Chapter 12: Wolves in Winter

Steam hissed from floor vents as Nora stepped into the core chamber. The walls pulsed faintly with red light, tubes of glowing serum lining the perimeter like veins. Her boots echoed on metal.

A glass panel scanned her body silently.

Biometric match: Variant ID–B12. Access granted.

She exhaled. *They still think I belong here.*

Ahead, a single terminal waited—interface blinking.

She pressed her palm to the surface. A surge of information exploded across the screen: archived mutations, subject codes, batch trials, and—the blueprint for Reversion Serum.

She began the upload.

Behind her, the door clicked.

Footsteps.

She spun, blade drawn.

But it was Cyrus.

“Status?” he asked, eyes scanning the room.

“Seventy percent upload,” she said. “No alarms yet.”

“I took down the east turret grid. Marius is holding the guard loop.”

“You came fast.”

“You said this was where it started,” he said. “I figured I should be here when it ends.”