CHAPTER 70 — NO BODY
The explosion collapsed part of Saint Orison.
Claire shielded Lily as debris struck the train roof.
Mason pulled them through the hatch.
Rose and Iris searched the rear tunnel after the train stopped.
They found twisted metal and fire.
No body.
Lily stood beside the wreckage holding Sarah’s ring.
“She gave me this before I climbed out.”
Claire knelt and held her.
Sarah had spent years hunting them, threatening them, and manipulating them.
Yet she had saved Lily twice.
Four-B approached Daniel at the lower station.
“Sarah knew the emergency tunnel.”
Daniel looked toward the wreckage.
“You think she escaped?”
“She taught us that bodies are evidence. No body means no truth.”
Claire heard him.
Hope was dangerous, but she could not release it.
Ward’s agents finally reached Saint Orison.
They secured Miriam’s empty control room.
No trace of her remained.
Rebecca examined the main computer.
“Silas’s network went offline when Thomas died.”
Olivia touched her stomach.
“The baby feels normal.”
Rose remained uneasy.
“I can still hear something.”
Iris heard it too.
A low pulse beneath the building.
They followed it to a sealed archive room.
Inside were records of Gray Tide’s next phase.
Instead of replacing individual children, the program planned to replace entire families simultaneously.
Politicians.
Judges.
Military commanders.
Media owners.
The operation date was two weeks away.
Claire scanned the list.
One family had already been marked COMPLETE.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR HELEN WARD.
Claire looked at Ward.
Ward read the file herself.
“It says I was replaced at age eleven.”
Mason raised his weapon.
Ward slowly removed hers and placed it on the floor.
“I remember my childhood.”
Daniel answered quietly.
“So do I.”
Ward’s secure phone rang.
Her dead brother appeared again.
“Helen, do not let them test your blood.”
“Why?”
“Because you are the original.”
Ward looked relieved.
Then her brother continued.
“But Claire Bennett is not.”
May you like
The call ended.
Every agent in the room aimed at Claire.
