Chapter 17: Deadly Proposals
Nadia sat at the edge of Declan's minimalist couch, legs crossed, hands calm. She held the envelope delicately, like it was nothing more than a love letter.
Elara didn't sit. She stood, arms crossed, eyes cold.
"Why are you really here?" Elara asked.
"To end the game," Nadia said simply.
Declan stood off to the side, gun holstered but unlocked. Watching.
Nadia opened the envelope slowly and slid out a single document. A contract.
Elara's breath hitched as she read the heading.
> PROJECT: OBLIVION
SUBJECT: E. VANCE
STATUS: INACTIVE – TO BE REACTIVATED UPON BREACH
Her name. Her real name. Elara Vance.
Nadia tapped the page. "This is what Damon didn't want you to see. It wasn't just about erasing you. You were the prototype."
"For what?" Elara demanded.
Nadia smiled thinly. "Memory engineering. Cognitive weaponry. Imagine turning someone into a loyal soldier—then wiping them clean when they're no longer useful."
Declan's voice was grim. "You're saying she was trained?"
"Conditioned," Nadia corrected. "But something went wrong. She started asking questions. Damon panicked. So they reset her and planted the crash."
Elara's knees weakened.
"Why tell me this now?" she whispered.
"Because Damon's moving the program overseas. You're not the only one. You were just the beginning."
Nadia leaned forward. "Help me take him down. I'll give you everything."
Elara studied her. "And what do you get?"
Nadia's smile vanished. "Revenge. He used me too."
A long silence passed.
Then Elara answered, steady and sure. "We're not
allies. But for now... we're on the same side."