Chapter 14: The File.
They didn't stop until the sirens were far behind.
Ayo led. Yagazie followed.
The streets grew quieter the deeper they went. Older buildings. Fewer people. Less noise.
:Where are we going?" she asked.
"You mentioned files," Ayo said. "Hidden ones."
She looked at him. "You mean the archive?"
He nodded.
Yagazie sighed. "That place isn't public."
"Good," Ayo replied. "Then nobody's watching it."
The building stood behind a rusted gate.
It looked abandoned.
It wasn't.
Yagazie pushed the gate open. It creaked, but nothing else moved.
Inside felt… stale.
Dust. Paper. Metal.
"Stay close," she said.
They entered through a side door.
Dim light stretched across rows of cabinets.
Everything was organized.
Too organized.
Ayo scanned the room. "You've been here before?"
"Once," she said. "Didn't enjoy it."
She stopped at a locked cabinet and pulled out a small tool.
Click.
It opened.
Ayo raised a brow.
She didn't look at him. "Focus."
She flipped through folders quickly.
Then slowed.
Then stopped.
Her expression changed.
"What?" Ayo asked.
She pulled one file out slowly.
"This… shouldn't be here."
They moved to a table.
She opened it.
The title hit first.
PROJECT: SEVENTH FLAME
Ayo leaned in. "Keep going."
Photos.
Children.
Marked.
Some calm.
Some not.
Some… clearly gone.
Yagazie flipped another page.
Reports.
Failures.
Notes.
"Subject unstable."
"Energy spike."
"Terminate."
Her hand paused.
Last page.
She didn't speak.
Ayo noticed. "What is it?"
She turned the file toward him.
"Look."
He read it.
Once.
Then again.
Subject 7: Ayo Adewale
Status: Dormant
Silence.
Ayo closed the file slowly.
"They knew."
Yagazie nodded. "From the start."
He looked down.
"My whole life…"
He stopped there.
A soft sound broke the moment.
Footsteps.
Ayo turned first.
"Someone's here."
Yagazie frowned. "No one should be."
"Still," Ayo said.
The footsteps got closer.
Slow.
Confident.
They stopped.
A voice followed.
"You found it."
Ayo didn't move.
"Come out."
A man stepped into view.
Suit. Calm. Watching.
His eyes locked on Ayo.
"Do you know what you are?" he asked.
Ayo held the file tighter.
"I'm starting to."
The man nodded.
"Good."
A pause.
"Because we need you."
Yagazie stepped forward slightly. "And if he says no?"
The man looked at her briefly.
Then back at Ayo.
"Then this city won't survive what's coming."
Ayo's gaze hardened.
"Who are you?"
The man answered simply.
"The ones keeping this city together."
Ayo shook his head slightly.
"No."
A pause.
"You're the ones hiding the truth."
For the first time—
The man smiled.Same thing.