Beneath the Surface
The cold wind bit at Evelyn's skin as she and Theo stood outside Grayson Industries. The towering glass building reflected the city lights, a fortress of secrets waiting to be unraveled.
"This is madness," Evelyn muttered under her breath.
Theo's voice was calm but firm. "It's the only way."
Evelyn exhaled slowly, pushing aside her nerves. They had no other choice. If their memories had been erased, if they had been part of an experiment, then the answers were inside that building.
And they were going to find them.
---
Breaking In
Theo scanned the area before gesturing for Evelyn to follow him toward the side entrance. He had studied the building's security measures, mapping out a way inside without triggering alarms.
The door was locked—expected. But Theo pulled out a small device from his pocket and pressed it against the keypad. Within seconds, the red light blinked green.
Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "Impressive."
Theo smirked. "Try to keep up."
They slipped inside, the hallway dimly lit. The silence was thick, only broken by the hum of security cameras above.
Evelyn's pulse quickened. "Where do we start?"
Theo pulled out his phone, scanning the blueprint. "The lower levels. If they were hiding something, it wouldn't be in plain sight."
They moved swiftly, avoiding detection. Each step brought them closer to the truth—closer to unlocking the memories stolen from them.
---
The Hidden Floor
They reached an elevator at the end of the hall, but there was no button for lower levels.
Theo frowned. "They're hidden."
Evelyn's eyes flickered over the panel before she noticed something—a small **scanner** beside it. Without thinking, she reached into her jacket and pulled out the old ID badge she had found in her belongings days ago.
She pressed it against the scanner.
The elevator beeped.
Theo's eyes widened slightly. "You really were part of this."
Evelyn swallowed. "Guess we're about to find out how much."
The doors slid open, revealing a long descent into the unknown.
---
Buried Truths
The lower levels were nothing like the sleek offices above. The walls were metallic, sterile, the air thick with the scent of chemicals and something more—something decayed.
Evelyn's stomach twisted. It felt familiar.
Theo stepped ahead, scanning the dimly lit corridors. "We need to find the research files."
Evelyn nodded, but her mind was racing. Her fingers brushed against the cold metal of the walls, and suddenly—
A flash.
Strapped to a table. White lights.
A voice murmuring, "She's adapting faster than expected."
Pain—sharp, unbearable.
A hand gripping hers. Theo.
Evelyn stumbled back with a gasp, her breathing ragged.
Theo was beside her in an instant. "Evelyn?"
"I—" She clutched her head. "I remember something. They… they were testing us."
Theo's jaw clenched. "We need those files. Now."
They pressed forward, reaching a door labeled Research Archives. Theo worked on the lock while Evelyn kept watch, her fingers twitching with anticipation.
Then—click.
The door creaked open.
Inside, rows of old computers and locked cabinets lined the walls. Dust coated the surfaces, but the faint glow of monitors still hummed with activity.
Evelyn rushed to one of the computers, typing in a name she barely remembered remembering.
Project Phoenix.
Theo leaned over her shoulder as the screen flickered. Lines of data scrolled before their eyes, and then—
Subject: Evelyn Carter
Subject: Theo Bennett
Evelyn's heart pounded.
Theo's expression darkened. "We were their test subjects."
Her hands trembled as she clicked the files, scanning through reports detailing genetic modifications, neural reprogramming, memory suppression.
She felt sick.
"This isn't just an experiment," she whispered. "They were—changing us."
Theo stiffened beside her. "Then we need to find out why."
But before they could dig deeper—
A sharp alarm blared through the speakers.
They had been found.
---
The Escape
Theo cursed under his breath. "We need to move—now."
Evelyn grabbed a flash drive from the desk and shoved it into the computer, copying as many files as she could.
Footsteps pounded in the hallway.
Theo pulled her up, his grip firm. "Evelyn!"
The progress bar ticked painfully slow.
90%…
91%…
The door burst open. Guards. Armed.
Theo pushed Evelyn behind him as the first shot rang out.
She barely had time to process what was happening before Theo grabbed a chair and flung it at the guards, buying them a second of time.
The computer beeped. Download complete.
Evelyn snatched the flash drive and sprinted for the exit, Theo covering her.
Shots fired. Alarms blared. The walls seemed to close in around them.
They raced through the corridors, Theo taking down guards with sharp, precise movements.
But then—
Pain shot through Evelyn's shoulder as she stumbled. A bullet grazed her.
She gasped, her vision swimming.
Theo caught her before she could fall, his arm wrapping around her. "Evelyn—stay with me."
She gritted her teeth. "Keep moving."
They reached the emergency exit. Theo kicked the door open, dragging Evelyn with him.
The cold night air hit her face like a slap.
They didn't stop running.
Not until the building was nothing more than a distant silhouette behind them.
---
A Moment to Breathe
They collapsed in an alleyway, both panting heavily.
Theo pulled off his jacket and pressed it against Evelyn's wound. "You're okay," he murmured, his voice steadier than he probably felt.
Evelyn winced but nodded. "We got the files."
Theo exhaled sharply, his forehead dropping to hers. "Yeah. We did."
His warmth was the only thing keeping her grounded.
Evelyn closed her eyes, feeling the steady beat of his heart.
For the first time, she wasn't afraid.
Because whatever came next—they would face it together.
---
End of Chapter 8