Chapter 24 - Ethan's Memory
Ethan slowly opened his eyes.
The bright lights above him seemed unfamiliar.
He blinked several times before focusing on Laura's face.
"Mom?"
She immediately embraced him.
"I'm here."
He smiled weakly.
"I dreamed again."
Daniel stepped closer.
"The white rooms?"
Ethan nodded.
"But this time... I remembered everything."
Michael froze.
"What do you remember?"
Ethan looked around the chamber before pointing toward the massive machine dominating the center of the room.
"It talks."
Everyone stared at him.
Dr. Carter frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"It always talks."
Ethan closed his eyes.
"I thought they were dreams."
Michael's breathing became uneven.
"The neural interface."
Emily immediately understood.
"He can hear the synchronization network."
Marcus looked confused.
"What network?"
Michael pointed toward the Core.
"The machine constantly exchanges neurological signals with every subject carrying the modified cells."
Ethan whispered,
"It tells everyone where to go."
Daniel looked at the silent children gathering around the chamber.
"They're following it."
Ethan shook his head.
"Not anymore."
"What changed?"
Ethan slowly looked toward Daniel.
"When you gave me your blood..."
Emily completed the sentence.
"...the network changed."
Michael's eyes widened.
"The calibration."
Ethan nodded.
"I can hear them now."
"Who?"
"The children."
Laura gently held his hand.
"What are they saying?"
Ethan listened carefully.
"So many voices..."
His breathing quickened.
"They're scared."
The nearest children slowly looked toward Ethan.
Not toward Adrian.
Toward Ethan.
A little girl stepped out from the crowd.
She couldn't have been older than six.
"Can you hear us?"
Ethan smiled gently.
"Yes."
The girl began crying.
"We want to go home."
Soon another child spoke.
Then another.
Within seconds the chamber filled with dozens of frightened voices speaking at once.
Years of silence had finally ended.
Adrian slammed his hand onto the control console.
"No!"
He activated another command.
Red lights immediately began flashing across the Core.
Michael recognized the warning before anyone else.
May you like
"He just initiated the purge sequence."
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