Sophia couldn't move.
She read the name again. Then again.
Hoping that somehow the letters would rearrange themselves.
They didn't. The name remained exactly where it was. Her fingers tightened around the edge of the file.
"No..."
The archive suddenly felt too quiet.
She looked over her shoulder.
Nothing. Only endless shelves disappearing into the darkness.
Sophia lowered her eyes to the page.
The record was old. Official government paper.
Stamped. Signed. Verified.
There was no obvious reason to doubt it.
Yet she wanted to. Desperately.
Because the person listed beneath her recruitment information was someone she had trusted for years. Someone who had helped guide her career. Someone who had encouraged her when she wanted to quit medicine. Someone who had always told her to be careful about powerful people. Someone she never imagined could be connected to the Council.
Dr. Helena Mercer.
Her former mentor.
Sophia's breathing became shallow.
