Tomas and Laura sat at the small kitchen table, surrounded by scattered documents stolen from NovaCure's archive room. Papers lay in uneven stacks, some folded, others marked with handwritten notes and faded stamps. The overhead light hummed softly, casting a pale glow over the mess.
Between them, two cups of coffee steamed gently—untouched.
The air felt thick, almost suffocating. It smelled of old paper, dust, and fear. The kind of fear that didn't scream but pressed slowly against the chest, making every breath heavier than the last.
They turned pages in silence.
Tomas read methodically, his posture rigid, his eyes sharp and focused. Laura scanned documents more unevenly, sometimes pausing too long on a paragraph, sometimes skipping ahead as if afraid of what she might find.
Finally, Tomas broke the silence.
"One thing is clear," he said quietly. His voice was steady, but there was an edge beneath it. "NovaCure is developing a drug that's engineered to be addictive. Not accidentally. On purpose."
He slid one document toward her and tapped it with his finger.
"They designed it to bind faster, stay longer, and create dependency within weeks. And the side effects…" He exhaled slowly. "Heart failure. Kidney damage. Neurological deterioration. It's all here."
Laura stared at the page. Her fingers trembled slightly as she traced a line of text.
"And they tested it on people," she whispered. "Illegally. Without consent. For years."
Her throat tightened.
"Was my mom just… another test subject?"
Tomas looked up at her. For the first time that night, the clinical focus in his eyes softened. He reached across the table and took her hand, his grip gentle but firm.
"No," he said. "She was more than that. She knew what was happening. And she tried to stop it."
Laura swallowed, nodding faintly, though tears welled in her eyes.
"They must have been afraid of her," Tomas continued. "Afraid of what she knew. Valentinas couldn't risk the truth getting out."
Laura closed her eyes, breathing in sharply.
"I forgot something," she said after a moment. "There's… there's one thing I still have from her."
Tomas looked at her.
"What is it?"
"A teddy bear," she said quietly. "She gave it to me when I was little. It's the only thing I never threw away."
Something in Tomas's expression changed.
"Can you show it to me?"
She hesitated, then nodded and stood. Her movements were slow, careful, as if the memory itself might break if handled too roughly.
From the bottom of her backpack, she pulled out a small gray teddy bear. The fabric was worn thin, one ear slightly misshapen. A faded red ribbon was tied loosely around its neck, the color nearly gone with age.
She placed it on the table.
Tomas picked it up gently, turning it in his hands.
"It looks ordinary," he murmured. "But… here."
He pressed lightly along the stitching near the back.
"This seam is thicker. Reinforced. Someone wanted it to hold."
Laura's eyes glistened.
"If there's something inside," she said, her voice shaking, "it matters more than the toy."
She reached for the scissors.
Her hands trembled as she cut carefully along the seam, afraid of damaging whatever might be hidden within. The fabric gave way with a soft tear.
Something fell onto the table.
A small plastic card.
And a folded note.
Laura picked up the note with shaking fingers and unfolded it.
She froze.
The first line stole the air from her lungs.
To my little Laura, from Mom.
A broken sound escaped her throat as she read.
Laura, if you are reading this, it means I'm no longer with you.
I hope you're safe, healthy, and happy.
Be careful with Valentinas, who may claim to be your uncle. He is a dangerous man.
I'm leaving you a card. It opens a BlueVeil Bank safe. Inside are documents proving NovaCure has been testing drugs with severe side effects on people. I was one of them.
Valentinas is responsible.
Jones and Melissa helped me collect the data. They were good doctors. They have a son your age. If you ever need help, go to them.
I couldn't use the documents myself. They were the only thing keeping you safe.
I'm sorry I won't see you grow up.
Be strong.
With love—Mom.
Laura couldn't finish reading aloud.
Her body folded inward as years of buried grief finally broke free. She sobbed violently, breath hitching, shoulders shaking as if the pain had been waiting for this moment all along.
Tomas moved instantly, pulling her into his arms. He held her tightly, one hand pressed against her back, the other cradling her head.
"It's okay," he whispered, though his own eyes burned. "You're not alone."
She clutched his shirt, crying until there was nothing left but shallow breaths and exhaustion.
"He will pay," Tomas said softly, his voice steady despite the wetness in it. "For everything he's done. I promise you."
Eventually, her sobs faded. She leaned into him, drained, empty.
"That's enough for today," Tomas murmured. "We're exhausted. Tomorrow, we decide what comes next."
She nodded weakly.
That night, they lay together in bed, holding onto each other as if the darkness might pull them apart. Sleep came in fragments, broken by thoughts neither of them could silence.
They listened to each other's breathing.
And both knew this was only the beginning.
Morning
Morning arrived gray and cold. Rain tapped steadily against the window, a quiet but relentless rhythm.
Neither of them had slept well.
Laura moved first, wrapping a sweater around herself.
"I'll make breakfast," she said softly.
Tomas nodded. "I'll be there in a minute."
They ate toast and drank coffee in silence. The food filled their stomachs, but did nothing for the weight pressing against their chests.
Laura set her cup down.
"Today we go to BlueVeil Bank."
Tomas looked at her.
"May I come with you?"
She gave a faint smile. "Of course. We're doing everything together."
His expression darkened.
"I think my parents' accident wasn't an accident," he said quietly.
Laura stiffened.
"You think Valentinas—"
"Yes," Tomas said. "If they helped collect data… they would've been a threat."
She reached for his hand. "We'll confirm everything once we see what's in the safe."
Rain followed them through the city.
At the bank, Laura presented the card. An employee escorted them down into the vault.
Her hand shook slightly as she inserted the card.
A soft click echoed.
The safe opened.
Inside was a thick folder—and a large envelope of cash.
They took everything and returned home.
At the table, Laura opened the folder.
Her breathing quickened.
Inside were logs of human experiments, medical records, dosage timelines, internal emails, bribes, distribution routes, and signatures of high-ranking officials.
"If this goes public," Tomas whispered, "they're finished."
"We need copies," Laura said. "We can't keep the originals here."
Tomas nodded. "You photograph everything. I'll make paper copies."
Before he left, Laura ran to him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Don't be long," she whispered.
"I'll be back," he said, kissing her forehead.
He stepped into the rain.
Same Time
Valentinas ended his phone call.
"We found him," the voice said. "He's alone."
Valentinas smiled slowly.
"Good," he said. "Follow him."
He turned toward the window as rain streaked the glass.
"I'm sending another team to the apartment."
The hunt had begun.