The fire alarm was still blaring loudly when I broke into Julian's private lab.
Security cameras? Disabled.
Biometric locks? Overridden.
The System would-be murderer was currently screaming in my head like a wounded animal.
>MSYSTEM OVERRIDE:Host violation detected! Initiating emergency protocol—
"Shut up," I hissed, jamming a stolen keycard into the server mainframe.
The screen flickered.
ECHO PROJECT: SOUL MIGRATION v9.4
Primary Donor: Ariella Grey
Recipient: Julian Carter
Completion Date: 06/18/2025
Three days from now.
My fingers flew across the keyboard. "You wanted my soul, Julian? Let's see how you like yours on a platter."
Kai's Voice (Behind Me): "They're coming. You have six minutes.
I didn't turn. "Shutup you lied to me."
"About what?"
"Everything." I slammed enter. The Firewalls collapsed. The crash wasn't just about killing me, it was a backup. You knew Julian was stealing my consciousness. You let it happen. You stood right there and did nothing to save me .
Kai's silence was confession enough.
The screen flashed red.
ACCESS GRANTED: SOUL ARCHIVES
And there it was.
Me.
Dozens of me.
Frozen.Screaming - Trapped in digital cages.
Previous versions. Failed transfers. Ariellas who didn't escape the crash.
My stomach twisted.
"Oh god…"
Kai's hand gripped my shoulder. "They're not you. Just echoes."
I whirled on him. "WHOSE FAULT IS THAT?"
A gun cocked behind us.
Bianca.
Dressed in lab whites, syringe in hand.
"Aw," she smirked. "What a cute family reunion?"
Three Truths About Bianca Cruz
1. She wasn't just Julian's lover.
2. She was ECHO's lead scientist.
3. And she hated me more than death itself.
The System blared:
CRITICAL THREAT:Bianca Cruz – Neural Extraction Specialist. Proposed Countermeasure: Fracture her C5 vertebrae.
Bianca aimed the syringe at Kai. "Julian wants you alive, Ari. But him? He's expendable."
Kai stepped forward—
Crack.
I didn't hesitate.
I broke her wrist before she could blink.
The syringe clattered to the floor. Bianca screamed, but I was already twisting her arm behind her back, knee jammed into her spine.
"Tell me," I whispered, "how does it feel to lose?"
She spat blood. "You're still just a copy."
"Wrong." I yanked her head back. "I'm the upgrade."
The System pulsed:
SYSTEM OVERRIDE COMPLETE.** *New Admin: Ariella Grey. Execute Command?
I smiled.
"Burn it all."
Alarms wailed. Servers exploded in showers of sparks. Bianca's screams were music as the digital cages shattered—
And every trapped version of me woke up.
Angry.
Hungry.
Free.
The Aftermath
Kai dragged me from the burning lab.
Outside, rain washed the blood from my hands as sirens wailed in the distance.
He stared at me like I was a stranger. "What did you just do?"
I watched the flames lick the sky.
"Made Julian a promise."
On cue, my phone buzzed.
Unknown Number:*lYou'll regret that.
I typed back:
Try me.
New Mission:Survive the Next 24 Hours. Reward: The Truth About Who Created You.
The System's voice was different now.
Warmer.
Older.
Almost… motherly.
Kai frowned. "What now?"
I pocketed the phone.
"Now we meet the real villain."