Chapter 59: The Bait

In the secure basement lab of the Sterling Villa, Margaret held a vial of Serenity’s blood against the light. Under the microscope, the cells glowed with a faint, iridescent shimmer.

"It is fascinating," Margaret murmured. "Your blood doesn't just resist the radiation of the Element; it devours it. If I inject Arthur with a serum made from this, it will strip the Element from his system instantly."

"It will turn him into a normal, old man," Alex noted, sitting on a swivel chair. "Weak and arrestable."

"Exactly," Margaret nodded. She placed the vial into a centrifuge. "But I need time to synthesize enough for a weaponized dose. Maybe three hours."

"We have three hours," Jackson walked into the lab, adjusting his earpiece. "Luke found Arthur's signal. He is hiding in an abandoned pharmaceutical plant in New Jersey. He has fortified it with at least fifty enhanced soldiers."

"A fortress," Serenity frowned. "If we attack him there, it will be a suicide mission."

"We don't go to him," Jackson loaded a new clip into his handgun. "We make him come to us."

He pointed to a map on the table.

"I will leak false information that we are moving Margaret to a private airfield tonight. Arthur is obsessed. He won't let Margaret escape again. He will attack the convoy."

"We will ambush him on the bridge," Jackson drew a circle on the map. "We trap his army, separate him, and hit him with the serum."

"It’s a solid plan," Margaret agreed. "But Arthur isn't stupid. He will suspect a trap. Unless..."

"Unless he smells the prize," Serenity stepped forward. "Me."

"No," Jackson shut it down immediately. "Absolutely not."

"Jackson, listen," Serenity grabbed his arm. "Margaret said Arthur can 'sense' the Element. If I'm not in that convoy, he won't come. He'll send his minions, but he won't expose himself."

"I am not using my wife as a worm on a hook!" Jackson shouted, his voice echoing in the lab. "I lost you once. I am not losing you again to a monster."

"You won't lose me," Serenity looked him in the eye, her gaze steady and fierce. "Because you are the best fighter I know. And Alex is the best lookout. And Margaret makes the best poison."

She took his large hand and placed it on her heart.

"This war started because of me. It has to end with me. If we miss this chance, Arthur will regroup. He will come for Alex and Mia next time."

Jackson stared at her. He saw the fire in her eyes. It was the same fire he fell in love with. The same fire that made her confront an army in Montbert.

She wasn't a damsel. She was a partner.

He closed his eyes and let out a shuddering breath. "I hate this."

"I know," Serenity kissed his cheek. "Make sure I survive, okay?"

Jackson opened his eyes. They were cold, calculated, and terrifyingly focused.

"Alex," Jackson commanded. "Send the leak. Tell Arthur that Serenity and Margaret are fleeing the country tonight."

"Copy that, Dad," Alex typed the encrypted message that he knew Arthur's hackers would intercept. [ TARGET MOVEMENT: 22:00 HRS. ROUTE 4. ]

Jackson grabbed a tactical vest and strapped it onto Serenity over her silk blouse. He tightened it hard.

"You stay in the armored truck," he ordered, checking her vest straps. "You do not open the door until I say the code word 'Viper'."

"Understood," Serenity nodded.

"I love you," Jackson kissed her fiercely, a kiss that tasted of fear and promise.

"I love you too."

Night fell over New York. A convoy of three black armored trucks left the Sterling Villa, heading towards the dark highway.

In the shadows of a warehouse in New Jersey, Arthur smiled as his phone beeped.

"They are running," he chuckled, his eyes glowing unnaturally bright. "Mobilize the Legion. Tonight, we feast."

The trap was set. The bait was taken. The final hunt began.

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