Chapter 25 - Elizabeth's Choice
The gunfire started before Claire could ask another question.
Adrian appeared in the corridor, firing toward the soldiers as they advanced.
Noah pulled Claire behind a concrete pillar.
Daniel and Ethan took cover beside them.
Vale shouted commands into his radio.
Richard grabbed Lillian's hand.
“Stay behind me.”
Lillian shook her head.
“No.”
Richard looked at her.
“No what?”
“I've spent my whole life staying behind someone.”
She looked toward Claire.
“Not anymore.”
Claire moved toward her.
“Lillian.”
“What?”
“You're not going into that machine.”
Lillian gave a small, almost amused smile.
“Neither are you.”
Richard turned.
“Then we have three minutes.”
Claire looked at him.
“You said there was another way.”
“There is.”
“Tell me.”
“You have to reach Gate Two.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother built a failsafe.”
“What kind?”
Richard looked at Noah.
“Tell her.”
Noah shook his head.
“You tell her.”
Richard's voice broke.
“Elizabeth created a fourth authorization path.”
Claire stared.
“There are three gates.”
“There were supposed to be.”
“What is the fourth?”
“Choice.”
Claire frowned.
“The system can be overridden by a conscious rejection from both bloodline holders.”
Lillian stepped forward.
“Me and Claire.”
Richard nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you tell us?”
“Because the organization altered the protocol.”
Adrian fired again.
“They don't want both sisters together.”
Claire looked at him.
“Why?”
Adrian reloaded.
“Because together you can do something Elizabeth couldn't.”
“What?”
“Separate the system from the bloodline.”
Claire felt a chill.
“If we do that?”
“The network loses permanent control.”
“And everyone connected to it?”
“They get their identities back.”
Noah looked at Richard.
“Then why is the machine still running?”
“Because someone already activated the emergency succession protocol.”
Vale suddenly shouted.
“Richard!”
Everyone turned.
A soldier stood behind him.
The man raised his rifle.
Richard moved.
The shot struck his shoulder.
Claire screamed.
“Dad!”
Richard fell against the wall.
Lillian rushed toward him.
Claire fired.
The soldier dropped.
Noah dragged Richard behind cover.
“Stay with us.”
Richard grimaced.
“I'm fine.”
“You're bleeding.”
“I've had worse.”
Claire knelt beside him.
“Tell me what to do.”
Richard grabbed her wrist.
“Gate Two.”
“Where?”
“Under the command center.”
“How do we get there?”
Adrian answered.
“Through me.”
Claire looked up.
He had stopped shooting.
His eyes were fixed on her.
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
He walked toward them.
“But you need me.”
Noah stepped forward.
“Don't.”
Adrian looked at him.
“You still think I'm the enemy.”
“You've spent twenty-two years lying.”
“Because Elizabeth asked me to.”
“Not everything.”
“No.”
Adrian's voice softened.
“Not everything.”
Claire saw something in his expression.
Regret.
Genuine regret.
“Tell me the truth.”
Adrian nodded.
“I was the one who helped take Lillian.”
Lillian stared at him.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“You promised my mother you would protect me.”
“I did.”
“You handed me to them.”
“I handed you to Richard.”
Silence.
Lillian looked at her father.
Richard closed his eyes.
“She was dying.”
Claire stared.
“What?”
Richard whispered.
“Lillian was born with a heart defect.”
Lillian looked shocked.
“I never knew.”
“They told me she wouldn't survive.”
Richard's face twisted.
“The organization offered surgery.”
Claire understood.
“And the price was her.”
Richard nodded.
“I agreed.”
Lillian stepped away.
“You traded me.”
“I saved your life.”
“You sold it.”
Richard had no answer.
The alarm grew louder.
Adrian spoke.
“That's why Elizabeth started the war.”
Claire looked at him.
“What war?”
“The one you thought was a series of unrelated incidents.”
He pointed toward the sealed corridor.
“The arrests. The disappearances. The destroyed files. The false assassinations.”
Claire stared.
“She was dismantling the organization from inside.”
“Yes.”
“And you helped her.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she let me believe she was gone?”
Adrian answered.
“Because the people closest to you were compromised.”
Claire's eyes moved to Vale.
The general stood very still.
“Who?”
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Then he looked at Vale.
“He is.”
Vale drew his weapon.
Noah reacted first.
The gunshot hit the ceiling.
Adrian tackled Vale.
They crashed against the wall.
Claire helped Richard stand.
“Move!”
They ran.
The corridor twisted downward.
Lillian stayed beside Claire.
“You really are my sister.”
Claire looked at her.
“I guess you are.”
Lillian smiled through tears.
“I was told you hated me.”
Claire stopped.
“Why would I hate you?”
“Because they said Mom chose you.”
Claire stared.
“She didn't.”
“I know that now.”
They reached an elevator.
Adrian rushed in.
“Thirty seconds!”
Noah entered.
Daniel and Ethan followed.
The doors shut.
The elevator dropped.
Fast.
Claire looked at the floor indicator.
B2.
B3.
B4.
Then the numbers disappeared.
Lillian grabbed the rail.
“What just happened?”
Adrian stared at the display.
“We're below the official foundation.”
Claire looked at him.
“How deep?”
He answered quietly.
“Seven levels.”
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
A long circular chamber stretched ahead.
At its center stood three enormous metal structures connected by cables.
Gate One.
Gate Two.
Gate Three.
Claire's mouth went dry.
“This is it.”
Noah stepped forward.
“Not yet.”
At the far end of the chamber was another door.
Above it were four letters.
CHOICE.
Claire approached.
A scanner illuminated.
A voice spoke.
“First bloodline authorization required.”
Claire placed her hand against the scanner.
The door turned green.
“Second bloodline authorization required.”
Lillian stepped beside her.
She placed her hand down.
The system paused.
Then a warning appeared.
SUBSTITUTION DETECTED.
Claire looked at Lillian.
“What?”
The machine began counting.
TEN.
NINE.
EIGHT.
Richard shouted from behind them.
“Elizabeth changed the system!”
“Changed it how?”
“Only one of you can survive the override!”
Lillian looked at Claire.
“Then it was always meant to be me.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
“Claire.”
“No.”
The countdown reached three.
Two.
One.
The chamber doors unlocked.
And Elizabeth Bennett walked through.
Claire forgot how to breathe.
Her mother looked at both daughters.
May you like
Then she dropped her weapon.
“I am so sorry.”
