CHAPTER 84 — MIRIAM’S VOTE
Miriam surveyed the destroyed tanks.
“You always wanted a young body, Father.”
Silas, trapped in the aging Claire copy, lunged toward her.
Miriam fired into his chest.
The artificial body collapsed.
Silas’s voice continued through the speakers.
“You cannot kill me.”
“No,” Miriam said. “But I can inherit you.”
She placed her hand on the administrator panel.
The shutdown reversed.
Olivia screamed as the baby’s heartbeat synchronized with the machine again.
Claire aimed at Miriam.
“Finish the shutdown.”
“Give me the registry.”
Sarah struggled to stand.
“You already have it.”
Miriam held up an empty cover.
Sarah had removed the living pages before the lighthouse.
The real registry was hidden beneath Lily’s clothes.
Claire understood why Sarah had given Lily the ring and held her so tightly on the train.
Miriam followed Claire’s eyes.
“Lily.”
Lily backed away.
Miriam pressed her gun against the president’s head.
“The book, or your country loses its elected leader.”
The president spoke calmly.
“Do not trade.”
Miriam struck him.
Claire felt every person waiting for her decision.
One life against thousands listed in the registry.
Lily removed the pages herself.
“No one owns these children.”
She threw the registry into the transfer engine.
The pages caught fire.
Miriam screamed and fired.
Sarah pushed Lily aside.
The bullet struck Sarah in the chest.
Claire caught her.
Daniel reached the administrator panel.
The burning registry released biometric data into the system.
Names flashed across every screen.
The engine recognized thousands of stolen children simultaneously.
FINAL AUTHORIZATION DISTRIBUTED.
Across the world, Gray Tide facilities unlocked.
The transfer engine shut down.
Miriam stared at the burning pages.
“You released them without knowing what they are.”
Sarah struggled to breathe.
Claire pressed her hands against the wound.
“Stay with me.”
Sarah looked at Lily.
“Now she has two mothers who refuse to leave.”
Her eyes closed.
Claire shouted her name.
Rebecca checked her pulse.
Before she could answer, the facility alarms announced:
UNAUTHORIZED CONSCIOUSNESS TRANSFER COMPLETE.
Everyone turned toward Miriam.
Her eyes had changed.
May you like
Silas spoke through her.
“Thank you, Lily.”
