THE BLACKLIST SYSTEM: REBIRTH OF NOAH VALE

CHAPTER 6 – THE FIRST DODGED BETRAYAL

"You should feel honored."

Noah looked up from his laptop.

Mark stood at his desk, hands in his pockets, wearing that same easy smile. Behind him, Linda hovered near the glass office, pretending to sort files while watching them.

"Honored by what?" Noah asked.

Mark leaned closer. "This project..of course. This is your fast track to senior lead. A once in a lifetime opportunity. "

Noah didn't answer.

"And it's also selective," Mark continued. "Only a few people got the offer."

Noah closed his laptop slowly. "Okayy….who's leading it?"

Mark hesitated. "Julian Cross."

The name hit Noah like a punch. The overlay flickered at the edge of his vision.

JULIAN CROSS

Status: Active Threat

Betrayal Index: 61%

Probability of Host Damage: High

Noah leaned back in his chair. "What's the project about?"

"Data migration," Mark said. "Sensitive stuff. Corporate partnerships. Big money."

Linda walked over. "It's a huge opportunity, Noah," she said. "We thought of you immediately."

Noah met her eyes. "Why?"

Linda smiled. "Because you're talented. One of our best."

The lie was so obvious. Noah felt disgusted to his core.

"Hmmm….No deadlines mentioned," Noah said. "No documentation. No written scope."

"It's confidential," Mark replied. "That's why it's important."

"And risky," Noah said.

Mark laughed. "You're overthinking it."

The system pulsed.

WARNING: PATTERN MATCH DETECTED

THIS PROJECT LED TO HOST TERMINATION IN PREVIOUS TIMELINE

Noah's fingers curled against the armrest.

In his first life, he'd said yes. Worked his ass out at nights. Was given full access. Taken the blame when things went wrong. When the numbers didn't add up, they'd pointed their fingers at him.

Fraud. Sabotage. Blacklist.

"Whats the deadline?" Noah asked.

"Two weeks," Linda said. "But we need you to start today."

"And access?" Noah asked.

Mark smiled wider. "Full backend."

Noah nodded once. "Right…..I'm not interested."

Shock.

Mark blinked hard. "What?"

"No," Noah said. "I won't be joining."

Linda's smile dropped. "Excuse me?"

"I said no."

Mark laughed. Sharp. Forced. "You're kidding, right?"

"I'm not kidding. I'm not interested in the project. I have lots of unfinished ones piled up. I can't take up another one"

Linda crossed her arms. "But…you don't even know all the details."

"I know enough."

Mark's voice dropped. "This isn't something you can just decline."

Noah smiled. "I just did. Why don't you handle the project yourself? Don't you want all the benefits that come with it."

“I'm….I'm busy. I have lots of projects too.” Mark stuttered.

Silence spread around them. A few coworkers pretended not to listen.

"You're throwing away a career move," Linda said quietly.

"I'm just choosing survival," Noah replied.

Mark scoffed. "Do not come crying later."

"I promise you, I won't. "

He picked up his jacket and walked past them.

Behind him, the system chimed.

ACTION REGISTERED

BETRAYAL AVOIDED

TIMELINE SHIFT IN PROGRESS

Noah didn't slow down.

"Are you serious right now?"

Sarah from accounting caught up with him near the elevator. "Everyone's talking about it."

"About what?" Noah asked.

"You're turning down Julian's project?" she said. "That's career suicide."

Noah pressed the elevator button. "Hmmm…so I've been told."

"You sure you're okay?" she asked. "You've been... different lately."

"I'm finally paying attention."

The elevator doors opened. Noah stepped in.

"Just be careful," Sarah said. "The higher ups don't like it when you say no."

The doors closed.

The system pulsed.

ALTERNATE HOST IDENTIFIED

PROJECT ASSIGNED TO: KEVIN HALE

A name Noah didn't recognize.

"Who's that?" Noah murmured.

The system didn't answer in words. Just gave him the knowledge.

Someone else would take the fall now.

The elevator dinged.

NEXT DAY

"Did you hear?"

Noah didn't look up from his coffee.

"About Julian's project," someone whispered nearby. "Auditors showed up this morning."

Noah's hand paused.

"What?" another voice asked.

"Yeah. Full review. Something about missing data trails."

Noah sipped his coffee. His heart was steady.

The system flickered.

PROJECT STATUS: UNSTABLE

His phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

"Smart move."

Noah typed back. "Who is this?"

The reply came slower.

"You dodged one bullet."

Noah's jaw tightened. "And stepped into another?"

Three dots appeared. Vanished.

"You're learning."

The message deleted itself.

The system pulsed.

PROJECT COLLAPSE IMMINENT

Noah leaned back in his chair.

"This is ridiculous."

Kevin Hale's voice was heard through the office later that afternoon.

"Noah," Linda called from her doorway. "Can you come here?"

Noah stood up and walked in.

Kevin stood by the desk. Pale. Sweating. "The numbers don't match," he said. "They're saying I altered files."

Linda's face was tight. "Did you?"

"No…why would i?" Kevin said. "I just followed the instructions."

Julian's voice came through the speakerphone. His voice was calm, distant. "We all have responsibilities."

Noah watched silently.

"This wasn't my project," Kevin said. "It was supposed to be Noah's."

Every eye turned to Noah.

"No,....don't look at me like that." Noah said. "I declined."

Linda glared. "If you'd taken it like we asked, this wouldn't be happening to Kevin."

"Or it would be happening to me," Noah replied.

Kevin swallowed. "They're auditing everything."

Julian spoke again. "We'll get through this."

The line went dead.

Kevin's shoulders slumped. "They're blaming me."

Linda sighed. "We'll review your involvement."

Kevin looked at Noah. "You knew, didn't you?"

Noah held his gaze. "I knew enough to walk away."

Kevin stared at him, disappointment filling his eyes. "And you let me walk into it."

Noah's jaw tightened. "I tried to survive."

"By sacrificing me?"

Noah didn't answer. Because Kevin was right.

The system pulsed.

PROJECT STATUS: FAILED

PRIMARY BLAME ASSIGNED TO: KEVIN HALE

REWARD: +10 LIFE POINTS. UNLOCK NEW ABILITIES."

LIFE POINTS: 100/100

Kevin sank into the chair.

Noah turned and walked out.

By evening, the office buzzed with rumors.

Compliance investigations. Frozen accounts. Legal notices.

Noah packed his bag.

The system chimed.

HOST NAME CLEARED FROM ALL ASSOCIATED RECORDS

Relief hit him. Then guilt.

Someone else was burning instead.

His phone buzzed.

Mark.

"You think you're clever," Mark said.

"I don't understand what you mean by that." Noah replied.

"This isn't over," Mark warned.

"It never is," Noah said and hung up.

The overlay flashed.

NEW NAMES DETECTED

The list expanded.

Three unfamiliar names appeared beneath the others.

Noah stared at them.

"So that's the price," he whispered.

The system gave him the knowledge. Cold. Certain.

Every threat he avoided created new ones. The timeline shifted. New variables. New dangers.

Noah exhaled slowly.

"Fine."

The timer flickered.

DANGER WINDOW: 1 DAY, 18 HOURS

Noah grabbed his bag and headed for the exit.

He didn't smile.

But for the first time since coming back, he didn't feel hunted.

He'd dodged the first betrayal.

And now the game has truly begun.