Prologue
Annabelle
“Sweetheart, dinner! Go get your dad!”
“Alright, Mom,” I called back as I made my way toward my dad’s workshop.
Strange noises echoed from behind the door—metal clanking, something humming. That wasn’t unusual. Dad was always building something. But this time… he hadn’t come out for months.
I knocked lightly. “Can I come in?”
“Yeah, come in, sweetie. I was just about to get you.”
His voice sounded… different. Excited, but nervous.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Tools and scraps were scattered everywhere, but I didn’t see any new invention.
“I know you don’t understand any of this yet,” he said, turning toward me. “But you will. I just need your consent first. If you say no, I understand.”
The seriousness in his tone made my stomach tighten.
“Consent for what?” I asked cautiously. “Can you explain it first?”
“Of course,” he said gently. “I would never ask you to do anything that would make you uncomfortable.”
He paused, like he was choosing his words carefully.
“It’s a neuron chip. The best way to describe it is that it will continuously enhance your intelligence. But that’s not all—it also contains nanotechnology. If you learn how to control it, those nanobots can form an exoskeleton around your body, increasing your strength and speed.”
I stared at him, unsure how to respond.
“That sounds… dangerous.”
“I know it does,” he admitted, stepping closer. “But there are people out there who want to hurt me… and possibly you. I can’t always be there to protect you. With this, I won’t have to worry.”
I hesitated, trying to process everything.
“How about we do it after dinner?” I said. “I don’t want Mom to worry.”
He gave a small nod. “Alright.”
We headed toward the stairs together.
Then—
A loud crash shattered the silence, furniture splintered and next thing we heard was my mom crying out in pain.
Dad froze at the top of the stairs and grabbed my arm.
“Listen to me carefully,” he said urgently. “Go to my office. There’s a needle on my desk—inject it into the back of your neck. That’s the neuron chip. There’s no time!”
“What—?”
“Go!” he shouted, pushing me back toward the workshop.
My heart pounded as I ran. Voices echoed from downstairs—angry, violent—but I couldn’t make out the words.
I entered his workshop and searched for the needle he told me about. Through all the adrenaline and fear I damaged a handful of dads inventions trying to get to his desk.
Once I reached the desk I searched the top and didn't see any needles on the desk. So I started opening the drawers and found a needle labeled NEURON ADAPTIVE CORE, I hurried up and grabbed it.
My hand trembled.
I didn’t want to do this. I don't know if I can do this...I'm not an inventor or doctor what if I put it in the wrong spot and it doesn't work or it damages my spinal cord? What if I cannot control the technology? What if it has a side effect that he didn't get to mention?
Then I heard my mom scream.
I ran back toward the stairs and peeked around the corner.
My dad lay on the floor… motionless. His neck bent at an unnatural angle.
“No…” I whispered.
“I know you used to love me,” my mom pleaded through tears. “So please—don’t hurt her!”
A deep voice answered, filled with hatred.
“You insolent bitch. I did love you. Past tense. We had a child together—but that wasn’t enough for you was it, you just had to leave me and our child for him… and had a bastard child.”
My breath caught.
“No,” he continued coldly, “I won’t hurt her. But I won’t give you the satisfaction of watching her grow up.”
Before my mom could say another word—
A sickening crack echoed through the house, her body hit the floor. Everything went silent that's when something inside me broke.
With shaking hands, I pressed the needle to the back of my neck and injected the needle and pressed down to inject the neurons.
Heavy footsteps approached.
I tried to stand, to turn, to fight, to run or do something—
But before I could move, a massive hand struck me in the head and pain exploded from my right side of my head. Then everything went black.
Pain dragged me back to consciousness.
My head throbbed. Warm blood trickled down my face. I couldn’t see anything—a rough sack covered my head. I tried to move, but my hands were bound tightly at my waist.
A door creaked open, heavy footsteps approached.
I struggled, panic rising in my chest.
Then the restraints shifted, cold metal chains wrapped around my wrists.
Before I could react, I was lifted off the ground and hooked to something above me. I hung there, suspended barely able to touch the ground if I wasn't standing on the tips of my toes.
“What do you want from me?” I whimpered. “I didn’t do anything…”
A massive hand gripped the top of my head. The sack was ripped away along with what felt like some of my hair being ripped out of my head.
I blinked against the dim light.
Standing in front of me was a man—easily 6’7”, built like solid muscle. His black hair was streaked with silver, and a deep scar ran across one of his eyes.
The eye itself…was white, dead.
“On the contrary,” he said calmly, “you are the result of my broken marriage.”
My chest tightened.
“You are the embodiment of my anger. My frustration.”
He stepped closer.
“But I am a man of my word. I promised your mother I wouldn’t hurt you.”
A slow, cruel smile spread across his face.
“But my men…” He glanced behind him. “…can do whatever they please.”
My stomach dropped.
“And if they want to beat you until you cough up blood…” he continued coldly, “so be it. As long as you’re alive to suffer.”
He turned and walked toward the door.
“I don’t care what they do to you.” The door slammed shut. I was left hanging in the darkness. Surrounded by twelve men… all staring at me with twisted smiles
