Chapter 9: The Unseen Threat

The screen flickered to life as Marcus cracked the encryption on the flash drive. Lines of data scrolled faster than I could read, but even at a glance, I could see enough to confirm our worst fears — files labeled "Project Helix", "Human Trials", and "Subject Termination Reports".

"Son of a…" Marcus muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the files.

Evelyn leaned in closer. "What’s Project Helix?"

Marcus’s fingers flew over the keyboard, opening file after file. Images of twisted bodies, grotesque mutations, and detailed medical reports flashed across the screen. My stomach turned as I realized what we were looking at — human experimentation.

"They’re creating something," Marcus finally said, his voice grim. "A biological weapon. Something that can be controlled, unleashed wherever they want."

Evelyn paled. "This is what Blackwell died for?"

I swallowed hard. "And now we’re holding the key to stopping it."

Marcus clicked on a video file. The image was grainy but clear enough. A man in a lab coat — one of Marrow’s top scientists, from the name tag — was speaking directly to the camera.

"Testing has exceeded expectations. Subject resilience is beyond what we thought possible. Deployment plans remain on schedule. Once the 'Seraphim Strain' is released, no one will be able to stop us."

The video ended abruptly, leaving a cold silence in its wake.

Evelyn was the first to speak. "Seraphim Strain? What the hell is that?"

"Whatever it is," Marcus said, sitting back, "it’s bad. Real bad. If they release this thing, cities will burn."

I felt my fists clench. "We need to stop it. Whatever it takes."

Marcus nodded slowly. "We will. But first, we need to know where and when. And for that, we need a direct line into Marrow’s inner circle."

"Any idea who?" I asked.

Marcus gave me a long look. "I might. There’s a fixer — name’s Voss. Used to run jobs for Marrow before they cut him loose. If anyone knows their play, it’s him."

"Where do we find him?" Evelyn asked.

Marcus stood up, grabbing a shotgun from a rack on the wall. "Last I heard, he was laying low in the undercity. Dangerous place. Full of people who’ll slit your throat for the right price."

I smirked. "Sounds like my kind of place."

Marcus shook his head. "You always were crazy, Damien. But if we’re going after Marrow, we’re gonna need a little crazy."

He tossed me a sidearm and handed Evelyn a compact SMG. "Suit up. We move in thirty."

As Evelyn checked her weapon, she glanced at me. "You sure about this? Going deeper into the hornet's nest?"

I met her gaze, my voice steady. "It’s the only way. If we don’t stop them, no one will."

Marcus watched us both for a moment before speaking. "You know, you’re not the same Damien I used to know. More fire. More... something."

I smirked, sliding a fresh mag into my pistol. "Maybe I’ve got something to fight for now."

With that, we loaded up and stepped out into the night. The city was alive around us, oblivious to the storm that was about to break.

But I wasn’t afraid. Not anymore. Because for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t alone.

And if Marrow wanted a war, I was ready to give them one.

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