Chapter One Hundred Sixty

Chapter One Hundred Sixty
Dante's POV
The Colorado facility was hidden in the mountains. Remote. Defensible. Smart location for someone paranoid about discovery.
We approached from three directions. Beck's team from the east. Grey's from the west. Evelyn and I from the south. Twenty people total. Not enough if things went wrong. But all we had.
"Sarah's in position," Marcus said through comms. "She's accessed the main computer. Ready to sabotage on your signal."
"Copy. We breach in two minutes."
The facility was quiet. Too quiet. Either their security was elsewhere, or they were waiting for us.
"I don't like this," Beck said.
"Neither do I. But we're committed."
We moved closer. No alarms. No guards. Nothing.
"It's definitely a trap," Grey said.
"Then we spring it carefully." I signaled advance.
We breached simultaneously from three sides. Still no resistance. The facility seemed empty.
"Where is everyone?" Evelyn asked.
"Basement level," Sarah's voice came through. "The experiment is underground. Everyone's there."
"Can you reach the main computer?"
"I'm there now. But Dante—there's a problem. The test subjects. There's fifteen of them. And they're all children."
My blood ran cold. "Children?"
"Ages eight to fourteen. Castellan's experimenting on kids. Trying to force timeline manipulation during critical development stages."
"That monster." Evelyn's voice was pure fury.
"I'm sabotaging the experiment now. But you need to get down here. These kids need immediate medical attention."
We found the stairs. Descended into hell.
The basement was a nightmare. Rows of medical equipment. Children strapped to tables with electrodes attached. Screens showing brain activity. And in the center, Dr. Castellan himself.
"You're too late," he said calmly. "The synchronization is nearly complete. In five minutes, these children will become the world's first collective timeline manipulator. A hive mind capable of reshaping reality itself."
"You're insane." I moved toward the nearest child. A girl, maybe ten years old. Conscious but glazed. Her mind was being ripped apart.
"I'm visionary. The Restoration wanted to eliminate timeline manipulators. I'm creating them. Perfecting them." Castellan smiled. "These children will usher in a new era. Reality shaped by conscious will instead of chance."
"By enslaving children. By destroying their minds." Evelyn was freeing another child. "You're not a visionary. You're a monster."
"History will judge me differently."
"History won't remember you at all." Sarah stepped from behind a computer console. "Because I just crashed your entire system. The synchronization is failing. And in thirty seconds, every backup you have will be corrupted."
Castellan's face went white. "What have you done?"
"Exactly what you deserve."
He lunged for a control panel. I shot the panel first. Sparks flew. The equipment started shutting down.
"No! You don't understand! This was humanity's chance to control fate itself!"
"Fate shouldn't be controlled. That's the whole point." I grabbed him. Slammed him against the wall. "You're done. Prometheus is done. And every child here is going free."
Security finally arrived. But they were too late. Beck's team engaged them in the corridors. Grey's people were freeing the children. The experiment was over.
Castellan laughed. Even beaten, he laughed. "You think this ends anything? The research is backed up. Other scientists have it. Prometheus is bigger than me. Bigger than you."
"Then we'll fight them all." I handed him to Beck. "Lock him up. I'll deal with him later."
We evacuated the children. All fifteen were alive but damaged. Victoria would have her work cut out for her.
The facility was destroyed by our explosives. Castellan's research consumed in flames. Another Prometheus lab gone.
But he'd been right. This didn't end anything. Just delayed it.
"How many more?" Evelyn asked as we drove away.
"More what?"
"More facilities. More scientists. More fights."
"I don't know. As many as it takes."
She was quiet for a long time. "I'm tired, Dante. So tired of fighting."
"I know. Me too."
"Our children are growing up without us. We're always running. Always fighting. When does it end?"
"When we make it end. When we build something strong enough that people like Castellan can't threaten it."
"And how do we do that?"
"By not giving up. By keeping these children safe. By making sure every victim gets justice." I looked at her. "By being better than them. Every single day."
She leaned against me. "Sometimes I wish I'd never been given a second chance. That Kelly had just killed me. Then none of this would be my responsibility."
"Don't say that. Please don't say that."
"I'm sorry. I'm just exhausted."
"I know. But Evelyn—you didn't ask for this fight. But you're the only one strong enough to win it. These people, these children—they need you. I need you."
"You're stronger than me."
"No. I'm more brutal. There's a difference. You're the one who keeps us human. Who reminds us what we're fighting for." I kissed her head. "Don't give up. Not now. Not ever."
"I'll try."
"That's all I ask."
We drove through the night. Behind us, another facility burned. Ahead, more battles waited.
But we'd face them. Together.
Because that's what survivors did.
They survived. No matter what.