Geneva – League of Nations – November 16, 1937 – 11:22 AM
Claire tucked the envelope under her coat. The paper felt heavier than lead — or maybe it was the name printed inside that carried the real weight: CODENAME: MORNING TIDE – REACTIVATION.
Lorelei looked at Émile.
— "Those two in the hallway. Armed?"
— "Yes. And waiting for orders."
— "Then we don't have time for pleasantries."
—
Lower Hallway – 11:25 AM
As they exited the room, Claire saw the two men stop pretending.
One of them stepped forward.
— "Mademoiselle Vaillant. A moment, please."
Lorelei moved before a reply came.
She dropped the first man with a strike to the neck.
Émile pinned the second to the wall.
— "Discretion, right?" he said as the man slumped unconscious.
Solène was already running ahead.
— "Emergency exit, left!"
—
North Wing Archive – 11:31 AM
Alarms began to blare.
But they weren't triggered by Claire.
They were triggered by someone else.
A new group surged through side entrances. Men and women in civilian clothes — but with eyes that had seen war.
— "Protect the source!" one of them shouted.
Claire recognized the symbol on his coat: a rose split in two, navy blue.
— "They're the dissident group within the League," Lorelei whispered.
— "Since when do we have allies in here?"
— "Since truth stopped being theory… and became evidence."
—
Ruins of an old garden – 11:44 AM
The group fled down a path behind the League's headquarters. A car waited — unmarked, unquestioning.
Claire climbed in, still gripping the envelope.
She looked back.
Smoke was rising from one of the windows.
Lorelei smirked.
— "History's on fire."
Claire replied:
— "Then let's make sure it lights the way… not burns it all down."
—
Behind them, the world scrambled to erase what had already been seen.