CHAPTER 8 — The Final Message Before Midnight
Chaos erupted.
Investigators rushed to contact the bomb squad.
Security cameras from Carter Global streamed onto a tablet.
Thousands of employees were still inside the skyscraper.
Ethan grabbed the device.
"Evacuate everyone. Now!"
Then Daniel appeared on every screen inside the building.
Calm.
Smiling.
"No one is leaving."
Employees looked around in panic.
Daniel continued,
"My brother spent years protecting a company."
"Tonight..."
"He'll decide whether to save strangers..."
"...or save his family."
Another screen lit up.
Lily.
Margaret.
Victoria.
Michael.
All four were suddenly surrounded by armed men outside the cabin.
It had been a trap from the beginning.
Daniel's voice echoed through the speakers.
"One helicopter."
"One destination."
"You cannot reach both in time."
Ethan's heart pounded.
If he flew to the city, his family would die.
If he stayed with Lily, thousands of innocent people could be trapped in the tower.
Every second mattered.
Then Lily quietly slipped her tiny hand into his.
She looked up with tear-filled eyes.
"Daddy..."
"You always told me heroes save everyone."
Those simple words changed everything.
Ethan suddenly smiled.
Not because he had accepted defeat...
But because he had finally seen the truth.
He picked up the old military radio from Michael's bag.
"You taught me well, Uncle."
Michael smiled back.
"You figured it out."
Ethan pressed the transmit button.
"Daniel..."
"I know you're listening."
"You've always believed I think one move ahead."
He paused.
"But you forgot who taught me."
At that exact moment...
Military helicopters thundered over both the mountain cabin and Carter Global Tower.
Elite tactical teams descended simultaneously from the sky.
Daniel's smile disappeared for the first time.
He whispered,
"That's impossible..."
Ethan looked directly into the nearest camera.
"No, Daniel."
"You planned for the businessman."
"You forgot the soldier."
But as commandos stormed the boardroom...
They found only an empty chair.
On the polished conference table sat a single black envelope addressed to Ethan.
Inside was one sentence written in Daniel's handwriting:
"If you're reading this... then Phase Two has already begun."
Far beneath New York City, in an underground control room filled with glowing monitors, Daniel watched every live feed.
He smiled.
Then pressed a red button labeled:
May you like
PROJECT PHOENIX.
To Be Continued...
