Chapter 10 - VictoriaThe address was abandoned.
At least, that was what the city records claimed.
An old theater stood between two demolished buildings on the edge of downtown.
Its sign had lost half its letters.
The doors were chained.
Windows were broken.
No electricity.
No cameras.
No security.
Marcus looked at Ethan.
"She's here?"
"She likes places nobody remembers."
They entered.
Dust covered the lobby.
Old posters hung from cracked walls.
A single light glowed on the stage.
Marcus stepped forward.
"Victoria?"
Nothing.
Then a woman's voice came from the balcony.
"You look like him."
Marcus looked up.
A woman stood behind the railing.
She was in her early thirties.
Dark hair.
Blue eyes.
A scar beneath her left eyebrow.
Marcus's heart stopped.
The resemblance to his father was unmistakable.
But there was something else.
She looked like him too.
His sister.
Victoria descended the stairs slowly.
She stopped six feet away.
Marcus stared at her.
"I didn't know you existed."
"I know."
"Why?"
"Because your father wanted it that way."
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Where have you been?"
"Running."
"From him?"
"From everyone."
Victoria looked at Ethan.
"You brought him."
Ethan nodded.
"I had to."
Victoria looked back at Marcus.
"Do you know why Richard chose you?"
Marcus shook his head.
"Because you were obedient."
Marcus laughed.
"That isn't me."
"It wasn't supposed to be."
Victoria walked toward the stage.
"When we were children, Father tested us."
Marcus followed.
"What kind of tests?"
"Psychological."
She stopped.
"He wanted to know which child could survive pressure without breaking."
Marcus looked at her.
"And you?"
"I broke."
"How?"
Victoria smiled sadly.
"I refused to kill someone."
Marcus froze.
"Who?"
"Our mother."
Silence.
Marcus stared at her.
"My mother?"
Victoria nodded.
"She knew too much."
"Is she dead?"
Victoria looked away.
"I don't know."
Marcus stepped closer.
"Tell me everything."
Victoria studied him.
"You still trust your brother."
Marcus glanced at Ethan.
"I don't know anymore."
"Good."
Victoria pulled a small metal drive from her pocket.
"Because this contains the truth."
Marcus reached for it.
Victoria pulled it back.
"But there's a price."
"What?"
"You have to stop trying to save the empire."
Marcus frowned.
"I want my children."
"Then let the empire burn."
Marcus didn't hesitate.
"Deal."
Victoria handed him the drive.
The theater lights suddenly came alive.
A projector clicked on.
A video appeared.
Richard Blackwell.
Twenty-five years younger.
Standing in the same room as Victoria.
"Victoria," he said.
The young girl on the screen stared at him.
"You have two choices."
Young Victoria remained silent.
"You can become my successor."
Richard stepped closer.
"Or you can disappear."
The video changed.
A younger Marcus appeared.
He was about ten years old.
Standing outside a room.
Watching through a window.
Victoria was inside.
She was crying.
Marcus looked at Ethan.
"I remember this."
Ethan nodded.
"You were never supposed to."
The video continued.
Richard entered the room.
He handed Victoria a syringe.
Marcus's face hardened.
"What is that?"
Victoria whispered:
"The test."
On the screen, Richard pointed toward a restrained man.
"Kill him."
Young Victoria shook her head.
"No."
Richard turned.
"Then your brother will."
Young Marcus appeared on the screen.
His father opened the door.
Marcus looked at Victoria.
Then at the man.
Then back at his father.
He dropped the weapon.
The video ended.
Marcus stood frozen.
Victoria looked at him.
"That was the day Father realized you couldn't be controlled."
Marcus stared.
"I don't remember."
"He erased it."
"How?"
"Drugs. Hypnosis. Years of conditioning."
Marcus felt sick.
"Why did I never remember?"
"Because forgetting was part of the design."
Ethan suddenly raised his weapon.
"Down!"
The theater windows exploded.
Snipers.
Victoria pulled Marcus behind the stage.
Thorne returned fire.
Daniel crawled toward the exit.
"How did they find us?"
Victoria looked at Marcus.
"They didn't."
"What?"
"They found me."
She smiled bitterly.
"Which means they were already watching."
Marcus looked at Ethan.
"You said this place was safe."
"It was."
Victoria shook her head.
"Nothing is safe anymore."
She opened a hidden door beneath the stage.
"Move."
May you like
They disappeared underground.
Behind them, the theater erupted in flames.
