Research Project

Research Project
Valentina lunged forward and caught herself on the desk as the room spun around her. Her veins felt like they were on fire. Whatever Marco had done to her—mixing her blood with Alexandra's—had changed something inside her.
"Miss Campo? Are you alright?" Professor Wilson asked, pausing his lesson.
The classroom came back into focus. Twenty pairs of eyes stared at her. Valentina straightened up, trying to look normal even though her hands were shaking.
"I'm fine," she lied. "Just dizzy for a second."
It had been three weeks since she and Alexandra had fled from Marco's lab. Three weeks of keeping the truth from everyone—even Alessio and Dante. Alexandra was still recovering at a safe house, but Valentina had insisted on going to college. She needed to keep her cover as Lucy Campo while investigating what had happened to them.
"As I was saying," Professor Wilson continued, "your final project will be an investigative piece on any campus issue. Dig deep, find something no one is talking about."
After class, Valentina grabbed her bag and rushed out. The headaches were getting worse, and she needed her pills. She bumped into someone, sending her notebook flying.
"Sorry!" she said, bending to pick it up. But the stranger had already grabbed it.
"Interesting notes," he said, flipping through pages of her study on university finances.
Valentina snatched the notebook back. "That's private."
The man smiled. He was young—maybe thirty—with glasses and a professor's tag that read "Dr. Ellis."
"Private research on our university's connection to Blackwood Industries?" he asked quietly. "That's quite a topic, Miss Campo. Or should I say, Miss Castello?"
Valentina's blood went cold. "Who are you?"
"Someone who knows what Marco did to you and Alexandra." He gave her a business card. "My office. Tonight at eight. Come alone."
Before she could reply, he walked away, disappearing into the crowd of students.

"It's obviously a trap," Alexandra said over the phone. Her voice still sounded weak.
Valentina paced her small apartment, looking at the business card. "But how does he know about us? About Marco?"
"That's exactly why you shouldn't go."
"But what if he has answers? About what's happening to us?"
Since the blood transfer, both women had experienced strange symptoms. Valentina's headaches. Alexandra's hot hands that sometimes melted plastic without her trying. They needed answers.
"At least tell Alessio," Alexandra begged.
"No," Valentina said strongly. "He and Dante are finally closing that big shipping deal. They can't be distracted." What she didn't say was that she wasn't sure who to trust anymore—not after learning her whole life had been built on lies.
"Fine. But I'm coming with you."
"You can barely stand."
"I'm stronger than I look," Alexandra declared. "Pick me up at seven."

The university was quiet that evening as Valentina and Alexandra walked through the empty halls. Alexandra looked pale but determined, her short hair tucked under a cap.
"His office should be down here," Valentina whispered, checking room numbers.
They found Dr. Ellis's door open, light spilling into the dark hallway. Inside, the walls were covered with newspaper clippings, photos, and red string linking them all.
"A conspiracy theorist?" Alexandra whispered.
"Not a theory when it's true." Dr. Ellis stepped in behind them, closing the door. "Thank you for coming."
Valentina positioned herself between him and Alexandra. "Start talking."
"My real name is James Reed Jr.," he said. "My father was helping your parents before he disappeared."
"Reed had a son?" Valentina asked, shocked.
"He didn't talk about me much. Safety reasons." James walked to his desk and opened a laptop. "I've been tracking university finances for years. Look."
He turned the screen toward them. Spreadsheets showed millions of dollars moving from Blackwood Industries to the university's research department.
"They're funding something called Project Phoenix," James stated. "Your father was investigating it before he disappeared."
"What is it?" Alexandra asked.
"Human enhancement. They're trying to create some kind of super-soldier using genetic modification."
Valentina felt sick. "Using our blood."
James nodded. "The Castellos and Blackwoods share a rare genetic marker. Separately, they're interesting. Combined..."
"They make people with burning hands and killer headaches?" Alexandra said dryly.
"That's just the beginning," James warned. "Marco's notes indicate the changes will accelerate. He was trying to replicate work your father sabotaged years ago."
Valentina leaned against the desk, her head hurting again. "So my parents went into hiding because they discovered this Project Phoenix?"
"And took half the research with them," James confirmed. "But there's more. The university president is deeply involved. Most of the board too."
Alexandra picked up a picture from the wall. "This is my dad—I mean, the man who raised me. With the university president."
"Edward Blackwood, your adoptive father," James said. "He's been the project's main funder for decades while pretending to be just a normal police officer."
"My whole life is a lie," Alexandra whispered.
Valentina took her hand. "Not our friendship."
James cleared his throat. "There's something else you should see." He wrote on his keyboard, pulling up student records. "Five students have disappeared in the past year. All with unusual genetic profiles, according to their medical records."
"They're experimenting on students?" Valentina felt anger building inside her.
"I think so. And according to this schedule, they have another 'acquisition' planned for tomorrow night."
Alexandra's eyes narrowed. "We need to stop them."
"How?" Valentina asked. "We can't exactly go to the police when Alexandra's dad is one of them."
James pulled out a small device. "With this. It's a tracker my father developed. We plant it on whoever is in charge of the 'acquisition' and follow them to where they're keeping the others."
Valentina nodded. "I'll do it. I have class with Professor Wilson tomorrow, and he's on your board list."
"It's dangerous," James warned.
"So is doing nothing," Valentina responded. "If they're experimenting on students, we need to stop them. Now."

The next day, Valentina sat in Professor Wilson's class, the tiny tracker hidden in her palm. She needed to get close enough to plant it without him noticing.
After class, she approached his desk with a fake question about the task. As they talked, she calmly leaned forward, dropping the tracker into his open bag.
"Thanks for the explanation," she said with a smile. "This project means a lot to me."
"What exactly are you investigating, Miss Campo?" Wilson asked, his eyes suddenly sharp.
"Just some irregularities in the campus budget," she said lightly. "Nothing exciting."
Wilson's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Be careful digging into things that don't concern you. Not all research projects are meant for public knowledge."
"I'll keep that in mind," she promised, heart pounding as she left the room.

That night, Valentina and Alexandra sat in James's car, watching the tracker's signal move across the campus map on his laptop.
"He's heading toward the science building," James said. "Specifically, the restricted research wing."
"Let's go," Valentina said, but James grabbed her arm.
"Wait. We need a plan. We can't just barge in."
"I have a plan," Alexandra said quietly. She held up her hand, which began to glow with heat. "I'm still figuring this out, but I can melt things when I concentrate."
Valentina stared at her. "That's not a plan. That's a way to get us all killed."
"You have a better idea?"
Before Valentina could answer, the laptop beeped. "Wilson's stopped moving," James said. "And look—three other signals are converging on his location. One of them is..."
"My father," Alexandra finished, looking at the name on the screen. "Edward Blackwood."
"We need to move now," Valentina urged. "Someone could be in danger."
They rushed across campus, staying in the shadows. The science building loomed ahead, most windows dark except for the third floor where Wilson's signal had stopped.
James used a keycard to get them inside. "Borrowed this from a janitor," he stated. "It won't get us into the restricted areas though."
"Leave that to me," Alexandra said, her hands beginning to glow again.
They crept up the stairs to the third floor. Through a small window in the door, they could see Wilson talking to three men—including Edward Blackwood and Marco.
"I told you she's getting suspicious," Wilson was saying. "The Campo girl has been asking questions about the budget."
"She's not just any girl," Marco answered. "She's Valentina Castello, and her blood is already changing. We need her back."
"And what about my daughter?" Edward asked. "You promised Alexandra would be safe."
Marco laughed. "Safe? She was never meant to be safe. She was designed to be a weapon. The final piece in Project Phoenix."
Valentina turned to Alexandra, whose face had gone white with shock. But before they could move, an alarm blared through the building.
"Intruder alert," a robotic voice stated. "Security protocols engaged."
"Run!" James yelled, but it was too late.
The door burst open. Marco stood there, smiling at them.
"Welcome back," he said. "We've been expecting you."
Behind him, Edward Blackwood stared at Alexandra with tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I thought I was protecting you."
Valentina grabbed Alexandra's hand, but security guards surrounded them. One raised a gun, firing a dart that hit Alexandra in the neck. She collapsed quickly.
"Alexandra!" Valentina screamed as guards grabbed her arms.
"Don't worry," Marco said, moving closer. "You'll be joining her soon. Project Phoenix is ready for phase two, and you two are the key ingredients."
He nodded to one of the guards, who raised a dart gun toward Valentina. But before he could fire, the lights suddenly went out, sending the hallway into darkness.
In the chaos, Valentina felt someone grab her arm. "This way," a familiar voice whispered.
"Dad?" she gasped as she was pulled through the darkness.