Chapter 84 Give them emma
Flora
"Get everyone to the safe room!" I shouted at Lily while explosions rocked the compound and people screamed in confusion.
I grabbed Emma's hand and pulled her close. "Stay with me no matter what."
"I can help," Emma said, her small face set with determination. "I can fight."
"You're eight years old," I said, pulling her toward the door. "You're not fighting anyone."
Rafael was already on his radio coordinating with security while more explosions echoed. Twenty guards against at least fifty Genesis Corp soldiers with military training and heavy weapons.
"We're outnumbered," Rafael said as he caught up. "We need to evacuate now."
"Where?" I asked.
"Better alive and homeless than dead," Rafael said grimly.
He was right and I hated it. Haven was everything we'd built and watching it burn felt like losing family.
"Lily, evacuate everyone through the north exit," I spoke into my radio. "Use the transport vans."
More explosions rocked the compound as Genesis Corp systematically destroyed our defenses.
"They're not trying to kill us," Rafael observed. "They want Emma alive."
"Then let's use that," I said. "Emma, can you do what Dr. Webb said? Make them sick?"
Emma nodded slowly. "I think so. But I need to be close."
"Get her to the east wall," I told Rafael. "Take guards and buy us time."
Rafael took Emma and three guards toward the fighting while I helped residents struggling. Subject L-034 was frozen with two small kids clinging to her legs.
"I've got them," I said, scooping up both children and carrying them toward the evacuation point.
We ran through smoke and debris while buildings collapsed. Haven was burning and everything we'd built was going up in flames.
My radio crackled. "Flora, Emma's doing it. The soldiers are dropping but there are too many. We need to retreat."
"Pull back," I ordered. "Meet at the north exit."
We converged at the evacuation point where vans were loading residents fast. People climbed over each other but no one was left behind.
"Where do we go?" L-056 asked with desperate eyes.
"We'll figure it out," I promised. "But right now we survive."
The last van was almost full when Genesis Corp soldiers broke through.
"There!" one shouted, pointing at Emma.
Emma raised her hands and the soldiers collapsed instantly, bleeding from their noses and mouths as they convulsed.
"Emma stop," I said sharply. "You're killing them."
"They're trying to kill us," Emma said, her eyes cold and distant. "Why should I show mercy?"
"Emma please," I said firmly.
Emma lowered her hands reluctantly and the soldiers stopped seizing though they remained unconscious.
"Get in the van," I told Emma, pushing her toward the vehicle.
Rafael and I were last to board as more soldiers poured through. As we drove away I looked back at Haven still burning. Engulfed in flames and destroyed.
We reached a safe house at dawn, an old warehouse that smelled of rust and neglect.
"This will have to do," I told everyone.
Emma approached me. "This is my fault."
"This isn't your fault," I said, kneeling. "Genesis Corp did this."
"But they came for me," Emma insisted.
"And they failed," I reminded her gently. "You're still safe."
Rafael pulled me aside. "Genesis Corp knew exactly where to hit us. Someone placed a tracker."
"Then we move again," I said.
"To where?" Rafael asked. "We can't keep running."
"Then we fight," I said. "We expose Genesis Corp and destroy them."
"How?" Rafael asked.
"With Dr. Webb's evidence," I said. "We release all of it and make it impossible for them to operate."
That afternoon I called a meeting with all one hundred and forty-three residents.
"We have a choice," I said. "We can hide or we can fight back and expose the people who did this."
"How do we fight them?" L-023 asked.
"With the truth," I said. "We tell the world who you are and what you are. It's dangerous but it's the only way."
The room fell silent.
Then Emma stood. "I'll do it. I'll tell my story."
"Emma you're eight," I said.
"I'm volunteering," Emma said firmly. "If my story can help I want to tell it."
One by one others stood. L-023 and L-056 and Lily.
"We're with you," Lily said.
That night Rafael and I started preparing. We contacted journalists and released Dr. Webb's evidence through multiple channels.
Within twenty-four hours the story broke everywhere. "Genesis Corp: The Secret Organization Creating Human Weapons" dominated headlines. Governments launched investigations.
Genesis Corp went completely silent.
"They're regrouping," Rafael said.
My phone rang. Unknown number.
"Flora," Dr. Webb's voice came through. "You exposed them."
"Where are you?" I asked.
"Safe for now," Webb said. "But Emma isn't the only one. There are five more children like her. Genesis Corp has them and now they'll use those children as leverage."
"Where are they?" I demanded.
"I don't know," Webb admitted. "But be careful. Genesis Corp doesn't forgive."
The line went dead.
I told Rafael everything.
"Five more children," Rafael said.
Before I could answer Emma appeared.
"I know where they are," Emma said quietly.
"What?" I asked.
"The other children," Emma said. "I can feel them. We're connected and I know where Genesis Corp is keeping them."
She drew a map from memory.
"Here," she said. "Underground facility and heavily guarded."
I looked at Rafael. "We have to get them."
"That's suicide," Rafael said.
"Or," Emma said quietly, "I go alone and trade myself for them."
"Absolutely not," I said.
That night my phone buzzed at three AM. Unknown number.
A video message.
Five children appeared on screen. Ages five to ten.
A distorted voice spoke. "Flora Marino. You've caused us problems. You have seventy-two hours to return Emma. If you comply we release these five children. If you don't we'll destroy every person in your safe house one by one starting with Rafael. You have seventy-two hours."
The video ended.
I stared in horror.
They knew where we were. They knew about Rafael.
And in seventy-two hours everyone I loved would die.
Unless I gave them Emma.