Chapter 14: The Last Soldier Standing
Nobody moved.
Hayes stood in the doorway.
The same man who had protected me.
The same man who had helped me escape.
The same man who had told me Ethan was his commanding officer.
Now he was holding the one thing that made him impossible to trust.
I stared at the identification card.
“No.””
Hayes’ expression softened.
“Madison.””
“Don’t.””
My voice shook.
“Don’t say my name like you know me.””
He lowered the card.
“You don’t understand.””
“That’s what everyone says.””
The laboratory lights flickered.
My mother stepped between us.
“Luke.””
Hayes looked at her.
“I never wanted this.””
“You were there.””
His face changed.
A small crack in his calm.
“You know what happened.””
“Yes.””
The silence between them said everything.
I looked at Daniel.
“Tell me.””
Daniel looked exhausted.
“Hayes wasn’t the director.””
I stared.
“Then why does he have the card?””
Because nobody answered, I already knew.
There was another truth.
Always another truth.
Hayes stepped inside.
“I took it.””
Everyone froze.
“What?””
“I took it from Vale’s office three years ago.””
Daniel exhaled.
“Why?””
“Because I was trying to expose him.””
I looked at the card again.
“Then why hide it?””
Hayes looked at me.
“Because if Vale knew I had it, I wouldn’t have survived.””
I wanted to believe him.
That was the worst part.
Because some part of me still remembered the man who pulled me away from gunfire.
The man who stood between me and danger.
The man Ethan trusted.
“Then explain Ethan’s message.””
Hayes looked at the computer.
His face changed.
“He knew.””
“Knew what?””
“That I was going undercover.””
My anger faltered.
“What?””
Hayes stepped closer.
“After Black Hollow, I realized the investigation was compromised. Vale had people everywhere.””
“So you disappeared too?””
“Yes.””
“Like Ethan?””
Hayes nodded.
“We were trying to destroy the program from inside.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Is that true?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Yes.””
My eyes narrowed.
“You both lied to me.””
Hayes looked down.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
The doors suddenly opened behind Hayes.
More soldiers entered.
But they weren’t aiming at us.
They were aiming at him.
A man walked behind them.
Older.
Gray hair.
Perfect uniform.
Marcus Vale.
The room became silent.
He smiled.
“Commander Hayes.””
Hayes turned.
“General.””
Vale looked around.
“My, my.””
His eyes landed on me.
“Madison.””
I felt sick.
“You ruined my life.””
Vale smiled.
“No.””
He walked closer.
“I created it.””
My mother stepped forward.
“You used her.””
Vale looked at her.
“You abandoned her.””
The words hit.
My mother froze.
Vale continued.
“You want the truth, Madison?””
I didn’t answer.
He didn’t need permission.
“Your mother wanted to save you. Your father wanted to hide you. Ethan wanted to protect you.””
He smiled.
“But I was the only one who understood what you truly were.””
I clenched my fists.
“I’m not a thing.””
Vale tilted his head.
“No.””
For the first time, his expression became almost respectful.
“You’re the only person who proved my theory wrong.””
I frowned.
“What theory?””
“That loyalty can’t be programmed.””
He looked at Ghost.
“And yet Ethan created it.””
The dog growled.
Vale smiled.
“Even now.””
He looked at me.
“You think Ghost chose you because of love.””
A pause.
“He chose you because Ethan designed him to.””
My heart sank.
“No.””
Vale continued.
“Ethan was brilliant. He realized the only way to defeat me was to create a bond I couldn’t control.””
He looked at Ghost.
“He used my own research against me.””
I looked at the dog.
Everything suddenly felt uncertain.
Vale took another step.
“Come with me, Madison.””
“No.””
“You deserve answers.””
“I have them.””
“No.””
His eyes hardened.
“You have pieces.””
The room went quiet.
Then Vale said:
“The full truth is that Ethan Cross is still alive.””
My heart stopped.
Nobody spoke.
Vale smiled.
“And he’s been waiting for you.””
I stepped forward.
“Where?””
Vale looked toward the exit.
“Come with me.””
Hayes raised his weapon.
“No.””
Vale sighed.
“You always were loyal to the wrong people.””
Then the soldiers moved.
Gunfire erupted.
Everything became chaos.
Ghost pulled me away.
My mother grabbed my hand.
Hayes fought beside Daniel.
And as we escaped through the collapsing facility, one thought stayed in my mind.
Ethan was alive.
May you like
But if Vale was telling the truth…
Why had Ethan never come home?
