Evelyn sat across from Cole in the precinct’s interrogation room. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting stark shadows on the plain gray walls. She’d told him everything—about the lab, the victims, Vance’s confession. But now, with Vance in custody, a strange unease clung to her.
"You’re a hero, you know," Cole said, breaking the silence. "You stopped him. Saved lives."
Evelyn shook her head. "It doesn’t feel like it."
Cole leaned forward, his gaze steady. "What does it feel like?"
She hesitated, searching for the right words. "Like it isn’t over. Vance… he wasn’t working alone. There were files in that lab, Cole. Research that’s decades ahead of anything we’ve seen. He had funding, resources. Someone else was pulling the strings."
Cole’s expression darkened. "Do you have proof?"
"Not yet," she admitted. "But I need to find it."
Evelyn’s apartment was a maze of papers, photos, and sticky notes. Every surface was covered with pieces of the puzzle. She’d stolen a flash drive from Vance’s lab before the police arrived, and its contents were as chilling as they were incomplete. Names of potential subjects, encrypted emails, and references to a shadowy organization called The Mnemosyne Institute.
She’d spent days trying to decode the files, but the encryption was beyond her skill. Frustrated, she reached for her phone and dialed a number she hadn’t used in years.
"Evelyn Harper," a familiar voice answered. "Didn’t think I’d hear from you again."
"I need your help, Mia," Evelyn said. "It’s about the Vance case."
Mia Carter was a former hacker turned cybersecurity consultant. If anyone could crack the flash drive, it was her. After a moment of silence, Mia sighed. "Bring it over. But you owe me."
Mia’s apartment was a fortress of technology. Monitors filled the walls, each displaying lines of code or security feeds. She plugged the flash drive into her system and began typing at lightning speed.
"This encryption… it’s military-grade," Mia muttered, her brow furrowing. "Whoever Vance was working for, they’ve got serious backing."
Evelyn paced behind her, the tension in the room palpable. "Can you break it?"
"Of course I can," Mia replied with a smirk. "But it’s going to take time."
Hours passed, the hum of the computers the only sound. Finally, Mia leaned back in her chair, her expression grim. "Got it. But you’re not going to like this."
The decrypted files revealed a network of experiments spanning the globe. The Mnemosyne Institute was more than just a research organization; it was a front for an underground operation manipulating memories for profit. High-profile clients used their services to erase scandals, implant alibis, and create false histories.
And Evelyn’s name was on their list of subjects.
Evelyn stared at the screen, her heart pounding. "They… they targeted me? Why?"
Mia scrolled through the files, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "You were investigating them before your accident. Looks like you were close to exposing them. Vance wasn’t lying—you went to him willingly. But they used that opportunity to wipe everything you’d uncovered."
Evelyn’s hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the desk. "This wasn’t just an accident. It was planned."
"Exactly," Mia said. "And they’re still watching you."
As if on cue, one of Mia’s monitors lit up with an incoming alert. "Someone’s trying to access your files remotely," Mia said, her voice sharp. "They know we’re onto them."
Evelyn’s mind raced. "Can you trace it?"
Mia’s hands flew across the keyboard. "I’m trying. Whoever this is, they’re good. But I’m better."
The screen flickered, and a single message appeared: "STOP DIGGING."
Mia cursed under her breath. "They’ve got a ghost program running. It’s erasing the files as we speak."
"Can you save anything?" Evelyn demanded.
"Working on it!" Mia snapped. After a tense minute, she slammed her fist on the desk. "I got fragments. That’s all."
Evelyn leaned over her shoulder, scanning the fragments. One word stood out: "Helix."
Evelyn and Mia worked through the night, piecing together what little information they had. "Helix" appeared to be a codename for a high-level operative within the Mnemosyne Institute. They ran the name through every database they could access, but it was a dead end.
"Whoever Helix is, they’re off the grid," Mia said, rubbing her temples. "We need another lead."
Evelyn’s phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was a blocked number. She hesitated before answering.
"Ms. Harper," a distorted voice said. "You’re playing a dangerous game."
"Who is this?" Evelyn demanded, her pulse quickening.
"A friend," the voice replied. "If you want to know the truth, meet me at Pier 17. Midnight. Come alone."
The line went dead.
The pier was deserted, the sound of waves breaking against the dock the only noise in the still night. Evelyn’s breath formed clouds in the cold air as she waited. A figure emerged from the shadows, their face obscured by a hood.
"You have questions," the stranger said. "I have answers."
"Who are you?" Evelyn asked, her voice steady despite the fear creeping in.
"Someone who knows what they took from you," the figure replied. "And someone who knows how to get it back."
Evelyn stepped closer. "Why should I trust you?"
The figure pulled back their hood, revealing a familiar face. It was Nathan Carter—the latest victim of the Memory Thief.
"Because," Nathan said, his voice barely audible, "I remember everything."
Image Credit: Chat GPT
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