CHAPTER 11
Ghosts of the Past
....
….
The room had become unusually quiet.
Not the ordinary silence of people thinking.
This was different.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
The kind of silence that appeared when everyone in a room had just discovered something they weren't prepared to understand.
Jon stood near the center of the operations room.
He looked from one face to another.
Hope.
Stellar.
Devis.
Edmund.
None of them were looking at him normally anymore.
And Jon hated it.
"What?" he finally asked.
Nobody answered immediately.
Jon frowned.
"Okay. That's never a good sign."
Devis adjusted his glasses.
The holographic screen behind him continued displaying fragments of old classified files.
Damaged.
Incomplete.
Some sections had been corrupted beyond recovery.
Others had been deliberately erased.
But one designation remained visible.
Bright.
Impossible to ignore.
SUBJECT C.65
Jon slowly turned toward the screen.
Then looked back at them.
"So?"
Devis blinked.
"So?"
"Yeah." Jon pointed at the screen. "You all suddenly started looking at me like I just grew another head."
Stellar folded her arms.
"That would honestly be less concerning."
Jon stared at her.
"Helpful."
"I'm trying."
"You're terrible at it."
"I know."
For a brief moment, Hope almost smiled.
Then her expression disappeared again.
Jon noticed.
Something was wrong.
Not just with the information.
With Hope.
She had been staring at him for several minutes now.
Not openly.
But Jon could feel it.
Every time he looked away—
Her eyes returned to him.
He finally turned toward her.
"Do I know you?"
Hope froze.
Stellar immediately looked at her.
Devis stopped typing.
Even Edmund, standing quietly near the entrance, raised his eyes.
Jon noticed everyone's reaction.
"…That was apparently the wrong question."
Hope slowly shook her head.
"No."
But there was something in her voice.
Something uncertain.
Jon studied her.
"Then why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
Nobody spoke.
Hope looked toward the holographic file.
And for the first time since Jon had known her—
She looked afraid.
......
YEARS AGO….
….
Cold.
That was the first thing she remembered.
Cold metal against her skin.
The sound of machinery.
The smell of antiseptic.
The distant screams.
Hope had been younger then.
Much younger.
Her body barely responded to her commands.
Metal restraints held her arms.
Needles disappeared beneath her skin.
Around her—
Machines monitored every heartbeat.
Every nerve.
Every biological reaction.
She remembered the scientists.
Their voices.
Their disappointment.
Their excitement.
Their arguments.
"The Beta-series remains unstable."
"Subject B.65 is rejecting the compound."
"Increase the containment field."
"If we increase it again, she might not survive."
Hope remembered wanting to scream.
But her throat had been too dry.
Too weak.
Then the doors opened.
And everything changed.
They brought him in.
Subject C.65.
Hope had expected a monster.
That was what everyone whispered about.
The experiments.
The failed subjects.
The creatures created beneath the facilities of the Ten Fingers.
But the person they brought before her—
Looked human.
Mostly.
He was restrained inside a reinforced chamber.
Machines surrounded him.
Scientists watched him through layers of protective glass.
His body was covered in scars.
His eyes were open.
And they were empty.
Not dead.
Empty.
Yet intelligent.
That was what terrified her.
Hope remembered looking into those eyes.
And feeling something inside her tremble.
Not fear exactly.
Recognition.
As if something deep inside her knew that whatever she was looking at—
Wasn't supposed to exist.
The scientists began preparing the procedure.
His blood.
Transferred into her.
The first direct transfusion.
The first successful attempt.
Hope remembered the pain.
Her entire body felt like it was burning from the inside.
Her blood became fire.
The machines screamed.
Scientists shouted.
And through everything—
She looked at him.
C.65.
He was staring directly at her.
Then—
Something happened.
Not through sound.
Not exactly.
A voice entered her mind.
Calm.
Quiet.
Clear.
"On your left. Six."
Hope froze.
"That will be your chance."
She looked toward the guards.
Six.
On her left.
The voice came again.
"Wait."
Hope did.
A few seconds.
Then—
An alarm.
A scientist shouted.
The guards moved.
Six men.
Exactly where he had said.
And for the first time—
There was an opening.
Hope took it.
Everything that happened afterward became history.
The escape.
The others.
The Rebels.
The beginning of something the Ten Fingers could never completely destroy.
But Subject C.65—
Had never escaped with them.
He died which created another opportunity for them to escape successfully.
At least—
That was what everyone believed.
.....
….
.
PRESENT
Hope blinked.
The memory disappeared.
Jon was still standing in front of her.
Confused.
Alive.
Looking absolutely nothing like the lifeless figure she remembered.
And yet—
His eyes.
Hope's stomach tightened.
It couldn't be him.
Could it?
"No," she whispered.
Jon frowned.
"What?"
Hope looked away.
"Nothing."
Jon stared at her.
"That definitely wasn't convincing."
Stellar stepped forward.
"Hope."
Hope finally faced the room.
"We don't know anything yet."
Devis nodded.
"For once, she's right."
Hope looked at him.
Devis shrugged.
"I said it was once."
Jon sighed.
"Can someone please explain what Subject C.65 is?"
The room became quiet again.
This time—
Nobody could avoid the question.
....
Devis enlarged the holographic file.
"Subject C.65 was part of the Ten Fingers' experimental classification system."
Jon looked at the screen.
Devis continued.
"The C-series were…"
He stopped.
His expression changed slightly.
"Extremely dangerous experiments."
"How dangerous?"
Devis looked at him.
"None survived."
Jon stared.
Devis tapped the screen.
"Except one."
The file enlarged.
C.65
Jon felt something strange.
A pressure behind his eyes.
For half a second—
A flash.
White lights.
A room.
Screaming.
Then nothing.
Jon grabbed his head.
Hope immediately moved toward him.
"Jon?"
He looked at her.
The name came naturally from her mouth.
Hope stopped.
She had caught herself.
Jon noticed.
"You know my name?"
Hope's expression hardened.
"Moreen told us."
Jon blinked.
"Oh."
He paused.
"Right."
Stellar smiled faintly.
"You're disappointed?"
"No."
"You look disappointed."
"I am not disappointed."
"You absolutely are."
Jon ignored her.
Devis cleared his throat.
"Back to the terrifying government experiment, please."
Jon looked at him.
"Yeah. That seems more important."
Devis brought up another screen.
"The C-types were considered failures."
"That's comforting."
"They were exposed to unstable experimental compounds. Their bodies either rejected the process or…"
Jon waited.
"Or?"
Devis sighed.
"Died."
Jon's humor disappeared.
"And C.65?"
Devis looked at Hope.
Then back at Jon.
"C.65 survived."
A new image appeared.
It was distorted.
Old surveillance footage.
A figure inside a containment chamber.
Jon stepped closer.
He couldn't clearly see the face.
The footage was damaged.
Static covered most of the image.
But the body.
The posture.
Something about it made his skin crawl.
Stellar noticed.
"You, okay?"
Jon didn't answer.
The screen flickered.
For a fraction of a second—
The subject looked directly toward the camera.
Jon stepped back.
His heart skipped.
Devis immediately paused the footage.
"What happened?"
Jon looked at them.
"I…"
He shook his head.
"I don't know."
Hope stared at the image.
Then at Jon.
Her expression became increasingly difficult to hide.
"The eyes," she whispered.
Stellar looked at her.
"What about them?"
Hope didn't answer.
...
Edmund finally stepped forward.
His movements were calm.
Measured.
As always.
The older man looked at Jon with the same composed expression he used when serving tea.
Which somehow made the situation even more unsettling.
"Regardless of whether you are Subject C.65," Edmund said.
Jon looked toward him.
"You are now connected to the information."
Devis nodded.
"And that's a problem."
Jon crossed his arms.
"Why?"
Devis turned toward the main display.
Another warning appeared.
….///UNAUTHORIZED ARCHIVAL ACCESS DETECTED.\\\...
The room immediately changed.
Hope's expression hardened.
Stellar stopped smiling.
Jon noticed.
"What happened?"
Devis began moving through the data.
"Someone else accessed the archive."
Jon slowly understood.
"The Ten Fingers."
Nobody answered.
Which was answer enough.
Jon looked at Hope.
"They know?"
"Not everything," Devis said.
"Yet."
The word hung in the room.
Jon looked back at the holographic image.
"So, what happens now?"
Hope answered immediately.
"You don't leave."
Jon looked at her.
"What?"
"You stay here."
"That's not exactly comforting considering the last time someone said something like that, I woke up tied to a chair."
Stellar looked at Hope.
"He has a point."
Hope ignored her.
"The Ten Fingers may now be looking for you."
Jon laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
"You know, I had a pretty simple life about a week ago."
Stellar raised an eyebrow.
"Did you?"
Jon stopped.
He looked down.
The truth was—
He didn't know.
Nothing before his fall.
Nothing before waking up.
Nothing before Hope.
His expression changed.
"…Actually."
He sat down.
"I don't even know."
For the first time—
Nobody joked.
…..
A Temporary Residency
The decision was made several hours later.
Jon would remain with the Rebels.
Not officially as a member.
Not yet.
He was considered—
A protected associate.
Devis had tried to call him a "high-priority unidentified biological anomaly."
Jon rejected the title immediately.
Stellar suggested "temporary disaster."
Jon rejected that too.
Hope simply called him Case X during official operations.
Jon hated that one the most.
"Why Case X?"
Devis answered without looking away from his screen.
"Because you're a case."
Jon stared at him.
"And X?"
Devis smiled.
"Unknown."
Jon looked at Hope.
"Can I hit him?"
"No."
Stellar raised her hand.
"I vote yes."
"No," Hope repeated.
Edmund calmly entered the room carrying a tray.
"Tea?"
Everyone stopped.
Jon stared at him.
"…How are you this calm?"
Edmund placed a cup in front of him.
"Practice."
Jon looked around.
The Rebels were discussing classified experiments.
The Ten Fingers.
His potentially impossible identity.
And a powerful organization possibly hunting him.
Meanwhile—
Edmund Vale was serving tea.
Jon slowly accepted the cup.
"I like you."
"Thank you."
Hope sighed.
"Don't dare encourage him another time."
Edmund looked toward her.
"I have known you since childhood, Lady Hope."
Hope narrowed her eyes.
"And?"
"I have survived considerably worse."
Stellar laughed.
Jon nearly choked on his tea.
Hope stared at Edmund.
The Head Butler simply walked away.
Jon watched him go.
"…I really like him."
.....
…
INSIDE THE LABS: The Examination Room
Devis did not waste time.
Jon immediately regretted agreeing to stay.
"Take off your shirt."
Jon stared at him.
"No."
Devis adjusted his glasses.
"This is a medical examination."
"That's what you say."
Stellar leaned against the wall.
"I don't think that's the problem."
Jon pointed at her.
"Don't help him."
Hope stood nearby with her arms crossed.
"This needs to happen."
Jon looked betrayed.
"You too?"
"Yes."
Jon sighed.
"Fine."
Several hours later—
He regretted everything.
Machines scanned him.
His blood.
His nerves.
His brain.
His muscles.
His genetic structure.
Devis had somehow become more excited with every result.
That was concerning.
Very concerning.
"Interesting."
Jon looked toward him.
"You've said that seventeen times."
"Only Eighteen."
Jon stared.
Devis smiled.
"Interesting."
Hope sighed.
"What did you find?"
Devis stopped.
For once—
He looked serious.
The holographic results filled the room.
Jon's biological readings appeared normal.
Then they didn't.
His heart rate.
Normal.
Then impossible.
Muscle density.
Normal.
Then abnormal.
Cellular regeneration.
Inconsistent.
Devis enlarged another result.
"His body is adapting."
Jon frowned.
"To what?"
Devis looked at him.
"That is the question."
Another reading appeared.
Jon's blood composition.
Hope stepped closer.
"What is that?"
Devis' face changed.
"There are traces."
"Of what?"
He looked at Hope.
"B-type material."
The room went silent.
Hope's expression hardened.
Stellar slowly looked between them.
"You mean…"
Devis nodded.
"The same family of experimental biological components."
Jon stared.
"Can you please start explaining things like I'm not a scientist?"
Devis pointed at Hope.
"Your abilities originated from experimental blood modification."
Hope looked uncomfortable.
Devis pointed toward Jon.
"Your blood contains something similar."
Jon looked at his arm.
"So, I have powers?"
Devis immediately shook his head.
"Don't get excited."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"Okay, I was a little excited."
Stellar laughed.
Devis continued.
"But your body is fundamentally different."
He enlarged another result.
"Whatever happened to you—
Your biology doesn't behave like a normal human's."
Jon looked at him.
"That's bad, isn't it?"
Devis considered the question.
"Yes."
Jon stared.
Devis continued.
"But it's also fascinating."
Jon pointed at him.
"That's exactly why you're terrifying."
....
One discovery disturbed Devis more than the others.
Jon's chest.
The scans detected something.
Not clearly.
A structure.
Buried deeper than any normal implant.
The machines couldn't identify it.
Every attempt to examine it produced interference.
Devis tried another scanner.
Static.
Another.
Nothing.
Jon looked at the screen.
"What is that?"
Devis slowly shook his head.
"I don't know."
Hope stared at Jon's chest.
Neither did she.
But somewhere—
Something ancient inside the story of the Ten Fingers had begun moving again.
And none of them understood it yet.
...…..
The New Program
The following morning—
Jon received a schedule.
He stared at it.
Then stared at Devis.
Then back at the schedule.
"What the hell is this?"
"Your adjustment program."
Jon continued reading.
…///0600 — Physical conditioning./
/0800 — Academic integration./
/1200 — Controlled body assessment./
/1400 — Historical and cultural education./
/1700 — Combat fundamentals./
/1900 — Cognitive assessment./
Jon slowly looked up.
"You people have a problem."
Hope walked past him.
"You're welcome."
"For what?"
"Keeping you alive."
Jon looked back at the schedule.
"I preferred the underground more."
Stellar appeared beside him.
"You're lying."
Jon sighed.
"Yeah."
He was.
For the first time since arriving in this world—
He was safe another time.
He had a bed again.
Food again.
People around him.
And—
As strange as they were—
He wasn't alone anymore.
That thought frightened him more than he expected.
...
Safety did not mean peace.
The Rebel organization continued moving.
Hope returned to field operations.
Stellar handled security matters and intelligence reports.
Devis disappeared into laboratories and communication systems.
Edmund somehow managed the entire Valentine Estate while knowing exactly where everyone was.
Jon quickly learned something else.
The Rebels were much bigger than the small group he had met.
There were agents.
Scientists.
Operatives.
Teachers.
Analysts.
Workers.
And hidden networks spread across the nation.
Jon watched them work.
He began understanding.
The Rebels weren't simply fugitives hiding from the Ten Fingers.
They were becoming something else.
A shadow beneath the nation.
And, in ways the public didn't fully understand—
Part of the reason the nation was still standing.
....
…..
..
Victoria Valentine
Jon first met Victoria Valentine by accident.
He was walking through one of the estate's upper corridors.
Still trying to memorize the place.
When he turned a corner—
And nearly collided with her.
Jon stopped immediately.
Victoria did not.
She simply looked at him.
Jon straightened.
"…Sorry."
Victoria examined him.
Not rudely.
Professionally.
Like she was evaluating a situation.
"You're Case X."
Jon blinked.
"That name is catching on."
"Unfortunately."
Jon looked at her.
She was composed.
Elegant.
But there was something strict in the way she carried herself.
The kind of person who didn't need to raise her voice to make a room listen.
"You're Hope's cousin?"
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
"She's mentioned me?"
"No."
Victoria nodded.
"That sounds like Hope."
Jon smiled.
"So, you're what?"
"I mean everyone, I've met has a role"
Victoria stared at him.
Jon immediately regretted the question.
"I mean—"
"I'm the leader of Valentine City."
Jon stopped.
"Oh."
A pause.
"Very important. I see."
Victoria continued walking.
Jon followed for a moment.
"You know, most people introduce themselves before casually mentioning that they lead a city."
Victoria glanced at him.
"Most people don't wake up in anywhere and become the center of an international security crisis."
Jon thought about it.
"…Fair."
Victoria almost smiled.
Almost.
"I will see yo around. Bye."
…..
.
Elias Voss
The financial manager was easier to identify.
Mostly because Jon found him arguing with three holographic screens.
"No!"
Jon stopped outside the office.
Inside—
A young man with glasses stared at a collection of financial projections.
"This is mathematically offensive!"
Jon slowly entered.
Elias immediately looked at him.
"Oh."
He adjusted his glasses.
"You're Case X."
Jon sighed.
"Do any of you know another name?"
Elias blinked.
"Jon?"
Jon pointed.
"Yes."
Elias smiled awkwardly.
"Right. Sorry."
Jon looked at the screens.
"What are you doing?"
"Preventing financial disaster."
Jon stared.
Elias turned back toward his work.
"Also budgeting military operations."
Jon nodded.
"Normal stuff."
"Very."
Then Elias leaned closer.
"Do you play games?"
Jon blinked.
"What?"
"Games."
"I don't remember."
Elias's face fell.
"Oh."
Jon laughed.
"But I'm willing to learn."
Elias immediately brightened.
Jon knew immediately—
He had just made a mistake.
…..
THE RED-LIGHT ELITE ACADEMY
Jon's temporary education program began two days later.
The academy was unlike anything he had expected.
Modern.
Advanced.
Massive.
The students were selected from exceptional backgrounds.
Future scientists.
Strategists.
Engineers.
Military candidates.
Elite talents.
And individuals connected to the larger Rebel network.
Jon entered wearing a temporary student uniform.
Stellar stood beside him.
"You'll be fine."
Jon looked at the enormous campus.
"You said that before I entered a torture facility."
Stellar frowned.
"That wasn't my fault."
"You were involved."
"Technically."
Jon stared at her.
She smiled.
"Relax."
Jon sighed.
Then entered.
And immediately walked into trouble.
"Hey!"
Jon turned.
A young man approached with enough confidence for three people.
"New student?"
Jon nodded.
"Temporary."
The stranger smiled.
"Ronald Ezra."
Jon stared.
Ronald raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"That's a very formal name."
Ronald crossed his arms.
"And yours?"
"Jon."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Ronald grinned.
"Fine. I'm Rony."
Jon nodded.
"Much better."
A second figure appeared beside them.
Chubby.
Relaxed.
Carrying a handheld gaming device.
He looked at Jon.
Then at Rony.
Then back at Jon.
"Is this the new guy?"
Rony nodded.
"Apparently."
The stranger extended his hand.
"Louis Borus."
Jon shook it.
Louis smiled.
"People call me Bear."
Jon stared.
"That is absolutely because of your size, isn't it?"
Bear grinned.
"Usually."
Rony threw an arm around Jon's shoulder.
"Well, congratulations."
Jon frowned.
"For what?"
"You have friends now."
Jon looked at both of them.
Then smiled slightly.
"I've known you for thirty seconds."
Rony nodded.
"Exactly."
Bear returned to his game.
"You'll get used to him."
Jon had a strange feeling.
He probably would.
....
..
.
AMARA KADE
The training hall was nearly empty.
Jon entered.
And immediately wondered if he had come to the wrong place.
There was a woman lying on the floor.
Eating something.
Watching an animated program on a holographic display.
Jon slowly looked around.
Then back at her.
"Hello?"
She ignored him.
Jon waited.
"Hello?"
Nothing.
He looked toward the door.
Maybe—
"You're late."
Jon froze.
The woman still hadn't looked at him.
Jon checked the clock.
"I'm early."
"Then you're early late."
Jon stared.
"That doesn't make sense."
Now she looked at him.
Amara Kade smiled.
And Jon immediately understood something.
This woman was dangerous.
Not because she looked intimidating.
Because she didn't look like she needed to.
"Hope's new stray," Amara said.
Jon frowned.
"That's rude."
"Hope calls you Case X."
"That's worse."
Amara laughed.
Jon noticed the food beside her.
The anime still playing.
Her completely relaxed posture.
"This is the martial teacher?"
Amara pointed toward herself.
"Disappointed?"
"No."
"Liar."
Jon sighed.
"Maybe a little."
Amara slowly stood.
And the entire atmosphere changed.
Jon felt it immediately.
Her relaxed posture disappeared.
Her eyes sharpened.
The lazy woman vanished.
Something else stood before him.
"Show me your stance."
Jon blinked.
"What?"
"Your stance."
"I don't have one."
"Good."
Jon frowned.
"How is that good?"
Amara smiled.
"Means I don't have to break your bad habits first."
Jon slowly raised his hands.
Amara studied him.
Then—
Moved.
Jon barely saw her.
His body reacted before his mind understood.
He stepped aside.
Amara's hand stopped inches from his face.
Silence.
Jon stared at her.
Amara stared at him.
Then smiled.
"Well."
Jon slowly lowered his hands.
"Did I pass?"
"No."
Jon frowned.
"Then why are you smiling?"
Amara stepped back.
"Because now I'm interested."
Outside the training hall—
Hope stood watching.
Stellar joined her.
"How's he doing?"
Hope watched Jon.
Inside—
Amara attacked again.
Jon barely avoided the strike.
Then another.
Then another.
His movements weren't trained.
Not properly.
But his body knew things his mind didn't.
Stellar smiled.
"He's learning."
Hope remained quiet.
Jon ducked beneath another attack.
For a moment—
His eyes changed.
Not physically.
Something deeper.
A survival instinct.
A memory without memory.
Hope felt a cold sensation run through her.
Those eyes.
Again.
She remembered the laboratory.
The boy behind the glass.
Subject C.65.
'On your left. Six.'
Hope's hand tightened.
Inside the hall—
Jon suddenly looked toward her.
Their eyes met.
And for one brief second—
Neither of them spoke.
Neither of them understood.
But both felt it.
Something was waiting beneath the surface.
Something from the past.
Something neither of them had remembered.
Yet.