Chapter 6: The Woman Behind The War
Nobody spoke after the screen went dark.
Not because there was nothing to say.
Because everyone was afraid of the same question.
Who was she?
Carter stared at the blank screen.
For the first time since he entered the command center, he looked human.
Not confident.
Not in control.
Afraid.
I noticed.
And that scared me more than anything.
“Carter.””
He didn’t respond.
I stepped closer.
“Who is she?””
His eyes moved to mine.
“You don’t want to know.””
“That’s not your decision.””
Voss grabbed my arm.
“Maya.””
I pulled away.
“No.””
My voice shook.
“No more secrets.””
The room became silent.
I looked at every person around me.
“Everyone here has been deciding what I can handle. What I should know. What I should believe.””
I pointed toward the screen.
“Three years of lies.””
Then toward Carter.
“A fake attack.””
Then toward Voss.
“A fake death.””
My voice broke.
“I’m done being the last person in the room to know the truth.””
Nobody argued.
Because they knew I was right.
Voss looked down.
Then he finally spoke.
“Her name is Dr. Evelyn Hayes.””
My body went completely still.
The name meant nothing.
But my reaction was strange.
Like some hidden part of me recognized it.
“Who is she?””
Voss looked at me.
“Your mother.””
The world stopped.
I laughed.
A small, broken laugh.
“No.””
“Maya—”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“My mother died when I was six.””
Voss didn’t look away.
“That’s what you were told.””
The room blurred.
I remembered the funeral.
The empty coffin.
The people telling me to be strong.
The years of believing I had lost my family.
“You’re lying.””
“I wish I was.””
I looked at Carter.
He didn’t deny it.
That was worse.
“What does my mother have to do with Black Horizon?””
Sarah answered quietly.
“Everything.””
She walked toward the screen.
“Dr. Evelyn Hayes created the original framework for the defense system.””
I stared at her.
“She built it?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Sarah hesitated.
“To prevent a war.””
That sounded impossible.
“Then why would she create something that could start one?””
Voss looked at the floor.
“Because she discovered people would always try to control it.””
I listened.
“Your mother created a system that could detect unauthorized commands.””
He pointed at the destroyed launch sequence.
“The red line wasn’t the weapon.””
I nodded slowly.
“It was a test.””
“Yes.””
“A test of who?””
Voss looked at me.
“Everyone.””
The answer chilled me.
“The system was designed to identify people willing to follow orders blindly.””
I thought about the countdown.
The pressure.
The fear.
“And I passed?””
“No.””
The word surprised me.
Voss stepped closer.
“You didn’t pass.””
He looked toward Carter.
“You broke the system.””
Carter’s expression darkened.
“And that’s why she’s dangerous.””
I turned.
“Why?””
“Because the system recognized you.””
Carter walked toward the screen.
“Your access wasn’t given to you.””
He pointed at my name.
“It was inherited.””
I felt dizzy.
“What does that mean?””
Before anyone could answer, the facility alarms changed.
Not red.
Blue.
A security color I had never seen before.
Reed looked at the control panel.
“That’s impossible.””
“What?””
He swallowed.
“Someone has taken command authority.””
Carter looked toward the door.
“Not someone.””
The lights dimmed.
The speakers activated.
A woman’s voice filled the room.
Older.
Calm.
Familiar.
“Maya.””
I froze.
I had never heard that voice before.
But somehow, I knew.
“Mom?””
Everyone looked at me.
The voice continued.
“I know this is confusing.””
Tears burned my eyes.
“How?””
A pause.
Then:
“Because I never stopped watching you.””
The screen turned on.
A woman appeared.
Silver hair.
Tired eyes.
A face I had only seen in old photographs.
My mother.
Alive.
She looked directly at the camera.
Directly at me.
“I’m sorry you had to find out this way.””
I couldn’t speak.
She continued.
“The people around you will tell you they protected you.””
The screen flickered.
“They will tell you they had no choice.””
Her expression hardened.
“But they all made the same mistake.””
A warning appeared behind her.
UNKNOWN LOCATION DETECTED.
My mother looked away from the camera.
Like someone had entered the room.
Then she whispered:
“Maya, listen carefully.””
Her voice became urgent.
“The person you trust most…”
The screen began breaking apart.
“…is the person who betrayed you first.””
The transmission cut.
Everyone turned toward each other.
Slowly.
Suspiciously.
Then the command center doors locked again.
A new message appeared.
IDENTIFY THE TRAITOR.
And underneath it, three names appeared.
MAYA HAYES.
DANIEL REED.
May you like
ELIAS VOSS.
Only one could leave alive.
