Silence filled the mansion.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Dangerous.
Emily felt as if the entire world had stopped moving.
Dr. Adrian Voss's words echoed in her mind again and again.
"The experiment worked."
"You are the most powerful weapon we've ever created."
Her hands trembled slightly.
"That's not true," she whispered.
But even as she said it, the strange memories flashing in her mind told a different story.
Alexander stepped forward, placing himself between Emily and Voss.
His voice was cold enough to freeze the air.
"You've said enough."
Voss tilted his head slightly, studying him.
"Ah… the protective husband."
Alexander's eyes darkened.
"Leave. Now."
Voss chuckled softly.
"You still don't understand the situation, do you?"
Daniel stepped closer as well, clearly on edge.
"You broke into the wrong house tonight."
But Voss didn't look worried.
Not even a little.
Instead, he looked amused.
"As entertaining as this conversation is," he said calmly, "I didn't come here to fight."
Alexander crossed his arms.
"Then why are you here?"
Voss's gaze slowly shifted toward Emily again.
"To see my creation."
Emily's chest tightened.
"I'm not your creation!"
Voss smiled.
"That's what makes you so fascinating."
Suddenly—
Emily's head throbbed again.
Sharp pain shot through her skull.
She gasped and grabbed Alexander's arm.
"Emily?" he said quickly.
Her breathing became uneven.
Images began flashing violently in her mind.
A laboratory.
Bright lights.
Machines humming loudly.
A younger version of herself sitting in a chair.
Wires attached to her arms.
Doctors watching from behind glass.
And Dr. Adrian Voss standing in front of her.
"You're stronger than the others," he had said.
"You're the perfect subject."
Emily's heart pounded faster.
"No…" she whispered.
Alexander held her shoulders.
"What's happening?"
"I… I remember something," she said shakily.
Daniel leaned closer.
"What do you see?"
Emily closed her eyes tightly.
"The laboratory."
Her voice trembled.
"You kept testing me."
Voss nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Alexander's patience snapped.
He grabbed Voss by the collar again and slammed him against the wall.
"You experimented on a child."
Voss didn't resist.
Instead, he simply looked at Emily.
"You were never just a child."
Alexander's voice turned deadly.
"You're lucky I haven't broken your neck yet."
But Voss only laughed again.
"You're still misunderstanding something, Alexander Knight."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"She was never weak."
Emily suddenly felt another wave of pain surge through her body.
Her vision blurred.
The red emergency lights flickered violently.
Then something strange happened.
The glass chandelier hanging in the mansion hall began to shake.
At first it was subtle.
Barely noticeable.
But then—
Crack.
A thin line appeared across the glass.
Daniel looked up immediately.
"Did anyone touch that?"
Alexander frowned.
"No."
Crack.
Another fracture spread across the chandelier.
Emily's breathing grew faster.
Her hands clenched unconsciously.
Suddenly—
SMASH!
The chandelier exploded into hundreds of pieces.
Glass shattered across the marble floor.
Everyone froze.
Daniel stared in disbelief.
"What the hell just happened?"
Alexander looked down at Emily slowly.
Because he had noticed something.
When the chandelier shattered—
Emily's eyes had been glowing faintly.
Just for a second.
Dr. Voss smiled proudly.
"Ah."
Emily blinked, confused.
"What…?"
Voss clasped his hands together.
"The first sign."
Alexander's voice dropped dangerously.
"What did you do to her?"
Voss shook his head.
"I didn't do anything."
He nodded toward Emily.
"She did."
Emily stared at the broken glass scattered across the floor.
"I didn't touch anything."
Daniel frowned.
"You didn't have to."
Emily looked up.
"What does that mean?"
Voss stepped forward slowly.
"It means your abilities are finally waking up."
Alexander stepped in front of him again immediately.
"Stay away from her."
But Voss didn't stop talking.
"Emily, you've been suppressing your power for years."
Emily's heart raced.
"Power?"
"Yes."
His voice grew almost excited.
"The human brain is capable of extraordinary things."
Daniel crossed his arms.
"You're insane."
But Voss ignored him completely.
"Your mind can influence energy," he continued.
"Objects. Movement. Even destruction."
Emily felt fear spreading through her chest.
"That's impossible."
Voss smiled.
"Then how do you explain the chandelier?"
Emily didn't have an answer.
Alexander gently held her hand.
His voice softened slightly.
"Whatever he did to you… we'll fix it."
But Voss shook his head slowly.
"You can't fix perfection."
Then suddenly—
The mansion alarms started blaring again.
Even louder than before.
One of the guards rushed into the hall.
"Sir!"
Alexander turned sharply.
"What now?"
The guard looked terrified.
"There are multiple vehicles approaching the mansion."
Daniel's eyes widened.
"How many?"
"At least ten."
Emily's stomach dropped.
"Ten?"
The guard nodded.
"And they're all carrying the same symbol."
Dr. Voss smiled calmly.
"My colleagues have arrived."
Alexander's eyes turned ice cold.
"You brought an army to my house."
Voss shrugged lightly.
"You left me no choice."
Emily felt panic rising.
"What do they want?"
Voss looked directly at her.
"You."
Alexander immediately stepped in front of her again.
"They're not taking her."
But Voss's smile only widened.
"Oh…"
He glanced toward the mansion gates.
"…they're already inside."