couldn’t do anything to stop it. Night came quickly, and they both went to bed. Josh s
The late morning sun streamed through the curtains and fell across Natasha’s face. She stirred, then jolted awake. For a moment, she did not move. Her eyes scanned the room slowly, trying to make sense of where she was. The bed, the walls, and the familiar scent of her room. She frowned. The last







