Jayden froze.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpPNLvo0aE
His eyes locked onto the figure imprisoned behind a cold, steel wall that had slowly peeled open almost mockingly, like it was welcoming him into a nightmare. There was no doubt. The man inside, blood trailing down from his eyes like tears, his body a living map of pain and old wounds... was Elliot Crowe.
Jayden’s brother.
The brother he'd believed to be dead for seven long years.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbxs1DjHmL
Elliot’s past was riddled with darkness: a soldier, an elite interrogator, and eventually, a suspect in the massacre of fellow soldiers during a black ops mission the government had buried. Jayden had been assigned to investigate that very case had signed off on the official report that Elliot had taken his own life.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1t9JYdCie4
But now… staring into those hollow eyes, that truth began to shatter.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPap03Ticbn
“How… how are you here?!”
Jayden shouted, lunging toward the steel barrier with bare hands, desperate to reach him.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXRvU9d9in
Before he could get close, The Host’s voice rumbled from above, smooth and cold as ever:
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAU2QPRavH1
“This is not a reunion. It is a reminder of what you chose to forget… and what you chose to bury.”
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRF6Xqiq2m
The ceiling lights flared on, revealing a massive chamber. Jayden spun around.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2u4A0onK2
More prisoners were being dragged into the room people who had vanished off the grid. One of them was Naomi Vasquez, the journalist who had chased after the truth behind The Chosen Eye, a secret society linked to countless disappearances. Two others were former inmates ghosts from Jayden’s past investigations.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywLiEUWfBZ
Rhea stepped beside him.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXkmVSETNx
“Your brother’s not the only ghost in this place.”
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdUW8dzPWc
Meanwhile, Ezra was bent over a hand-built device made from scraps of copper and wire. With it, he’d gained a brief tap into one of the compound’s interior feeds. What he found made the air freeze.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VqHCpoH36
A grainy surveillance clip. Jayden… in conversation with a hooded figure. The audio was low, but clear enough.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MB9XJ4n5u
“If Elliot talks, we’re all exposed. Make sure the file disappears. Burn everything.”
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZKBhf4sPp
Jayden staggered back.
His voice. Clear as day. But… he had no memory of ever saying those words.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp78gClaqiR
“That’s... impossible.”
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLh5RVsi4S
Dr. Lena Mbeki’s eyes met Jayden’s. Her gaze held no accusation just understanding.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQIEwVYem8
“This place isn’t a prison. It’s a mirror. And it’s showing you the version of yourself you tried to erase.”
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy1HuTZEeU
Suddenly, a steel door groaned open.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukYMCDUukV
The same door that had been sealed with a crimson warning:
“Do Not Open Unless Ready.”
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qnvZehqKO
Everyone stood still.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu68djRS9ON
And then… the voice returned.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOxmt0pbsP
“One of you knows the truth about why Elliot was buried. Open the door, and the price will be betrayal.”
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGoz5oatu1
Jayden stepped forward.
Rhea placed a hand on his shoulder.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodw7c1AUbO
“Are you sure? What if this is exactly what they want?”
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFTjeBgkoT
He glanced at the camera embedded in the top corner of the room.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnv9diRVVQl
“I need to know… if I’m the villain in my own story.”
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0zv5qeKYO
Jayden turned the handle.
The door creaked open revealing a room flooded with screens. Footage, images, and recordings looped relentlessly.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9LxocwE27
They showed Jayden. Rhea. And the man behind the mask -The Host discussing something called “the final protocol of silence.”
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJd8Sh226A
Then, Jayden’s voice again calm, resolved:
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6bedwmWs4
“They won’t stop until we destroy each other. If silence is the only way… then let it be eternal.”
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBJJVC8Vmw
Jayden collapsed to his knees.
His face pale. His breathing shallow.
Tears sliding down as his voice cracked:
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7aHH57cWr
“What did I become…?”
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJqMZ8TiC9
Elsewhere, inside the dark cell, Elliot opened his eyes.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sXE7nLsqC
He looked straight into the camera and whispe
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6xakFWIf9
red, for the first time:
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn8nekVrn9
“Jayden… you put me here.”
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7xieMrZtS
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrz6OpQOpq
🩸 To Be Continued...
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKf1tbzcD9
and then Add to home screen.