Inside a Black Helix Facility – Cairo Underground, Experimental Lab Core
The antidote chamber was bathed in clinical white light. Leona lay motionless within a high-grade cryo-capsule, her skin pallid, her pulse faint but steady. Tubes fed into her veins while robotic arms hovered above, injecting the synthesized antidote drop by drop.
Outside the glass, Nora's arms were crossed, her face impassive, though inside her heart raged with fear.
Damien stood beside her, every muscle tense. "How long?"
Dr. Vargas tapped on his tablet. "If her body accepts the serum, we'll see results in the next three hours. If not…"
"She'll survive," Nora said sharply. "She has to."
Vargas stepped away without replying. Damien turned to Nora.
"This place reeks of deception," he muttered. "Even with Adrian's passcodes, something's wrong."
Nora nodded. "I've been tracking facility logs. Someone accessed Leona's biometric files before we arrived."
"What?" Damien's gaze snapped to her. "Who?"
Nora pulled out a data chip. "The trail is hidden, but the signature is encoded with a genetic marker. One I've seen before… tied to someone named Seraphine Caldwell."
Damien froze. "Caldwell? That name's been buried for decades."
Nora's eyes narrowed. "Not buried. Hidden. And she's alive."
---
Location: Cairo – Black Helix Executive Lounge
Adrian leaned back in a crimson leather chair, sipping scotch as he watched the antidote progress logs scroll across his holo-screen. A small smile crept across his lips.
A hidden door slid open behind him.
"You're late," he said without turning.
A woman in a dark trench coat stepped into the dimly lit room. Her black heels clicked against the marble floor.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Vale," she said. Her voice was melodic, sharp.
He turned with mock surprise. "Seraphine. You never could resist the dramatic entrance."
Seraphine Caldwell—the enigma who once orchestrated the Carvalho tech raids—removed her sunglasses. Her green eyes glinted with secrets.
"You've brought Damien and Nora here. To my doorstep. Why?"
Adrian shrugged. "Because chaos breeds opportunity. While they're busy saving Leona, you and I can realign the board."
"You're using your cousin's life as leverage?" she asked coolly.
"Why not? Sinclair blood runs cold when needed."
Seraphine studied him, then walked toward the screen. "They're smarter than you think."
"Which is why we need to act before they realize the truth."
Seraphine's fingers hovered above the control pad. "The truth that Leona isn't just poisoned. She was chosen."
---
Location: Lab Hallway – Adjacent Surveillance Room
Julian's eyes widened as he listened in on the encrypted feed. He'd tapped into the Black Helix private comms network while pretending to check medical equipment. Now, every word of Adrian and Seraphine's conversation sent chills down his spine.
He quickly called Nora.
"You were right. Adrian and Seraphine are in this together. And there's more. They mentioned Leona being chosen."
Nora's blood ran cold. "Chosen for what?"
"I don't know yet," Julian said. "But they plan to move within the next two hours."
"I'll handle Adrian," Nora said firmly. "Keep your eyes on Seraphine."
---
Location: Executive Lounge
Adrian turned as the door burst open. Nora strode in, her expression unreadable.
"I should've known," she said, eyes locking on Seraphine. "You're the one who tried to kidnap Leona last year, weren't you?"
Seraphine smiled thinly. "No. I saved her."
Adrian stepped forward. "Easy, cousin. You're in the lion's den now."
Nora ignored him. "What do you mean you saved her?"
Seraphine folded her arms. "Leona has a rare genetic strain—hyper-responsive to biotech enhancements. She's not just Damien's sister. She's a potential key to next-gen neurotechnology. The kind that can link human thought to global systems."
"You planned all this?" Nora whispered, stunned.
"Not all," Seraphine said. "But enough. If she survives the antidote, she'll be more than healed—she'll be… evolved."
Nora's fury erupted. "You used her as a lab rat?"
Adrian cut in, "We're building a future here. One where control isn't taken by force—it's engineered."
Nora took a step forward, drawing a sleek firearm from her coat. "You're both deluded. And when Damien finds out—"
"He already suspects," Seraphine said calmly. "But he won't act. Not while Leona's life hangs in the balance."
---
Location: Medical Chamber – Three Hours Later
The capsule hissed. The cryo-locks released with a metallic click. Leona stirred, her fingers twitching, her breathing stronger. Nora was already by her side, tears forming in her eyes.
"Leona?" she whispered.
Leona's eyes fluttered open. "Nora…"
Damien exhaled a shaky breath, rushing forward.
"She made it," the doctor confirmed, astonished. "Vital signs are stabilizing… and… something else."
"What?" Damien asked sharply.
The doctor looked baffled. "Her neural network is… glowing. Lit up like we've never seen before."
Leona turned to Nora and whispered, "I… I saw something. A voice. A name. Seraphine."
Damien's expression turned to steel. "It's time we end this."