CHAPTER 8 — THE DIRECTOR'S GAME
The white gas poured from every ventilation duct.
Within seconds, the laboratory began disappearing behind a thick, ghostly haze.
"Cover your mouths!" Sarah shouted.
Everyone tore pieces from their clothing and pressed the fabric over their noses.
Sophia's expression turned deadly serious.
"It won't help for long."
Richard supported Emily as her legs weakened beneath her.
"We need another exit."
"There isn't one," Sophia answered.
"The Director designed this laboratory."
"He never leaves himself with only one plan."
The countdown continued.
03:07
03:06
Sarah inserted the flash drive into one of the surviving computers.
The screen flickered.
Password required.
"Damn it..."
Sophia pushed her aside.
"I know it."
Her fingers flew across the keyboard.
The files unlocked instantly.
Thousands of folders appeared.
Photographs.
Medical records.
Bank accounts.
Surveillance footage.
Sarah's heartbeat quickened.
"My God..."
There were hundreds of victims.
Children.
Adults.
Doctors.
Politicians.
Business executives.
Every one of them connected to Carter Biotech.
Richard's face turned white.
"My company..."
Sophia looked at him.
"Your company financed everything."
Richard stared at her.
"No."
"I never approved this."
"You didn't have to."
Sophia opened another folder.
AUTHORIZED SIGNATURES
Every payment carried Richard Carter's digital approval.
Richard shook his head violently.
"Those signatures are fake."
"I've never seen these documents."
Sophia nodded.
"I know."
"The Director controlled your financial network for years."
"He stole your identity."
Sarah suddenly froze.
"Wait..."
She opened another file.
It contained dozens of surveillance reports.
Every page had the same title.
SUBJECT: EMILY CARTER
Emily frowned.
"They were watching me?"
"Since you were fourteen," Sophia answered.
Richard could barely speak.
"Why?"
Sophia hesitated.
Then quietly said,
"Because Emily wasn't the target."
Everyone looked at her.
"You were."
Richard blinked.
"Me?"
Sophia nodded.
"The Director never wanted your money."
"He wanted your research."
Richard's memories came rushing back.
Twenty years earlier...
Carter Biotech had secretly developed an experimental neurological treatment capable of slowing human metabolism.
A project the government had shut down after ethical concerns.
Richard whispered,
"Project Lazarus..."
Sophia looked at him.
"So you do remember."
Sarah frowned.
"What is Project Lazarus?"
Richard closed his eyes.
"It was supposed to save lives."
"It could place trauma patients into temporary suspended animation."
Emily looked horrified.
"Like what happened to me..."
Richard nodded slowly.
"The drug made your body appear dead."
Sarah finally understood.
"They weren't trying to kill Emily."
"They were testing Lazarus."
Sophia's voice turned cold.
"They've been testing it for twenty years."
The room fell silent.
Emily looked at her father.
"You created this?"
Richard's face collapsed.
"No."
"I destroyed it."
"I burned every file."
Sophia shook her head.
"You burned the copies."
"The Director kept the originals."
The countdown continued.
01:58
Suddenly—
The laboratory speakers clicked on again.
A familiar voice echoed through the room.
"Excellent."
"You've finally remembered."
Richard clenched his fists.
"Come out!"
The Director laughed.
"I've been with you all along."
Every monitor switched to a live camera.
Not inside the laboratory.
Inside the Carter Mansion's grand foyer.
A lone man sat calmly in Richard's favorite leather chair.
His back faced the camera.
One hand rested on a black cane.
The other held a glass of whiskey.
"So many years, Richard."
The man slowly stood.
Still refusing to show his face.
"You spent decades searching for your enemies..."
"...without realizing..."
"...you invited me into your home."
Richard stared at the screen.
His breathing stopped.
"No..."
"It can't be..."
He recognized the cane.
Hand-carved walnut.
A silver wolf engraved on the handle.
There was only one person who owned it.
His oldest friend.
The man who had helped build Carter Biotech from nothing.
The person Richard trusted more than anyone outside his family.
William Hayes.
Richard whispered in disbelief,
"William..."
The man chuckled.
"Hello, old friend."
He finally turned toward the camera.
An elderly man.
Well dressed.
Warm smile.
Kind eyes.
The perfect grandfather.
Not the monster Richard had imagined.
William raised his glass.
"You've been chasing ghosts..."
"...while drinking coffee with the devil every Monday morning."
Richard felt his legs give out.
"You..."
"You were the Director?"
William smiled.
"No."
"I only work for him."
The smile slowly disappeared.
Then William looked directly into the camera and said the words that made everyone freeze.
"And he's standing beside you."
Every person in the laboratory instinctively turned.
Someone among them...
May you like
Was working for the Director.
END OF CHAPTER 8
