Chapter 7: The Choice

Chapter 7: The Choice

The lab trembled, dust and debris raining from the ceiling. Seraphina's heart pounded as she stood between Xavier and the child—*Aanya*—her mind racing.

"Choose," the child urged, her voice a haunting echo.

Xavier's grip on Seraphina's arm tightened, his violet eyes gleaming with manic intensity. "You belong with me, little sparrow. Always have."

Seraphina's gaze flicked to Lucian, unconscious on the floor, and then to Eleanor, who stood smugly by the exit, the syringe still in her hand.

"You don't have to do this," Seraphina said, her voice steady despite the chaos. "You can let us go."

Xavier's laugh was a low, dangerous rumble. "And miss the fun? Never."

The child stepped closer, her small hand outstretched. "Mother, please. You can't trust him."

Seraphina's chest tightened. The child was a piece of her—her past, her pain, her humanity. But Xavier… he was the embodiment of everything she feared becoming.

"I choose her," Seraphina said, her voice firm.

Xavier's grin faltered, his grip loosening. "You're making a mistake."

"No," Seraphina replied, pulling free. "I'm reclaiming myself."

The child's eyes lit up, and for a moment, Seraphina felt a surge of hope. But then the ground beneath them shook violently, and the lab's walls began to collapse.

"Run!" the child shouted, grabbing Seraphina's hand.

They sprinted through the crumbling corridors, Xavier's laughter echoing behind them.

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**Lucian's Awakening**

Lucian groaned, his vision blurry as he pushed himself off the floor. The lab was in ruins, the air thick with dust and smoke.

"Seraphina," he muttered, his voice hoarse.

He stumbled to his feet, his mind racing. Eleanor's betrayal stung, but there was no time to dwell on it. He had to find Seraphina.

A faint glow caught his eye—a monitor flickering amidst the debris. The screen displayed a single line of text:

**Project Aanya: Phase Two Initiated.**

Lucian's blood ran cold. "What the hell is Phase Two?"

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**The Escape**

Seraphina and the child emerged into the night air, the cold wind biting at their skin. The asylum loomed behind them, its windows glowing with the fire consuming the lab.

"We need to keep moving," the child said, her voice urgent.

Seraphina hesitated, her gaze lingering on the burning building. "Lucian… he's still in there."

The child's grip tightened. "He's strong. He'll survive. But if we don't leave now, *he* will find us."

Seraphina's heart ached, but she nodded. "Where do we go?"

The child's eyes gleamed with determination. "Somewhere safe. Somewhere he can't reach us."

---

**Xavier's Wrath**

Xavier stood amidst the flames, his violet eyes blazing with fury. Eleanor approached him cautiously, her cerulean eyes wide with fear.

"Xavier, we need to go," she said, her voice trembling.

He turned to her, his expression dark. "You failed me."

Eleanor's breath hitched. "I did everything you asked. I—"

Before she could finish, Xavier's hand shot out, gripping her throat. "You let her go."

Eleanor clawed at his hand, her face turning purple. "Please… I…"

Xavier's grip tightened, his voice a venomous whisper. "You're expendable, Eleanor. Just like everyone else."

He released her, and she crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.

"Find her," Xavier commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Or you'll wish I'd killed you."

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**The Safehouse**

Seraphina and the child arrived at a dilapidated cabin deep in the woods. The air was thick with the scent of pine, and the only sound was the rustling of leaves in the wind.

"This is where we'll stay," the child said, her voice soft.

Seraphina frowned. "How do you know about this place?"

The child hesitated, her gaze dropping. "I've been here before. In my dreams."

Seraphina's chest tightened. The child was a mystery—a piece of her past and a harbinger of her future.

"What happens now?" Seraphina asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The child looked up, her stormy gray eyes filled with determination. "We fight. We survive. And we stop him."

---

**Lucian's Discovery**

Lucian stumbled out of the burning asylum, his body battered but his resolve unshaken. He pulled out his phone, dialing a number he hadn't used in years.

"This is Graves," he said, his voice firm. "I need a favor."

The voice on the other end was gruff. "What kind of favor?"

"I need everything you have on Project Aanya. And I need it now."

There was a pause, then a sigh. "You're playing with fire, Lucian."

"I know," Lucian replied, his gaze hardening. "But it's the only way to stop him."

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**End of Chapter 7**