CHAPTER 2: THE FIRST CRACK IN THE LIE
Panic spreads slower than realization.
At first, they thought it was a malfunction.
Then the security feeds went dark.
Then the phones stopped working.
A billionaire slammed his tablet.
“No signal!”
A politician shouted, “This is illegal imprisonment!”
I turned slightly.
“No,” I corrected.
“This is containment.”
The heir tried to laugh again, but it came out broken.
“You’re bluffing. You can’t control this building.”
I tilted my head.
“I’m not controlling it.”
A pause.
May you like
“I designed it.”
That was the first silence that felt real.
