The location Adrian had received led them far beyond the eastern district, into an industrial zone that had been abandoned for more than a decade. Rusted factories lined both sides of the road, their broken windows reflecting the pale light of the moon. Weeds had swallowed the old railway tracks, and several buildings had already collapsed beneath years of neglect. Daniel drove the stolen vehicle while Claire monitored the surroundings, and Ethan sat in the passenger seat with Adrian beside him. Alexander had insisted on coming despite Ethan’s objections, claiming that he knew the Order’s older facilities better than anyone else. Ethan hadn’t argued. In truth, he wanted Alexander there. If his father knew something about this place, Ethan intended to find out exactly what it was. After nearly forty minutes, Adrian finally pointed toward a massive concrete structure hidden behind an overgrown fence. “That’s it.” Daniel slowed the vehicle. The building looked aband

Alexander stood completely still beneath the cold fluorescent light, staring at Ethan as though he were seeing his son for the first time.The recording had left no room for another explanation. Ethan had finally heard the truth in Alexander’s own voice, and there was nowhere left for either of them to hide behind half-truths.“Tell me everything,” Ethan said.His voice was quiet, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath it.Alexander swallowed.“I will.”Ethan shook his head.“Not the version you’ve been giving me. Not the version where you had no choice. I want everything.”Alexander looked down at the floor for several seconds before finally speaking.“The Order discovered your energy readings when you were still a baby. At first, they didn’t understand what they were seeing. Your body was rejecting energy differently from every other subject they’d studied. They thought you were defective. Then they realized you weren’t rejecting it.”Ethan’s expression tightened.“I was adaptin

“Then who?” Static interrupted the message. For several seconds, nothing could be heard. Then her voice returned. “Ethan…” Her voice trembled. “If you’re with Alexander, leave immediately.” Alexander stepped toward the speaker. “No.” His voice broke. “No, no…” Ethan stared at him. “Why?” Alexander looked at his son. “Because she knows what’s coming.” The lights suddenly went out. A violent metallic sound echoed from somewhere beneath them. Then another. And another. Something was moving through the facility. Fast. Adrian immediately activated his energy field. “Everyone get behind me.” Ethan didn’t move. He was staring at the speaker. His mother’s voice came through one final time. “Ethan, whatever happens next…” A pause. “Do not let them wake the Thirteenth Key.” The recording ended. For several seconds, nobody moved. Then the entire facility shook. A deep pulse of energy erupted beneath their feet. Ethan staggered. His vision blurred. Something ins

Ethan stared at the screen, unable to move.His mother’s words kept repeating in his mind.You were never supposed to be a child.You were supposed to be the first vessel.He slowly shook his head.“No.”Gabriel watched him without speaking.Ethan turned toward his father.“Tell me he’s lying.”Alexander’s face was pale.“Ethan—”“Tell me he’s lying!”His voice echoed through the facility.Alexander took a step toward him, but Ethan immediately moved back.“Don’t.”Alexander stopped.For several seconds, neither of them spoke.Then Ethan pointed at the document floating above Gabriel’s device.“What does primary subject mean?”Gabriel answered before Alexander could.“It means your parents believed they could prepare a human body to withstand the energy contained in the Keys. The Order had attempted it before, but every subject died or suffered irreversible damage.”He paused.“Your parents believed they had found a solution.”Ethan looked at the screen again.“And that solution was m

The service tunnel was barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Water dripped from the ceiling, and the air smelled of damp concrete and rust. Their footsteps echoed through the darkness as they hurried away from the facility. Daniel led the way, using a small flashlight to illuminate the uneven floor. Claire followed closely behind him, while Adrian kept checking the device in his hand. Ethan walked beside Alexander without saying a word. He could still hear his mother’s voice in his head. He doesn’t want to kill you. That’s what makes him dangerous. Ethan clenched his fists. “Who is Malcolm Voss?” Alexander glanced at him. “An Order director who believes everything can be justified if the results are valuable enough.” “That doesn’t tell me anything.” “Voss doesn’t believe in limits. He doesn’t care how many people suffer as long as he gets what he wants.” Ethan looked ahead. “And what does he want from me?” Alexander hesitated. “Control.” “Control over