CHAPTER 7: The Greatest Betrayal of Harrison's Life
The footsteps grew louder.
Slow.
Steady.
Unhurried.
Every member of Harrison's team raised their weapons.
The shadow stepped into the flashing red light.
Agent Maya gasped.
"It... it can't be..."
Harrison stood frozen.
The man walking toward them was General Thomas Walker.
For twenty-five years, Walker had been Harrison's closest friend.
They had served together.
Saved each other's lives.
Their families spent holidays together.
When Harrison's wife died, Walker was the one who stood beside him at the funeral.
Harrison had trusted him more than anyone alive.
Walker smiled sadly.
"I was hoping you'd never find this place."
Silence filled the underground vault.
Finally, Harrison spoke.
"You founded it?"
Walker slowly shook his head.
"No."
"I inherited it."
The countdown echoed through the vault.
08:43...
08:42...
Walker calmly walked past the tactical team.
No fear.
No hesitation.
He placed his hand gently on the golden frame surrounding William Carter's photograph.
"Carter recruited me thirty years ago."
"He told me governments change..."
"...but power should never belong to elected officials."
Maya shouted,
"You murdered innocent people!"
Walker looked at her without emotion.
"No."
"I sacrificed a few..."
"...to control millions."
Harrison could barely breathe.
"Everything we've been through..."
"Our friendship..."
"Our missions..."
"Were they all lies?"
For the first time...
Walker looked genuinely hurt.
"No."
"My friendship with you was real."
"That's why I begged them not to kill you."
Harrison stared at him in disbelief.
"The cabin..."
Walker nodded.
"I delayed the snipers by four minutes."
"I knew you'd escape."
Maya whispered,
"You saved his life..."
Walker smiled bitterly.
"And that was the biggest mistake I've ever made."
Suddenly...
The emergency lights switched from red...
...to bright white.
The countdown stopped.
A hidden elevator silently descended from the ceiling.
The doors opened.
Inside stood six heavily armed men wearing identical black suits.
No insignias.
No flags.
No names.
Their leader stepped forward.
He ignored Harrison completely.
Instead...
He looked directly at General Walker.
"The Council has reached its decision."
Walker frowned.
"What decision?"
The man answered coldly.
"You've become emotionally compromised."
"You allowed Harrison to survive."
"You've failed the organization."
Before Walker could react—
BANG!
A suppressed gunshot echoed through the vault.
Walker staggered backward.
Blood spread across his white shirt.
The assassins hadn't come for Harrison.
They had come...
To execute Walker.
The General collapsed to his knees.
Harrison instinctively rushed toward his old friend.
Walker grabbed Harrison's arm with surprising strength.
His voice was barely audible.
"Listen carefully..."
"There isn't one organization..."
"There are twelve."
"Twelve Councils..."
"Across the world."
"This airport..."
"...was only one piece."
He coughed violently.
Blood covered his hand.
Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small silver coin engraved with a strange symbol.
"The person leading them..."
"You already know."
Harrison frowned.
"Who?"
Walker looked him directly in the eyes.
Tears formed for the first time.
"The President's..."
Before he could finish—
Another suppressed shot rang out.
Walker's head fell forward.
He was gone.
The assassins turned their weapons toward Harrison.
Their leader smiled.
"Now..."
"There's no one left to protect you."
At that exact moment, Ethan shouted from across the vault.
"Harrison!"
"I found another exit!"
But before anyone could move...
The lights went out again.
And a calm female voice echoed through the darkness.
"Authorization accepted."
"Welcome back... Director Harrison."
Harrison froze.
He had never heard that voice before.
Yet somehow...
May you like
The underground system recognized him as its true director.
TO BE CONTINUED...
