Prologue
“You’re certain it’s happening this year?” a shadowed figure asked.
“Y-yes,” the scientist replied.
The figure muttered something under their breath. The scientist strained to hear, all the while trying to work the power suppressor loose from his wrist. If he could remove it, he could turn invisible—escape.
If I hadn’t hesitated, he thought bitterly, I wouldn’t be in this situation. His gaze flicked beneath the worktable, silently praying she would remain hidden.
The shadowed figure had broken into the research lab and killed everyone inside—everyone except him, the youngest scientist in the building at just thirty-nine.
“You’ve done your part,” the figure said calmly. “You can go.”
The scientist hesitated, torn between relief and fear for her, then forced himself to speak. “Thank you.” He turned and sprinted toward the elevators.
He never saw the figure raise the gun.
The shot was swift and final. The shadowed figure holstered the weapon and made a call.
“It’s happening this year,” he said into the phone.
“That’s great,” came the reply. “No one saw your face?”
“Better than that,” the figure answered. “No survivors.”
“Even better.” The line went dead.
The man began dialing another number, speaking in a low voice—unaware of the fourteen-year-old girl hidden beneath the table, who had just watched her father die.
