Chapter 49

Quinby's words struck me hard. She warned me that Aidan would no longer be the person I remembered. My initial instinct was to argue, but I held back and listened as she explained her reasoning.

"Our enemy has discovered a method to seize control of a person's mind. Even after their physical body perishes, the brain can be revived."

Quinby continued, "However, it is merely an empty vessel, devoid of true humanity. The individual ceases to exist, becoming nothing more than a puppet manipulated by external forces."

"I will be the judge of that," I firmly asserted, unwilling to accept another painful truth without investigating for myself.

Once our information-sharing session concluded, we made our way back to the truck. The journey was filled with an uncomfortable silence, and none of my teammates attempted to initiate a conversation. The tension hung heavy in the air, enveloping us all.