The screen flickered as Ryan scrolled deeper into the “NOVAK” archive. Each folder opened another wound old surveillance footage, training simulations, files labeled Phase I Conditioning, Phase II: Repetition, Phase III: Replacement. Adrien’s name wasn’t just there it was everywhere.“Stop,” Adrien rasped, his voice shaking. “Turn it off.”Ryan hesitated. The last folder was timestamped five years ago. “Adrien, there’s one more”“Turn it off.” Adrien’s tone was sharp, desperate. His hands trembled as he stepped back from the screen, pacing the small safehouse room like a trapped animal. “He… he didn’t just train me. He built me.”Ryan stood, uncertain, his heart twisting at the sight. “You were a kid You didn’t know”Adrien slammed his fist into the wall. “That’s not an excuse! Every choice I made every move I thought was mine he was already there. Calculating. Predicting. Watching.” He let out a bitter laugh. “I was his prototype. His perfect little successor.”Ryan approached slowly
Last Updated : 2025-10-26 Read more