Chapter 118 Chapter 118

Chapter 118 Chapter 118
The bunker was cold. Not from the ice outside but from something else.

Helena sat in her chair at the far end of the room. Her fingers were tapping on the armrest. Her eyes were fixed on Evelyn. Her jaw was tight. The tapping was the only sound in the room. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Evelyn stood in the center of the room with her arms wrapped around herself. She didn't look up. Her shoulders were shaking.

"Say it again," Helena said. Her voice was low. Controlled.

Evelyn's head stayed down. "M-m-mother…" Her voice came out shaky and the words were barely audible.

"SAY IT AGAIN!!!" Helena raised her voice.

Evelyn looked up. Her eyes were red. "I helped them."

"You helped them destroy everything that I have built all these years! Is that it?"

"I helped them stop you." Evelyn's voice was quavering.

Helena stood up. Her chair scraped against the floor. The sound was loud in the silence.

"You destroyed everything I built," Helena said. Her voice was rising. Her hands were shaking.

Evelyn's arms dropped to her sides. "You built a prison."

"I BUILT A DAMN FUTURE! FOR YOU! FOR US!"

"You built a cage mother."

Helena walked toward her. Her steps were slow but heavy. "I gave people hope. I gave them purpose."

Evelyn laughed. It was bitter. "You gave them lies."

Helena stopped in front of her. "Is that what you call it? I gave them life."

"That's death. You kill one to save one. That's not a life. Can't you see?"

Helena's hand shot out. She slapped Evelyn across the face. The sound echoed off the metal walls.

Evelyn stumbled back. Her hand went to her cheek. Her eyes were wet.

"Don't you dare," Helena said. Her voice was shaking.

Evelyn's hand dropped. Her face was red from the slap. But her eyes were hard. "No. I'm done being weak."

"You betrayed me."

"I saved you."

Helena laughed. It was cold. Hollow. "You saved me? You destroyed everything you silly girl."

"No, Mother. I saved you from yourself."

Helena stared at her. Her chest was heaving. Her hands were unsteady.

"You don't know what you've done," Helena said. Her voice came low and sharp.

"I know exactly what I've done."

"You've killed thousands."

" And I've freed millions."

Helena stepped back. "The investors are dying. The clones are dying. Everyone is dying."

"They're dying because of you. Because of what you built."

Helena shook her head. "They were going to live forever with all things being equal."

"They were going to steal people and take their lives. Become gods."

"It's better than dying like a chicken."

Evelyn stepped closer. Her voice was quiet. "I'd rather die than become you."

Helena's face went pale. Her hand twitched. "Don't you dare…"

"You made this world. You made these rules. And now they're coming down on us. All of them."

Helena stared at her. Her eyes were wet. "I gave you everything. I loved you. I was going to give you the world Evelyn. I could swear I would…die for you."

"You gave me nothing."

"I gave you life."

"You gave me a cage."

Helena's face crumpled. Her hands went to her face. "Get out," she whispered.

Evelyn didn't move. "Mother…"

"Get out!"

Evelyn looked at her for a long moment. Her lip trembled. Then she turned and walked to the door. Her steps were slow. Heavy.

The door opened. She stepped through.

The door closed behind her.

The room was silent.

Helena stood in the middle of the room. Her hands were still shaking. Her eyes were still wet.

She walked to the window. She looked outside at the ice. At the white.

She had built this. All of this. The therapy. The clones. The investors. The bodies. The said future.

And now it was all falling apart.

Her hands pressed against the glass. Her forehead followed. Her breath fogged the window.

"Evelyn," she whispered. "Why?"

She didn't hear the door open. She didn't hear the footsteps. But she felt the cold air rush in.

"You called?" Jax's voice.

Helena turned slowly. Her face was pale. Her eyes were red.

Jax stepped inside. Elena was behind him. Rina behind her. Caiman behind Rina.

The room was dim. The lights flickered.

Helena walked back to her chair. She sat down heavily. Her hands were on her knees. Her fingers were trembling.

"You came," she said with a sad voice.

"You asked," Jax said.

"I lied. I didn't take the therapy."

"I can see that."

Helena looked up at him. "Then why are you here?"

"Because you're not done lying yet."

Helena stared at him. Then she laughed. It was hollow and tired.

"You always could see through me," she said.

Elena stepped forward. "Why did you call us here?"

Helena looked at her. At the one family member who had been hunting her for years.

"To watch," Helena said.

"Watch what?" Elene shrugged.

"The end."

Caiman's voice was low. "The end of what?"

"Everything." Helena gestured around the room. "This. All of it. The therapy. The clones. The investors. It's over. They're dying. And I wanted you to see it."

Rina's hand was on her knife. "You wanted us to see you lose."

"I wanted you to see what you've done."

Elena stepped closer. "We did what we had to do." Her voice was firm.

Helena laughed a cold laugh. "You did what you thought was right. There's a difference."

"What's the difference?"

"Right is what works. What you thought was right is just what made you feel better."

Elena's jaw tightened. "You don't get to lecture me about right and wrong."

"I'm not lecturing. I'm explaining."

Evelyn stepped out of the shadows. Her face was still red. Her eyes were still wet.

"Mother. Stop."

Helena turned to her. "You don't get to tell me to stop."

"You're not dying. You're not weak. You're just afraid."

Helena's face went pale. "I'm not afraid of anything."

"You're afraid of losing. Of being nothing. Of dying alone."

Helena stared at her. Her hands were shaking.

"That's why you did this," Evelyn said. "All of it. The therapy. The clones. The investors. You were afraid of being forgotten."

Helena's voice dropped. "I made the world better."

"No. You made the world yours."

Evelyn walked closer. Her boots echoed on the metal floor.

"You made the therapy. You made the clones. You made the investors. You made all of this. And now it's falling apart. And you're standing here, blaming everyone else."

Helena stood up. Her legs were shaking. "I'm not blaming anyone."

"Yes, you are. You're blaming me. You're blaming them. You're blaming everyone except yourself."

Helena slapped her again.

Evelyn didn't stumble this time. She took the hit. Her head turned. But she turned back. Her eyes were steady.

"Hit me again," Evelyn said. "It won't change anything."

Helena's hand was still raised. Her breath was fast. Her eyes were wet.

"I don't know who you are anymore," Helena said. Her voice broke.

"I'm your daughter. The one you never saw."

Helena's hand dropped. Her shoulders sagged. She sat back down.

"The investors are in Antarctica," Evelyn said. Her voice was quiet. Tired. "A backup facility. Twelve of them. In cryo. Waiting for new bodies."

“EVELYN! SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

Evelyn turned to her mother and said, “No mother. Stop protecting it. It's over.”

Jax moved closer to evelyn. "Where exactly?"

Helena shook her head. "I'll tell you. But you have to promise me something."

Jax waited.

"Don't kill her." Helena looked at Evelyn. "She did what she thought was right. Even if it was wrong."

Jax looked at Evelyn. At her red cheek. At her wet eyes.

"I won't kill her," Jax said.

Helena shook her head

Evelyn continued. "The facility is under the ice. East of the Transantarctic Mountains. You'll need coordinates. I'll give them to you."

She reached into her pocket and brought out a small drive. She held it out.

Jax took it.

"This doesn't change anything," Elena said.

Evelyn looked at her. "I know."

Jax turned to look at Evelyn. "Your daughter helped us. That doesn't make you innocent."

"I'm not innocent. I'm just tired."

Rina stepped forward. "Tired of what?"

"Fighting. Lying. Running." Helena looked at her hands. "I spent my whole life trying to stay alive. And now I'm not sure I want to anymore."

Evelyn moved to stand in front of her. "Mother."

Helena looked up.

"You have to keep going."

"Why?"

"Because I'm still here. I will protect you."

Helena stared at her daughter. Her eyes were wet.

"I don't know if I can," she whispered. “I have done a lot of things. And I might still do more.”

“What do you mean?” Caiman said with a questioning look. “Look, the reason you aren't dead is because of your daughter. You are not so smart. Copy that?”

Jax turned to Elena. "We should go."

Elena nodded.

They walked to the exit.

Elena went first. Caiman next. Rina followed.

Jax was last.

He paused at the door and felt the urge to look back.

Helena was still sitting in the chair. Evelyn was standing next to her.

They didn't look up.

Jax stepped through.

Then he heard it.

The click of a gun.

He turned.

Helena was pointing a pistol at them. Her hand was shaking. Her eyes were wide. Her face was wet.

"You think you can just walk away?" Her voice was loud. Broken.

Jax's hand moved to his holster.

"You think I'll let you destroy everything I built?"

Her finger tightened on the trigger.

Jax drew his gun.

He fired quickly at her.

The shot echoed off the ice.

The bullet hit the wall beside Helena's head.

She stumbled back. Her gun fell. Her hands went to her face.

Jax lowered his weapon. His breathing was heavy. His hand was shaking.

"Don't follow us," he said.

Helena stared at him. Her hands were shaking. Her eyes were wet.

“I kept my promise. Evelyn. But I don't think it will count outside her. Don't let her follow us there,” Jax said.

Tears gathered around Evelyn's eyes. “Thank you.”

Jax turned and walked out.

The door closed behind him.

The wind was cold. The ice was white.

And somewhere in the frozen wasteland, the investors were waiting for backup unknown of this ordeal.

But Jax's hand was still shaking from the opposite reaction of the gun.