All Chapters of Runaway Brat: Chapter 81 - Chapter 84

The sanctuary had never been built to withstand a war. It had been built to survive one. That distinction mattered. For generations, the family had treated the compound as a home first and a fortress second. The walls were thick. The gates were reinforced. Hidden passages ran beneath the grounds. Emergency shelters had been stocked and maintained. But none of that had been designed for an enemy who knew the family's bloodlines. Now every child was a potential target. Every corridor was a potential entry point. Every trusted door could become a weakness. By sunrise, the sanctuary had become something else entirely. A fortress. And everyone inside it knew the fortress would eventually be tested. Cinthye stood in the command room, staring at the map. Twelve Ghost Cells. Six iden

The photograph remained on the table for nearly a minute. Nobody touched it. Nobody spoke. Victor stood on the opposite side, staring at the image of his family. His wife. His two children. Alive. Terrified. And standing behind them was Elara. She had deliberately chosen the photograph. Not because she needed to prove the family was alive. Because she wanted Victor to know she could reach him. Cinthye finally broke the silence. "How long ago was this taken?" Alex picked up the photograph and scanned it. "Less than an hour." Victor's jaw tightened. "So they're close." "Maybe," Alex said. Victor looked at him. "Maybe?" "The photograph could have been transmitted from anywhere." "Can you trace it?" "I'm trying." Victor turned toward Cinthye.