DavinaMaddie

In a world where reality itself can be manipulated, Sierra, a brilliant but reluctant hacker, uncovers a terrifying secret: a mind-control system known as the Protocol, designed to alter the fabric of history and reality. As she dives deeper into the system, she discovers that the Protocol isn't just a tool for controlling minds-it's a weapon capable of erasing entire civilizations and rewriting existence. Now, with time running out and the world teetering on the brink of collapse, Sierra must navigate a dangerous game of deception, survival, and rebellion. Alongside a mysterious ally, she faces an impossible choice: to destroy the Protocol and risk being erased from history, or to control it and become the architect of a new, unstable reality. With the fate of humanity hanging in the balance, Sierra must decide if she can truly rewrite the world or if it will rewrite her.Great!

> She was never supposed to exist...

Sierra Vale thought she was just a brilliant hacker—until a rogue program called The Protocol whispers a chilling truth: “You are not Sierra Vale.”

Thrust into a world of secret labs, hidden memories, and a conspiracy that could enslave millions, Sierra must fight not only for survival but to uncover who—or what—she really is.

With enemies closing in and her mind cracking open to terrifying memories, there’s only one mission left:
Take down the Protocol before it takes her.

Your name was just the beginning.

Code name: Starlight

Chapter 10: Trigger Protocol

The sound of sirens faded into the wind as Sierra and Knox raced through the crumbling train yard, ducking behind rusted cars and broken scaffolding. Her pulse thundered in her ears. Each breath burned her throat.

But the worst part wasn't the fear.

It whispered from deep within her skull like a memory she never made.

Protocol recognition: 98% complete.

Sierra gritted her teeth and clutched the neural dampener tighter in her hand. The device buzzed softly against her skin, like it was fighting off something crawling up her spine.

"Knox!" she shouted, dodging a rail.

He turned just enough to catch her eyes. "You okay?"

"No!" she snapped. "There's a voice in my head!"

His jaw clenched. "Then we're almost out of time."

They slid into a drainage tunnel beneath the tracks. The air reeked of rust and old water. Their boots splashed through shallow runoff as they ran deeper into the dark.

Behind them, metallic footfalls echoed. Sharp. Inhuman.

Knox pulled her into a maintenance alcove and slapped a code into a locked panel. A hiss. A panel slid open.

Inside—an elevator. Cramped. Old. Probably unsafe.

They dropped into it just as a burst of energy lit the tunnel behind them. A Phantom had arrived—tall, pale, face obscured by a blank visor glowing with data. It didn't speak. It didn't need to.

The elevator shuddered violently—but held.

Sierra collapsed against the wall, her chest heaving. Knox leaned against the opposite side, sweat streaming down his temple.

Knox didn't answer right away. The elevator groaned as it slid to a halt. The doors opened to reveal a dimly lit chamber lined with old servers and blackout-curtained screens. A safe zone—but just barely.

"This is one of our last black sites," he said. "Dead to the grid. We've got a few minutes."

Sierra looked around. Everything felt like it was watching her—even when she was alone.

And then—it spoke again.

You are the vessel. Trigger awaiting activation.

"No," she whispered. "No no no—shut up."

Knox turned, alarmed. "What's wrong?"

"I'm hearing things again. The Protocol—it's not just watching me. It's talking to me."

He stepped toward her carefully. "What's it saying?"

Sierra looked up, eyes wide and wild.

"It's waiting to be activated."

Knox went still. He stared at her for a long moment.

"That means," he said slowly, "someone's still holding the trigger."

"Then we don't just lose you. We lose the entire free network."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

For the first time, Sierra realized what she might be.

Not just a hacker. Not just a girl with stolen memories.

Chapter 10: Trigger Protocol.