CHAPTER 35 — SUBJECT SEVEN
The man holding Rose wore a gray medical uniform.
His face was hidden behind a surgical mask.
Margaret raised her hands.
“I brought Claire and Lily.”
Rose looked at Margaret.
“You promised you were helping us.”
“I am.”
The masked man pushed the gun harder against Rose’s neck.
“Enter the elevator.”
Claire held Lily tightly.
Mason moved slightly to the left.
The man noticed.
“Your next movement will be his last.”
He pointed at Daniel, who was lying inside the elevator with his wounded shoulder bandaged.
Rebecca, Dana, Cole, and Olivia were also there.
They had been restrained.
Claire entered.
Mason followed.
The doors closed.
The elevator descended.
Rose looked at the glowing number above the door.
There were no floors, only letters.
A.
N.
C.
H.
O.
R.
“What is Anchor?” Claire asked.
Daniel answered.
“A child whose biology can activate the entire Gray Tide network.”
Olivia covered her stomach.
“My baby?”
Daniel nodded.
“The fetal-support system was never designed only to keep your child alive. It was designed to teach the child’s nervous system to communicate with their machines.”
Olivia stared at him with horror.
“You knew?”
“I discovered it too late.”
The elevator stopped.
The masked man ordered Rose to step forward.
She refused.
He struck her across the face.
Every light inside the elevator exploded.
In the darkness, Mason attacked.
Two gunshots thundered.
When the emergency lighting came on, the masked man was dead.
Margaret had been shot in the side.
Rose knelt beside her.
“You saved me.”
Margaret looked at Rose as though seeing her for the first time.
“I failed you once.”
“What are you talking about?”
Margaret pressed a bloody hand against Rose’s cheek.
“You were taken from me before Claire was born.”
Claire stared at them.
Rose stepped back.
“No.”
Margaret began losing consciousness.
“You are not a copy, Rose.”
She looked toward Claire.
“She is your sister.”
The elevator suddenly started moving again.
This time, it was descending automatically.
Daniel looked at the final letter glowing above them.
May you like
R.
“We’re going to the original Gray Tide facility.”
