The air between them was thick with unspoken words. Evelyn remained still in Theo's arms, her heart hammering against her ribs as remnants of her fragmented memories flickered in her mind. The feeling of his embrace, the warmth of his presence—she had felt it before.
A past long buried beneath layers of forgotten time was slowly unraveling.
Theo's voice broke through the silence, rough and hesitant. "Evelyn… what did you see?"
She inhaled sharply, stepping back to meet his gaze. "A lab. Someone was holding my hand. And you—" Her throat tightened. "You promised to find me."
Theo's jaw tensed. "I saw blood."
Evelyn swallowed. "Yours?"
His silence was answer enough.
She exhaled shakily, trying to make sense of it all. "Dr. Reed said this would open doors. But if what we saw is real… then why were our memories erased?"
Theo's hands curled into fists. "Someone didn't want us to remember."
A chilling thought settled between them.
"Then we need to find out who," Evelyn whispered.
---
A Lead in the Darkness
The next morning, Evelyn and Theo sat across from Dr. Reed, their expressions grim.
"We remembered things," Theo stated flatly.
Dr. Reed didn't look surprised. "Then the treatment is working."
Evelyn placed her palms on the desk. "Tell us what happened to us. No more half-truths."
Dr. Reed sighed. "I told you before—I wasn't the one who erased your memories. But I did try to preserve what little I could."
Evelyn frowned. "What does that mean?"
Dr. Reed slid a file toward them. "There was an accident years ago. One that was never reported."
Theo's fingers twitched as he reached for the file. He flipped it open, scanning the words.
Evelyn leaned in, her pulse spiking.
Subjects: Evelyn Carter. Theo Bennett.
Status: Experiment incomplete.
Memory modification: Executed.
Her breath caught. "Experiment?"
Dr. Reed hesitated. "You were part of something bigger. Something… dangerous."
Theo's gaze sharpened. "Who was behind it?"
Dr. Reed's lips pressed into a thin line. "You already know the answer."
Evelyn and Theo exchanged glances.
Grayson Industries.
The corporation that ruled over medical advancements. The same company that Evelyn's father once worked for before his sudden death.
Her blood turned to ice.
"My father," she whispered. "He was involved, wasn't he?"
Dr. Reed's expression softened. "He tried to protect you."
Theo's voice was deadly quiet. "And my family?"
Dr. Reed hesitated. "You weren't supposed to survive."
Evelyn's stomach twisted. The weight of the truth crashed over her.
They had been targets.
And now, the people who had stolen their past… would come for them again.
---
The Hunt Begins
Evelyn and Theo stood outside the clinic, the sun casting long shadows at their feet.
"What now?" Evelyn murmured.
Theo's gaze was dark, unreadable. "We go to Grayson Industries."
Evelyn's breath hitched. "That's suicide."
His expression didn't change. "Then we do it carefully."
Evelyn hesitated, then nodded. "We do it together."
Theo's lips quirked ever so slightly. "Always."
And with that, their hunt for the truth began.
---
End of Chapter 7