Chapter 81 - THE FIRST ORDER
The message remained on my screen.
WELCOME, DIRECTOR REED.
NOW DECIDE WHO LIVES.
I read it twice.
Then a third time.
My hands were still shaking from what had just happened, but I forced myself to look at the people around me.
Noah was safe.
Elena was holding him tightly.
Clara was speaking quietly with the police officers who had arrived at the underground garage.
Julian stood several feet away.
His shirt was torn from the struggle with Lucas.
There was blood on his cheek.
But he wasn't looking at Lucas.
He was looking at me.
At the document.
At the signature.
My father slowly stepped closer.
“Emily,” he said, “don't touch anything else.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because we don't know what the system will do now that you've been recognized.”
“What system?”
He didn't answer.
That frightened me more than anything else.
My phone vibrated again.
A black screen appeared.
Then three names.
LUCAS REED.
ARTHUR VOSS.
VICTORIA HALE.
Beside each name was a red symbol.
Then a sentence appeared.
ONE MUST BE REMOVED BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
I stared at the screen.
“Removed?”
Elena's face went pale.
She knew exactly what it meant.
“It doesn't necessarily mean killed,” she whispered.
I looked at her.
“What does it mean?”
“It means stripped of protection.”
Julian stepped closer.
“Protection from what?”
Elena looked at him.
“The Circle.”
The police officers were still outside.
They had no idea what we were dealing with.
My father lowered his voice.
“Emily, don't choose anyone.”
The phone vibrated again.
CHOOSE.
I looked at Noah.
He was watching me.
His face was frightened, but his eyes were steady.
Then he whispered:
“Mom, don't let them make you like Dad.”
I froze.
Julian heard him.
His expression collapsed.
For the first time that night, he looked ashamed.
I looked back at the screen.
Then I pressed one name.
ARTHUR VOSS.
The screen went black.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then a final message appeared.
FIRST ORDER ACCEPTED.
I expected something terrible.
Instead, Julian's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“What happened?”
He listened.
Then slowly lowered the phone.
“Arthur Voss just resigned from every position he holds.”
Elena stared at me.
I hadn't killed anyone.
May you like
I had taken away power.
And somehow that felt more dangerous.
