Chapter 38 - NOAH
Alex could barely look away from the photograph.
The smiling boy beside him looked familiar in a way that made no sense.
Not because Alex remembered him...
But because his face felt connected to emotions that survived even after memories disappeared.
"Who is Noah?" Alex asked.
The old man answered immediately.
"The child you refused to leave behind."
Daniel exchanged a quick glance with Bennett.
"What does that mean?"
The old man leaned on his cane.
"When the relocation began, every child was separated."
"Except two."
"Ethan and Noah."
Alex whispered the sentence almost unconsciously.
"We promised to stay together..."
The words escaped before he realized he had spoken them.
The old man nodded.
"You remember."
Alex quickly shook his head.
"No."
"I don't."
"You remembered the promise."
"Your mind simply hasn't caught up yet."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The old man extended his hand.
"My name is Arthur Hale."
"I was chief physician for Project Orion."
Silence filled the tunnel.
Daniel's expression hardened.
"So you helped create it."
Arthur slowly lowered his eyes.
"Yes."
"And I've spent eighteen years trying to destroy it."
No one spoke.
Arthur reached into another pocket.
This time he produced an old identification badge.
PROJECT ORION.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR.
The badge was genuine.
Bennett examined it carefully.
"If you've been hiding all this time..."
"...why reveal yourself now?"
Arthur looked directly at Alex.
"Because Voss has stopped waiting."
"What do you mean?"
Arthur's voice became heavier.
"He has activated Phase Two."
Alex frowned.
"I keep hearing about phases."
"What are they?"
Arthur looked down the dark tunnel behind him.
"The reason Orion was created."
May you like
"And the reason Donovan gave up everything to save you."
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