Both of them, stuck in their separate corners of the tunnel, were drowning in their suspicions, different worries, but lost in the same heavy silence. And in that silence, a dangerous question started to form: Who could they really trust?
*********
One name really stood out to her: Elias King, the CEO of Kinova Biomed, a pharma company that seemed to have a pretty solid reputation. Lunel couldn't help but wonder what a big shot like him was doing tangled up in this mess. What could he possibly want in such a dark and twisted world? Just thinking about it sent chills down her spine as she realized how deep the depravity went. Then, she stumbled on something even more unsettling.
She discovered the "Sectors"
She uncovered a hidden log while going through Alpha's private backup on the Lucent Trade Corp servers, labeled "Sectors - A, B, C, D, E." It felt like a punch to the gut, like she'd uncovered something incredibly sinister.
Inside the log, neatly organized digital dossiers listed over 200 girls, each categorized by creepy traits that hinted at what might happen to them:
Sector A: "Foreign bloodlines, virgin confirmed, VIP only." This group seemed to be on the lookout for girls from wealthy families or those with interesting backgrounds, probably aiming to impress clients who were after something a little more special. They clearly had a knack for picking out candidates who brought not just money, but also that unique vibe that made them stand out. Each girl was carefully selected, ensuring that only the best were chosen for those seeking an experience that was anything but ordinary.
Sector B: "Broken homes, no families around to care for them." These girls are clearly in a tough spot, probably coming from unstable backgrounds. They seem to be headed straight for whatever awful experiments are waiting for them, like they're marked for something really horrific. It's heartbreaking to see their scared expressions, showing just how abandoned and lost they truly feel.
Sector C: "Social media influencers have been picked to stir up scandals that can be used for someone else's gain. These girls were chosen mainly because of their huge followings, and it seems like they're being set up to get caught up in public dramas. This whole setup probably has a hidden agenda behind it, whether it's to get more eyes on a brand, sway public opinion, or distract from something else going on."
Sector D: The phrase "High obedience. Permanent companions." gave her a real chill. It suggested these girls were trained to be super submissive, likely designed to be emotional or physical companions for someone forever. The idea of them living like that—essentially giving up their freedom and individuality—felt really messed up and raised a ton of questions about how wrong it was to treat people this way.
Sector E: "Unstable. Sell fast. Disposal eligible." Those words hit her like a punch to the gut. The mention of "disposal" really got to her, these girls were treated like they didn't matter, just disposable objects to be tossed aside when they were no longer needed. It dawned on her that once they served their purpose, they could be thrown away or even eliminated, as if their lives held no value at all. That thought weighed heavily on her, igniting a mix of anger and sadness inside her.
Just thinking about "disposal" made her stomach turn. It was clear they had a cold, systematic way of ruining lives, treating people like they were nothing more than products.
What struck her the most was that Selina's signature was on every report. She wasn't just going along with it; she was running the show, managing the fates of these girls as if they were nothing more than items on a corporate spreadsheet. The realization of Selina's true nature shattered any doubts Lunel had about her character, revealing her as a puppet master in this horrifying game.
She got deep into her search, discovering tons of footage and audio from the past that kept shocking her.
While going through public records to find out more about Alpha's dad, she stumbled onto something surprising: Rafael Darien, Alpha's biological father, had mysteriously disappeared 22 years ago. What caught her attention was that the last missing person report was filed by Selina's dad, which made her wonder about their connection.
As she dug into Selina's childhood, she found her therapy logs, revealing that she started attending sessions when she was just 10 years old. The therapist had diagnosed her with dissociation, pointing it back to what was called "traumatic betrayal", implying some heavy emotional scars from her early years.
She took a moment to let all this sink in. It was way more complicated than just a crime; it seemed to involve a lot of psychological manipulation that deeply affected both Alpha and Selina.
Then she found a video file in the old VHS archive.
The footage was fuzzy, part of a home video converted from an ancient tape.
In a dimly lit room, a teenage Selina, around 15, sat cross-legged on her bed, her long hair falling over her tear-streaked face. She spoke earnestly to a camera sitting on a stand, her raw vulnerability clear.
Selina (crying, her voice breaking): "He said I was his first love. He promised me I was different from everyone else, that I wouldn't feel pain like this. But he hurt me. Again and again. I can't tell anyone about this; my dad would be crushed if he knew the truth."
She wiped her eyes with her hand, visibly struggling to express her feelings.
Selina (looking down, whispering): "I think… I'm becoming him."
The weight of her words hung in the air, marking a moment of profound self-reflection and fear about becoming something she didn't want to be.
In another twist, Lunel made a breakthrough with her work.
At Lucent Trade Corp's headquarters on the 13th floor, she spotted a hidden security camera tucked under a panel with a security light. After retrieving seven months of footage, her heart began to race as she started watching the recordings.