Jayden froze.
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His eyes locked onto the figure imprisoned behind a cold, steel wall that had slowly peeled open almost mockingly, like it was welcoming him into a nightmare. There was no doubt. The man inside, blood trailing down from his eyes like tears, his body a living map of pain and old wounds... was Elliot Crowe.
Jayden’s brother.
The brother he'd believed to be dead for seven long years.
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Elliot’s past was riddled with darkness: a soldier, an elite interrogator, and eventually, a suspect in the massacre of fellow soldiers during a black ops mission the government had buried. Jayden had been assigned to investigate that very case had signed off on the official report that Elliot had taken his own life.
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But now… staring into those hollow eyes, that truth began to shatter.
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“How… how are you here?!”
Jayden shouted, lunging toward the steel barrier with bare hands, desperate to reach him.
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Before he could get close, The Host’s voice rumbled from above, smooth and cold as ever:
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“This is not a reunion. It is a reminder of what you chose to forget… and what you chose to bury.”
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The ceiling lights flared on, revealing a massive chamber. Jayden spun around.
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More prisoners were being dragged into the room people who had vanished off the grid. One of them was Naomi Vasquez, the journalist who had chased after the truth behind The Chosen Eye, a secret society linked to countless disappearances. Two others were former inmates ghosts from Jayden’s past investigations.
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Rhea stepped beside him.
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“Your brother’s not the only ghost in this place.”
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Meanwhile, Ezra was bent over a hand-built device made from scraps of copper and wire. With it, he’d gained a brief tap into one of the compound’s interior feeds. What he found made the air freeze.
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A grainy surveillance clip. Jayden… in conversation with a hooded figure. The audio was low, but clear enough.
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“If Elliot talks, we’re all exposed. Make sure the file disappears. Burn everything.”
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Jayden staggered back.
His voice. Clear as day. But… he had no memory of ever saying those words.
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“That’s... impossible.”
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Dr. Lena Mbeki’s eyes met Jayden’s. Her gaze held no accusation just understanding.
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“This place isn’t a prison. It’s a mirror. And it’s showing you the version of yourself you tried to erase.”
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Suddenly, a steel door groaned open.
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The same door that had been sealed with a crimson warning:
“Do Not Open Unless Ready.”
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Everyone stood still.
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And then… the voice returned.
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“One of you knows the truth about why Elliot was buried. Open the door, and the price will be betrayal.”
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Jayden stepped forward.
Rhea placed a hand on his shoulder.
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“Are you sure? What if this is exactly what they want?”
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He glanced at the camera embedded in the top corner of the room.
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“I need to know… if I’m the villain in my own story.”
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Jayden turned the handle.
The door creaked open revealing a room flooded with screens. Footage, images, and recordings looped relentlessly.
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They showed Jayden. Rhea. And the man behind the mask -The Host discussing something called “the final protocol of silence.”
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Then, Jayden’s voice again calm, resolved:
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“They won’t stop until we destroy each other. If silence is the only way… then let it be eternal.”
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Jayden collapsed to his knees.
His face pale. His breathing shallow.
Tears sliding down as his voice cracked:
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“What did I become…?”
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Elsewhere, inside the dark cell, Elliot opened his eyes.
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He looked straight into the camera and whispe
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red, for the first time:
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“Jayden… you put me here.”
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🩸 To Be Continued...
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