Chapter 7: The Twelve Missing Hours
For several seconds, Maya couldn't look away from the tiny screen.
Her mother.
Her father.
Standing beside Preston in a room none of them recognized.
Preston leaned over the table, breathing hard.
“I don't remember that room.””
Evelyn stared at the image.
“That isn't possible.””
“You said that already.””
“No.”” She pointed at the chip.
“I mean that footage isn't possible.””
Maya looked at her.
“Why?””
Evelyn took the chip between two fingers.
“Because Carlos would never have stood in the same room with your mother while Preston was there.””
“Why?””
“Because Preston was the reason they separated.””
Preston's face tightened.
“What does that mean?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
Maya stepped closer.
“You've been hiding something again.””
“I've been protecting you.””
“That's not the same thing.””
Evelyn looked at Preston.
Then at Maya.
Then back at the screen.
“Your mother believed Preston had been conditioned.””
“Conditioned for what?””
“To operate Nightfall.””
Preston laughed bitterly.
“That sounds insane.””
“It is.””
“You think someone programmed me?””
“Not like a machine.””
Evelyn pointed at his head.
“They trained you through repetition. Sound. Light.
Stress responses. Certain phrases. Certain visual cues.””
Maya felt a chill.
“Why would anyone do that?””
“Because the original Nightfall system needed a human decision-maker.””
Preston shook his head.
“I would remember.””
Evelyn's expression softened.
“That was the point.””
Maya looked down at the chip.
“Play it again.””
Evelyn hesitated.
“Why?””
“I want to see what happens before Preston enters the room.””
She connected the chip to her laptop.
The video appeared.
The room was dim.
Industrial.
Concrete walls.
A single overhead light.
Preston walked into frame.
He looked younger.
Not much.
But different.
His shoulders were stiff.
His eyes were empty.
His mother stood several feet away.
Carlos was beside her.
A younger Evelyn appeared near the doorway.
The footage had no sound.
Then Preston turned toward the camera.
Maya leaned closer.
His lips moved.
She paused the video.
“What did he say?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“Play it.””
Maya continued.
The video resumed.
Preston said something.
Carlos stepped forward.
Preston shoved him.
Maya inhaled sharply.
Her father stumbled backward.
Then Preston's mother screamed.
The screen went black.
“That's it?”” Maya asked.
“No,” Evelyn said.
“There are eleven more hours.””
Maya looked at Preston.
“Eleven?””
He nodded.
“I don't know what happened after that.””
Evelyn scrubbed forward.
Another clip appeared.
A parking garage.
Preston walked alone.
A black sedan pulled up.
A man got out.
The image froze.
Evelyn's face changed.
“Who is that?””
Maya pointed.
“You know him.””
Evelyn whispered one word.
“Marcus.””
Preston looked confused.
“Who's Marcus?””
“The man who ran Nightfall operations.””
“Where is he now?””
“Dead.””
Maya stared at her.
“When?””
“Six years ago.””
“Then why is he here?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
Maya advanced the footage.
The man leaned toward Preston.
Again, no sound.
Then Preston raised his right hand.
He pressed two fingers against his temple.
Maya felt something click in her memory.
She turned toward Preston.
“Do that again.””
“What?””
“Your hand.””
He hesitated.
She copied the movement.
Two fingers.
Temple.
Then she whispered a phrase without knowing why.
“Clear the noise.””
Preston went rigid.
Evelyn dropped the laptop.
The glass on the table rattled.
Maya stared at him.
“What?””
Preston's face had gone completely blank.
Then he whispered:
“Open the gate.””
Evelyn grabbed Maya by the shoulders.
“Don't say anything else.””
Maya pulled away.
“What did I just do?””
“You triggered a response.””
Preston stumbled backward.
His hands began shaking.
“No.””
Evelyn turned to him.
“Preston, look at me.””
He didn't.
“Look at me.””
Slowly, he raised his eyes.
There was fear in them.
“I remember something.””
Maya stepped closer.
“What?””
“A room.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“What happened?””
He pressed his palms against his temples.
“A door.””
“Which door?””
“Glass.””
Maya's heart started pounding.
“Arkwell?””
Preston shook his head.
“No.””
“Then where?””
He closed his eyes.
“Underneath it.””
Evelyn went still.
Maya looked at her.
“You know where.””
Evelyn's face had lost all color.
“There is a sublevel.””
“Under Arkwell?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because it isn't on any public blueprint.””
Preston opened his eyes.
“I've been there.””
Evelyn stared at him.
“You were never supposed to remember.””
He laughed quietly.
“Apparently someone forgot to erase enough.””
Maya picked up the laptop.
“Then we go back.””
Evelyn grabbed her wrist.
“No.””
“My mother is there.””
“You don't know that.””
“The footage shows her.””
“Old footage.””
“When?””
“I don't know.””
Maya looked at the timestamp.
Her breath caught.
“That's from today.””
Evelyn stepped closer.
“Give me the laptop.””
“No.””
“Maya.””
“You lied enough.””
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
“You don't get to make that decision anymore.””
Preston suddenly looked toward the cafe window.
“Someone's outside.””
They turned.
A black SUV sat across the street.
Engine running.
No one inside.
Then its lights switched on.
Preston stood.
“We need to move.””
The rear door of the SUV opened.
A man stepped out.
He raised something in his hand.
A small black device.
The cafe lights instantly died.
Glass shattered.
Maya ducked.
Evelyn dragged her toward the kitchen.
“Back door!””
Preston followed.
They raced through the narrow corridor.
A gunshot cracked behind them.
The barista screamed.
Maya hit the rear door and pushed.
It wouldn't move.
“Locked!””
Evelyn pulled a fire extinguisher from the wall and smashed the latch.
The door flew open.
They ran into the alley.
Another gunshot.
Concrete exploded beside Maya's shoulder.
Preston grabbed her.
“Move!””
They sprinted between buildings.
Maya could hear footsteps behind them.
Then a voice.
“Preston!””
He stopped.
Maya grabbed his arm.
“Don't.””
The voice came again.
“She's not your enemy.””
Preston turned.
A man stood at the end of the alley.
Older.
Bearded.
No weapon visible.
Evelyn froze.
“Marcus.””
The man smiled.
“Hello, Evelyn.””
Preston stared.
“You're dead.””
Marcus looked at him.
“So is your father, according to the records.””
Maya stepped forward.
“Who are you?””
Marcus looked directly at her.
“Someone your father trusted.””
Evelyn laughed bitterly.
“No. Carlos trusted people until they betrayed him.””
Marcus nodded.
“Which is why he's still alive.””
Maya's heart slammed against her ribs.
“Where is he?””
“Below Arkwell.””
Evelyn immediately grabbed Maya.
“Don't listen to him.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“She deserves the truth.””
“You're using her.””
“I'm trying to save her.””
Maya stepped between them.
“Stop.””
Both went silent.
She looked at Marcus.
“What happened to my mother?””
“She's alive.””
“Where?””
“In the sublevel.””
“Is Carlos with her?””
“Yes.””
Maya's eyes burned.
“Then take me there.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because the system recognizes you.””
“What does that mean?””
He looked at Preston.
“It recognizes him too.””
Preston took a step forward.
“Why?””
Marcus's voice dropped.
“Because Nightfall was never designed to be controlled by one person.””
Maya frowned.
“How many?””
“Two.””
She looked at Preston.
“And me?””
Marcus nodded.
“Carlos built the final version around both of you.””
Preston looked sick.
“I don't understand.””
“You weren't chosen because you were Owen Whitlock's son.””
Marcus looked at Maya.
“You were chosen because you're Carlos Reyes's daughter.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Marcus, enough.””
But Marcus was already reaching inside his coat.
Maya tensed.
He pulled out a photograph.
He handed it to her.
It showed two children standing in a laboratory.
A boy.
A girl.
Maya recognized the boy immediately.
Preston.
The girl was herself.
Except she looked six years old.
Maya turned the photograph over.
A handwritten date.
*September 18, 2014.*
And beneath it:
*SUBJECTS P-01 AND M-01 — SUCCESSFUL SYNC.*
Her hands started shaking.
“I've never been here.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Yes, you have.””
Maya looked at Evelyn.
“Tell me she's lying.””
Evelyn couldn't speak.
Preston stared at the photograph.
“I don't remember her.””
Marcus nodded.
“You weren't supposed to.””
Maya turned back to him.
“What happened to our memories?””
Marcus's eyes hardened.
“Owen erased them.””
“And my mother?””
“Your mother tried to stop him.””
Maya felt her throat close.
Marcus took one step backward.
“Come with me.””
Maya didn't move.
“Where?””
He pointed toward the skyline.
“Under Arkwell.””
A siren wailed in the distance.
Marcus looked at his watch.
“We have less than an hour.””
“Until what?””
“The system goes live.””
Preston swallowed.
“What system?””
Marcus looked at both of them.
“Nightfall.””
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Then he said the words that made Maya's blood run cold.
“And the first vehicle it will control is the Helix 1.””
