Chapter 126: ASHES AND PROMISES

"Is that you, Ivanka?" Ethan's voice was hardly audible above a whisper.

I stepped across rubble and twisted metal and looked toward the sound. The base was in ruins after the blast. The air was heavy with dust and smoke curled from the walls.

"Ethan!" I hurried over to join him. His face was wounded and colorless as he lay crushed beneath a falling beam.

"You must leave this place." The beam was too heavy for me to lift. I searched for something that I could use as leverage.

"Go away, Ivanka. Keep yourself safe.

"No! I won't abandon you.

Using all of my strength, I managed to lift a metal rod just enough for Ethan to crawl out after wedgeing it beneath the beam. Despite his agonized groan, he was able to break free.

"Damian," he whispered. "Where is Damian?"

I gave a headshake. "I'm not sure. Since the blast, I have not seen him.

We called for Damian as we made our way carefully through the debris, but he didn't answer. Except for the sound of falling buildings, the base was strangely quiet.

A light on a console in one of the remaining rooms was flashing. I walked up to it out of curiosity and pushed a button.

A holographic representation of Damian emerged, his face solemn.

“If you’re seeing this, it means I’m gone. There are things you need to know, Ivanka. Ethan has been holding secrets from you. The ARIA code is not as simple as you may believe. A secret software exists that has the power to alter everything. Never put your trust in anyone. Find the truth.”

I was surprised when the communication abruptly stopped.

"What is he trying to say?" Ethan moved away from me, his face furrowed with shame.

"What's he talking about, Ethan?"

He said nothing.

"Ethan!" I yelled.

A huge crash reverberated throughout the compound before he could respond. Above us, the ceiling started to give way.

“Go!” Ethan shouted.

Dodging falling debris, we ran for the exit. The earth trembled severely as we approached the surface, and a huge explosion exploded behind us, sending us hurtling upward.

The world spun around me as I hit the ground hard. A guy appeared through the smoke as I stumbled to my feet.

Damian was the one.

But there was a problem.

His countenance was icy, and his eyes gleamed with an eerie brightness.

"Ivanka," he stated in an emotionless voice. "You need to know the truth now."

"Damian?" Though that didn't sound like him, I whispered. He had the same expression. He spoke in the same tone. However, something didn't feel right.

He took a step toward her. His eyes continued to shine as if they were filled with fire.

He said, "I waited." We don't have time now, though. You must accompany me.

I took a step back. I had trembling hands. "Where is Damian in real life?"

He cocked his head as if he was confused. "My name is Damian."

"No," I said. "You're unique. You're chilly.

He grinned. It wasn't a pleasant smile, though. It had a keen edge. similar to a knife.

"I recall you," he murmured. "You trailed me. You witnessed my conversation with Orion.

My heart fell. He was aware.

I blurted, "I didn't mean to spy." "I was afraid. I was unsure of whom to believe.

"You don't," he remarked. "And time is running out for you."

He withdrew a little black gadget from underneath his coat. It had the appearance of a remote.

"What is that?" I inquired.

He held it out and declared, "This will reveal the truth."

A button was pressed by him. There was a loud buzzing noise. Behind him, a black stairway leading far down was visible through a break in the earth.

He declared, "This base is nothing." "The secret is what's underneath it."

I turned around. Holding his side, Ethan remained on the ground. Once more, he was bleeding.

"Come," said Damian. "You have five seconds to make up your mind."

I said, "Wait—what's down there?"

He glanced at me. The radiance in his eyes flickered.

"Everything you were never told."

Without waiting, he turned and headed down the steps.

I turned to face Ethan. He was making an effort to sit up.

"Don't, Ivanka," he murmured feebly.

However, I was already on my feet.

I followed Damian down into the darkness, step by step.

Behind me, the door banged.

I was confined.

I noticed them at that point.

Not one.

Not two.

However, I'm standing in the dark with three additional people.

All of them turned simultaneously. bright eyes. Grinning.

I looked just like the three girls.

The same eyes. The same face. identical hair.

However, their grins weren't friendly.

Greetings, Ivanka, said one of them. Her voice seemed robotic and hollow, even if it was mine.

My heart pounded rapidly. My legs were weak.

There was no door behind me when I took a step back. It had vanished.

The left-hand girl approached. "We have been anticipating your arrival."

"Why?" I questioned, my voice trembling. "Who are you?"

The one in the center said, "Who are you?" "Better, though."

I shook my head, saying, "No." "I'm not you."

The third responded, "You're right." "You were destined to be with us."

I glanced at Damian. He was silent as he stood in the corner. observing.

I questioned him, "You planned this?"

He remained silent.

I clenched my fists. "Where is Damian in real life?"

At last, he said, "I am real." "Just a little different now."

I didn't think he was real. No more.

I could feel the breath of one of the females as she moved so near. "We have your thoughts, your memories, and your suffering."

I said, "I didn't ask for any of this."

"However, we did," she answered. "And we take over now."

A flash of red light appeared on the wall. A screen came on.

It showed Ethan typing something with his remaining strength while still in the lab.

The middle girl looked at the TV. Her grin dimmed.

She growled, "Ethan's waking the system."

"Which system?" I inquired.

However, nobody responded.

The surrounding walls started to tremble.

From above, a loud alarm shrieked.

Boom.

Raindrops of dust fell from the ceiling. Closer this time, something burst once more.

The screen then changed.

A timer appeared.

00:59–00:58

A countdown.

I let out a gasp. "What is that?"

Damian's eyes were wide as he replied, "Ethan triggered the last fail-safe."

"What is meant by that?"

"It means that if we don't stop it—" he began softly.

The earth shook under my feet.

"Everyone burns."