Location: Safehouse – Vivek Dhiman's Recovery Room
The morning sun cast golden rays over the quiet room. Vashti sat beside her father, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest. His hand lay in hers, warm but unmoving. The sedatives were wearing off, but he wasn't fully conscious yet.
She whispered, "You kept fighting… so I will too. I'll destroy the system that broke you."
Behind her, Shabd stood by the window, his phone pressed to his ear.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "She's alive. The father too… but he's not talking yet. You were right—Dr. R wasn't working alone."
Vashti turned.
"Who were you talking to?"
Shabd hesitated for a second too long.
"My… cousin. He used to work for the Health Board. He's helping us gather proof."
Something in his tone made Vashti squint.
"You never told me you had family in the system."
He looked away. "Didn't think it mattered."
"Now it does," she said coldly.
---
Elsewhere – Central Medical Authority Headquarters
A hidden figure watched surveillance footage of the escape.
The voice behind the screen rasped, "Activate Project Seraph. Phase two begins now."
---
Back at the Safehouse – Later That Night
Miafel patched Vivek's wounds while Shabd worked silently at his laptop, analyzing the encrypted files they'd stolen from Dr. R's lab. Vashti sat beside him, her eyes darting across code she barely understood.
"This file," Shabd said, pointing, "is labeled SKULL PILL—Gen2. It's not a drug… It's an implant. Meant to control brain activity."
Vashti stared. "What the hell were they doing in that hospital?"
He scrolled further. "They tested it on soldiers. Then on patients. The final trial? Was supposed to be… you."
She froze.
"They were going to use me?"
"Yes," he whispered. "Because your brain has the highest compatibility with your father's neural patterns. They wanted to turn you into a weapon."
---
Suddenly – the laptop screen glitched.
A message flashed in blood-red letters:
> "You should've stayed buried. Next time, I won't miss."
Then it shut down completely.
Shabd slammed the lid shut.
Miafel's hands were shaking.
"We're not safe here."
Vashti's fists curled. "Then we take the fight to them. On our terms."
---
In the shadows outside the safehouse
A drone watched silently.
Transmitting live.
To someone wearing a black coat and a Health Board lanyard.
They zoomed in on Vashti's face.
"She's becoming dangerous," the voice said. "Just like him."