Chapter 97: Ghost from the Past

MIRA

I stared at my phone. My mother’s voice still echoing in my head.

“That was your mother?” Zane asked carefully.

“She said she was. But that’s impossible. She’s been dead for eighteen years.”

“Your father was supposed to be dead too. And he wasn’t.”

He had a point.

“I have to go. To the old house. She said one hour.”

“Absolutely not. It’s obviously a trap.”

“What if it’s not? What if she’s really alive?”

“Then she can come here. To neutral ground. Where we have security.”

But I was already getting in the car. “I need to know. Even if it is a trap.”

Zane grabbed my arm. “Then I’m coming with you.”

“She said come alone.”

“I don’t care what she said. I’m not letting you walk into danger by yourself.”

We compromised. Zane would come but stay hidden. Watch from a distance. If things went wrong, he’d intervene.

The old house was exactly as I remembered. Small. Run down. The place where I grew up before my mother supposedly died.

I walked to the front door. It was unlocked.

Inside, everything was dusty. Abandoned. Like no one had lived here in years.

“Hello?” I called out.

“Upstairs. In your old room.”

That voice. My mother’s voice. I’d know it anywhere.

I climbed the stairs slowly. Each step creaking. My heart pounding.

The door to my childhood bedroom was open.

A woman sat on my old bed. Back to me. Long dark hair. Exactly like I remembered.

She turned around.

It was her. My mother. Older. But definitely her.

“Hello, sweetheart.”

I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe.

“I know you have questions,” she continued. “I’ll answer all of them. But first, I need you to understand something. Everything I did, I did to protect you.”

“You let me think you were dead for eighteen years. How is that protection?”

“Because if The Collective knew I was alive, they’d have used me against you. Against your father. We all agreed it was safer this way.”

“We? You and dad planned this together?”

“Yes. The night I supposedly died, we faked it. Made it look real. Even to you. Especially to you.”

“Why?”

“Because children can’t lie convincingly. If you really believed I was dead, everyone else would too.” She stood up. Walked toward me. “I’ve been watching you your whole life. Every major moment. Your wedding. Your children’s births. Everything.”

“That’s creepy.”

“That’s motherhood. We watch. We protect. Even from the shadows.”

I wanted to hug her. Wanted to scream at her. Couldn’t decide which.

“Why reveal yourself now?”

“Because the game is changing. Dr. Chen is neutralized. Victoria is dead. Your father is dead. The old players are gone. New ones are emerging.”

“What new players?”

“Me. And others like me. People who’ve been waiting for the right moment to take control.”

My blood went cold. “You’re part of The Collective.”

“Not part of. I am The Collective. Or at least, the founding member. Everything that’s happened, I set in motion twenty years ago.”

“You’re lying.”

“Am I? Who do you think recruited your father? Who created the experiments that made Victoria and her sister? Who built the entire network?” She smiled. “I did. All of it.”

“Why?”

“Because powered individuals needed guidance. Protection. Structure. I created The Collective to provide that.”

“By hunting children?”

“By cataloging them. Knowing who they were. Where they were. So when the world turned against them, I could protect them.”

“That’s insane.”

“That’s pragmatic. Humans fear what they don’t understand. Eventually, they’ll turn on powered individuals. Hunt them. Kill them. I’m preparing for that day.”

“By becoming the thing they fear most?”

“By having the infrastructure in place to save them when the time comes.” She touched my face. “You were supposed to be part of this. You and your children. Leading the next generation.”

“I’ll never work with you.”

“You already have. Every choice you’ve made, I guided. Every ally you found, I placed. Even Zane. Do you think it was coincidence you met him?”

“Stop.”

“I introduced you. Through carefully orchestrated events. Made sure you’d fall for each other. Made sure you’d have powerful children together.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Don’t you? Think back. Every major event in your life. Every turning point. I was there. Pulling strings. Making sure things went exactly as planned.”

I felt sick. “What about Delilah? Kade? Was that you too?”

“Of course. I needed you betrayed. Needed you broken. So you’d be desperate enough to accept Zane’s proposal. Everything happened exactly as I designed.”

“You destroyed my life.”

“I built your life. Into exactly what it needed to be. A weapon. A leader. A mother to the most powerful children in existence.”

“They’re not weapons. They’re children.”

“They’re both. And soon, they’ll need to be soldiers. Because the war is coming. Humans against powered. And we need to be ready.”

“There is no war.”

“Not yet. But there will be. In five years. Maybe ten. And when it comes, I need you on the right side. My side.”

“Never.”

She sighed. “I was afraid you’d say that. Which is why I have insurance.”

She pulled out her phone. Showed me a video.

Luna and Sol. Playing in a room I didn’t recognize. Guards watching them.

“What did you do?”

“I took them. While Helen was evacuating everyone. My people grabbed them. They’re safe. For now.”

“Where are they?”

“Somewhere you’ll never find them. Unless you agree to help me.”

“This is kidnapping.”

“This is parenting. Sometimes we have to make hard choices for our children’s own good.”

I lunged at her. She moved faster than any human should. Caught my wrist. Twisted.

“Don’t make me hurt you, Mira. You’re my daughter. I love you. But I’ll do what’s necessary.”

“Let them go!”

“Agree to help me. Join The Collective. Take your place as my second in command.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then your twins disappear. Raised by my people. Trained to be soldiers. You’ll never see them again.”

Zane burst through the door. “Step away from her.”

My mother smiled. “Hello, Zane. Right on time. Tell me, did you enjoy being my puppet?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your entire relationship. I orchestrated it. Every meeting. Every conversation. Every moment of connection. I made sure you’d fall in love.”

“That’s not true.”

“Isn’t it? Tell me, why did you propose to Mira? Was it love? Or was it because you needed her politically? Because I made sure you needed her?”

Zane looked at me. Uncertainty in his eyes.

“Don’t listen to her,” I said. “She’s manipulating you.”

“Is she? Or am I finally telling you the truth?” My mother walked toward him. “I’ve been controlling both of you for years. Every choice you thought was yours, I suggested. Every path you took, I cleared. You’re not in love. You’re programmed to think you are.”

“That’s enough!” I screamed. “Where are my children?”

“Join me and I’ll tell you.”

“Never.”

“Then they’re lost to you forever.” She walked to the window. Looked out. “I’ll give you twenty-four hours. Decide. Join me or lose them. Your choice.”

She jumped out the window. Two stories down. Landed perfectly. Ran into the darkness.

Zane started to follow. I grabbed him.

“Let her go. She wants us to chase her. To split up.”

“But the twins…”

“Are wherever she’s hidden them. Chasing her won’t help.”

We stood there. In my childhood bedroom. Everything I thought I knew shattered.

“Do you think it’s true?” Zane asked quietly. “About us being manipulated?”

“I don’t know. Does it matter?”

“Of course it matters. If our entire relationship is fake…”

“It’s not fake. I love you. That’s real. Whether she manipulated events or not, what I feel is real.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I choose to believe it. Choose to believe in us.” I took his hand. “Don’t let her poison what we have.”

He pulled me close. “I love you too. No matter what she says.”

We left the house. Drove back to the palace.

Kade was waiting. With Delilah. Both looked worried.

“What happened?” Kade asked.

“My mother is alive. And she took Luna and Sol.”

Delilah gasped. “That’s impossible. We had them secured.”

“Apparently her people are everywhere. Better trained than we thought.”

“What does she want?”

“Me. To join The Collective. Take over as her second in command.”

“You can’t do that.”

“I know. But I also can’t lose my children.”

We gathered everyone. Helen. The remaining security. Allied pack members who’d helped with the raid.

“We need to find them,” I said. “Fast. Before my mother moves them somewhere we can’t reach.”

“Do we have any leads?” Helen asked.

“No. But my mother will contact me again. She wants me to agree. That gives us time.”

“How much time?”

“Twenty-four hours. Then she said they’re lost forever.”

Delilah spoke up. “I might know someone who can help. Someone who knows your mother. Who worked with her years ago.”

“Who?”

“My father. He was involved with The Collective before Marcus. Might have information about her operations.”

“Your father hasn’t spoken to you in years.”

“I know. But for this, he might make an exception.”

She made the call. Spoke quietly. Hung up.

“He’ll meet with us. Tonight. At his estate.”

We drove there. All of us. Safety in numbers.

Delilah’s father was old. Bitter. He looked at her with cold eyes.

“You bring shame to this family.”

“I know, Father. But I need your help.”

“Why should I help you?”

“Because children’s lives are at stake. And because you knew Mira’s mother. Worked with her.”

He was quiet for a long moment. “What do you want to know?”

“Where would she take hostages? Where are her secure locations?”

“She has dozens. All over the country. But her primary facility is in Alaska. Remote. Impossible to reach without her knowing.”

“Alaska,” I repeated. “That’s where they are?”

“If she wants them secure, yes. That’s where she’d go.”

“How do we get there?”

“You don’t. The facility is designed to be impenetrable. Guards. Technology. Natural barriers. You’d die trying.”

“I don’t care. Those are my children.”

He looked at me. Really looked at me. “You’re just like her, you know. Stubborn. Willing to risk everything for family.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“An observation.” He pulled out a map. Marked a location. “This is the facility. But I’m warning you, going there is suicide.”

“Then I’ll die trying.”

We left. Planned the trip. It would take two days to reach Alaska. Two days while my children were prisoners.

Kade and Delilah volunteered to come.

“You don’t have to do this,” I said.

“Yes, we do,” Delilah answered. “We’re family now. Family protects each other.”

Kade nodded. “Plus, you’ll need fighters. And we’re both tired of sitting on the sidelines.”

That night, while everyone prepared, I found them in the garden. Sitting close. His arm around her.

“I’m glad you two worked things out,” I said.

Delilah smiled. “Me too. I never thought I’d get this chance. To be with him. To be happy.”

“You deserve happiness.”

“Do I? After everything I did?”

“You’ve more than earned redemption. You fought for us. Risked your life.”

Kade kissed her head. “And I love her. Despite everything. Maybe because of everything.”

“That’s beautiful.”

“Or crazy,” Delilah laughed. “Probably both.”

They looked at each other. Something passing between them. Then Kade stood.

“We should rest. Long trip tomorrow.”

But Delilah pulled him back. Kissed him. Deep. Meaningful.

“I love you,” she whispered. “I know I don’t say it enough. But I do. More than anything.”

“I love you too. Always have. Always will.”

I left them alone. Gave them privacy.

The next morning, we left for Alaska. Seven of us. Me, Zane, Kade, Delilah, Helen, and two experienced fighters from allied packs.

The trip was brutal. Cold. Exhausting.

But we made it to the facility in thirty-six hours.

It was massive. Built into a mountain. Exactly as Delilah’s father described.

“How do we get in?” Zane asked.

“We don’t sneak in,” I said. “We knock on the front door.”

“That’s insane.”

“She’s expecting me anyway. Expecting me to agree or refuse. Let’s not disappoint.”

We walked to the main entrance. Guards everywhere.

“I’m here to see my mother. Tell her Mira is ready to talk.”

The guards radioed someone. Five minutes later, the doors opened.

My mother stood there. Smiling.

“I knew you’d come. Welcome home, sweetheart.”

“Where are my children?”

“Safe. Healthy. Waiting for you.” She gestured inside. “Come. Let’s talk properly. Without threats. Without lies. Just mother and daughter.”

I looked at Zane. He nodded.

We went inside.

The facility was incredible. State of the art. Comfortable. Not the prison I expected.

My mother led us to a conference room. Luna and Sol were there. Playing with toys. Unharmed.

“Mama!” They ran to me.

I held them. Checked them over. No injuries. No trauma.

“See?” My mother said. “I told you they were safe. I’m not a monster, Mira. I’m a mother. Just like you.”

“Mothers don’t kidnap their grandchildren.”

“Sometimes they do. When it’s the only way to get through to stubborn daughters.”

“What do you want from me?”

“I told you. Join me. Help me build a future where powered children are safe.”

“By controlling them.”

“By protecting them. There’s a difference.”

Before I could answer, alarms blared. Red lights flashing.

“What’s happening?” my mother demanded.

A guard burst in. “We’re under attack. Multiple entry points. Dozens of hostiles.”

“Who?”

“Unknown. But they’re well organized. Professional.”

My mother looked at me. “Did you bring backup?”

“No. I came with seven people. That’s all.”

“Then who…”

The door exploded inward. People in tactical gear flooded in.

Leading them was a face I never thought I’d see again.

Dr. Chen. Alive. Healed. And very, very angry.

“Hello, everyone. Miss me?”