The Clock Ticks

The weight of the revelation hung heavily in the air, the cold dread sinking deeper into Alexander's chest. His thoughts raced, his mind desperately trying to piece together the fragments of information.

"Mia…" he muttered, his voice tight, barely audible.

Victor's eyes were grim, his face pale from the implications of the live feed. "We need to act fast," he said, his voice low but urgent. "If they've already started the process on her… God knows what they've done to her."

Alexander nodded, his anger bubbling beneath the surface, but his focus was razor-sharp. "Where is she? I want a location now."

Erin typed furiously at her keyboard, her face lit by the glow of the screen. "I'm tracing the coordinates from the video feed. It's hard to get an exact fix, but this—" She stopped, a flicker of something on the screen catching her attention. "There. A remote island. Off the coast of the Pacific. There's a facility there. Paragon Genesis…"

"Get us there," Alexander ordered, his voice now steely with resolve. "I don't care what it takes. We're going in."

Victor turned to his team. "Prepare the jets. We're leaving now."

As the team scrambled to gather their gear, Alexander's mind was already ahead, planning his next move. His gaze landed on the phone again—the source of all this destruction. His hands shook as he clutched it tighter, a gnawing feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. He had failed to protect her before, but he wouldn't let it happen again. Not this time.

The silence in the room was deafening as the reality of the situation settled over them. Time was running out.

---

Hours later, Alexander, Victor, and a small strike team boarded the private jet that would take them across the world to the remote island. The urgency was palpable, the weight of the mission pressing on everyone. Mia's life was on the line, and nothing else mattered.

As they sped through the night sky, Alexander sat in tense silence, staring out the window, lost in thought. His fingers drummed against the armrest, his mind racing with questions.

Who was behind Project Paragon? What was it? And most importantly, why Mia?

Victor, sensing the tension in the air, leaned over. "We'll get her back. We've been through worse, you know that. We just have to stick to the plan."

Alexander's jaw tightened. "I don't care about the plan right now. I care about Mia."

Victor's expression softened, but his eyes were filled with understanding. "I know. And we'll bring her back. No matter what it takes."

---

The jet landed in the dead of night, the island shrouded in darkness and isolation. As they approached the facility, the sprawling compound was barely visible, hidden among dense trees and surrounded by tall, electrified fences. The only light came from the flickering of security lights near the perimeter, casting eerie shadows across the landscape.

Victor scanned the surroundings through binoculars. "This is it. The facility's heavily guarded, but I think we can get in."

Alexander wasted no time. He nodded to the team, signaling them to move. With precise steps, they made their way to the edge of the compound, creeping through the underbrush. Alexander's heart raced with every step. Mia was close, but so were the unknown dangers that awaited them.

As they neared the outer fence, one of the team members, Ethan, pulled out a cutting tool and began working on the wiring. The seconds stretched into minutes, and Alexander felt every heartbeat like a ticking clock.

Finally, the wire was cut. The team slipped inside the compound, moving swiftly through the shadows. The air was thick with tension as they approached the main building. Inside, they could hear the faint hum of machinery, the only sound in the otherwise eerie silence of the facility.

As they neared the entrance, a voice crackled over the comms.

"They know we're here," Victor said grimly. "Stay sharp."

Suddenly, a series of guards rounded a corner, their flashlights sweeping through the darkness. Without hesitation, Alexander signaled to his team. The strike was swift, precise. The guards fell one by one, silent as shadows, leaving no trace behind.

Once inside, the team moved quickly, navigating through the maze of sterile hallways. The walls were cold, clinical, and sterile—nothing like the warmth of home. Alexander's pulse quickened as they neared the center of the facility, where Mia was being held.

"We're close," Victor whispered.

As they turned a final corner, Alexander's breath caught in his throat. Through a glass wall, he could see her—Mia. Unconscious, surrounded by medical equipment, wires and tubes connecting her to various machines. The sight of her like that—helpless—sent a surge of rage through him.

But they weren't alone.

A figure stood by Mia's side, his back to them. The man turned slowly, a cruel smile curling at the corners of his lips.

"Well, well," he said, his voice smooth but laced with malice. "I see you've come for her. But it's too late, Alexander. The process has already begun."

Alexander's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

The man's smile widened. "I'm Dr. Jace Winters, lead researcher for Project Paragon. And Mia is the key to everything. You really think you can stop this? You're too late."

Before Alexander could react, the room filled with the sound of alarms blaring. Red lights flashed, signaling the initiation of lockdown protocols.

Victor cursed under his breath. "We need to move, now!"

Alexander was already moving, his eyes never leaving Mia. He rushed forward, but Winters stepped in front of him, blocking the way.

"You won't get past me," Dr. Winters sneered.

Without warning, Alexander drew his weapon. "Get out of my way."