CHAPTER 5 — “The Code Hidden Under Lily’s Skin Changed Everything.”
“Run…”
Those were the last words Evelyn managed to whisper before alarms exploded throughout the ICU.
Doctors rushed into the room.
The mysterious men drew back, pretending to be ordinary visitors.
“Clear the room!” a nurse shouted.
Ethan didn't wait.
He scooped Lily into his arms and sprinted through the emergency exit.
Behind him, footsteps echoed down the stairwell.
"They're escaping!"
Lily buried her face in his shoulder.
"They'll never stop, Daddy."
Outside, rain poured over the city.
Ethan stole an old delivery van left idling near the loading dock.
As he sped away, three black SUVs emerged from the hospital parking garage.
They weren't chasing Evelyn.
They were chasing Lily.
Hours later, Ethan hid inside an abandoned lakeside cabin that had belonged to his late father.
The place had no internet.
No neighbors.
No cameras.
For the first time all day, Lily finally spoke.
"Daddy…"
"There’s something Mommy never told you."
Ethan knelt beside her.
"What is it?"
She slowly rolled up her sleeve.
On the inside of her tiny wrist was a faint silver mark.
At first, Ethan thought it was a birthmark.
Then it began glowing.
A soft blue light spread beneath her skin.
His blood froze.
"What is that?"
Lily looked frightened.
"They said it was my number."
Ethan carefully examined it.
The glowing lines formed a strange sequence.
S-17 // GENESIS
Before he could understand what it meant, an old radio sitting on the dusty shelf suddenly switched on by itself.
Static filled the room.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
"Ethan..."
It was Evelyn.
"If you're hearing this…"
"...they've already found the cabin."
May you like
Outside...
Headlights appeared through the trees.
