CHAPTER 6 – The File That Erased Her Entire Life
Amelia couldn't move.
The words echoed inside her mind.
"I never had a daughter."
Reporters shouted questions at Richard Carter, but he ignored them.
Before stepping into the armored vehicle, he looked directly into the camera.
"If Amelia is watching..."
"...don't open File 27."
The broadcast ended.
Nathan's face twisted with rage.
"No..."
"That's impossible."
"He wasn't supposed to surrender!"
For the first time since Amelia had met him, Nathan looked genuinely afraid.
Before anyone could react, police sirens screamed outside the warehouse.
Federal agents stormed the building.
Chaos erupted.
Gunshots echoed.
Nathan disappeared into the smoke.
When everything was over...
He was gone.
Only one thing remained behind.
A black steel briefcase.
Locked.
Inside was a single folder marked in red letters:
FILE 27
Amelia remembered her father's warning.
Don't open File 27.
But she couldn't walk away.
With trembling hands, she unlocked the case.
Inside were dozens of classified documents.
Birth certificates.
Hospital records.
DNA reports.
Old photographs.
And one envelope labeled:
FOR AMELIA ONLY
She slowly unfolded the letter.
If you're reading this... I failed to protect you.
Your real name isn't Amelia Carter.
You were never my daughter.
You were the only survivor of Project Phoenix.
Amelia's vision blurred.
Project... Phoenix?
She continued reading.
Twenty-six years ago, twelve newborn babies disappeared from the same hospital on the same night.
Eleven were found dead.
Only one survived.
That child was you.
Her hands shook uncontrollably.
Another photo slipped from the envelope.
It showed twelve newborn babies lying side by side in identical hospital cribs.
Eleven faces were marked with a red X.
Only one crib had a green circle.
Baby Number 12.
Written underneath was a name Amelia had never seen before.
Subject X-12
Attached was the DNA report.
Biological Parents: UNKNOWN
Genetic Match: NONE FOUND WORLDWIDE
Her breathing stopped.
None found...
Worldwide?
Suddenly, one of the federal agents grabbed the folder.
His face turned pale.
"We have to leave. Right now."
"Why?" Amelia asked.
The agent swallowed hard.
"Because this file isn't supposed to exist."
At that exact moment...
Every light in the warehouse went dark.
Emergency alarms blared.
A cold mechanical voice echoed through the building.
"PROJECT PHOENIX HAS BEEN REACTIVATED."
"SUBJECT X-12 LOCATED."
"ELIMINATION TEAM DEPLOYED."
Then...
A red laser dot appeared on Amelia's chest.
A second.
A third.
A fourth.
More than twenty sniper lasers surrounded her.
And through the darkness, a calm female voice echoed:
"Don't shoot."
"She's worth far more alive."
A tall woman stepped into the light wearing a black suit.
She smiled at Amelia.
"Hello, X-12."
"I'm your mother."
The warehouse fell silent.
But the woman delivered one final sentence that changed everything.
"And Richard Carter lied."
May you like
"He didn't save you..."
"He stole you."
