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Theo didn’t trust Liam. That much was certain.

As they walked back to Elara’s house, the air between the three of them was heavy, weighted down with the tension of what had just been revealed. Liam trailed behind slightly, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets, his head down as if the ground held all the answers. Theo kept his pace matched with Elara’s, close enough to offer support but giving her the space he knew she needed.

He stole a glance at her face, trying to read her emotions. She was quiet, her lips pressed into a firm line, her expression unreadable. But he could see the way her fingers gripped the strap of her bag, white-knuckled and trembling. She was trying to keep it together, but inside, she had to be breaking apart.

“Elara,” he said softly, his voice low enough that only she could hear. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

Her eyes flicked to him, sharp and determined. “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready. But I have to do it anyway.”

Theo nodded, his admiration for her growing despite the situation. “I’ll be right there with you.”

Her gaze softened for a moment, and she gave him the faintest hint of a smile before looking ahead again.

When they reached her house, Theo couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The street was too quiet, the windows of the house dark despite the late hour. The air carried an unnatural stillness, as if the entire block was holding its breath.

Liam stopped on the sidewalk, his expression grim. “This doesn’t feel right,” he said, voicing Theo’s exact thoughts.

Elara didn’t hesitate. She walked up the steps and unlocked the door, pushing it open with more force than necessary. Theo followed her inside, his body tense, ready for anything.

The living room was empty, the furniture untouched, the air stale as if the house had been closed up for days. Elara’s father was nowhere to be seen, and the eerie silence made Theo’s nerves prickle.

“Dad?” Elara called, her voice echoing through the house.

No answer.

They moved deeper inside, searching the rooms one by one. Theo stuck close to Elara, his eyes scanning every corner, every shadow, for anything out of place. Liam lingered in the background, his movements cautious, his eyes darting around like he expected an ambush.

When they reached her father’s office, Elara stopped. The door was ajar, and light spilled out into the hallway—a flickering, uneven glow that sent chills down Theo’s spine.

Elara pushed the door open fully, and Theo followed her inside.

The office was a mess. Papers were scattered across the desk and floor, drawers were pulled out, and the bookshelves had been rifled through. A single computer screen glowed on the desk, displaying a stream of code that Theo couldn’t begin to understand.

“What happened here?” Theo asked, stepping closer to the desk.

Elara ignored him, her attention fixed on the screen. She reached out and touched the mouse, the code disappearing as the desktop came into view. A single document was open, titled PROJECT ELARA.

Theo’s stomach twisted.

Elara clicked on the file, her breath hitching as a series of images and text filled the screen. The images were of her—photos of her at different ages, taken from angles that didn’t feel like they were meant to be seen. There were notes attached to each one, describing her behavior, her moods, even her dreams.

“Experimental Subject: Elara Foster,” one entry read. “Primary candidate for temporal stabilization trials. Memory reconstruction successful. Subject unaware of alterations.”

“What the hell is this?” Theo asked, his voice sharp with disbelief.

Elara didn’t answer. Her hands were trembling as she scrolled through the document, her eyes wide with shock and horror.

“They’ve been watching me,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “They’ve been…changing me.”

Before Theo could respond, there was a sudden sound behind them—a creak of the floorboards. He turned quickly, his instincts kicking in, and saw a man standing in the doorway.

It was Elara’s father.

He looked older than Theo had expected, his hair grayer, his face lined with exhaustion. But his eyes were sharp, calculating as they took in the scene before him.

“Elara,” he said, his voice calm but cold. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Elara stepped forward, her hands clenched into fists. “What did you do to me?” she demanded.

Her father’s expression didn’t change. “I did what I had to do.”

“That’s not an answer,” she snapped, her voice rising. “You used me. You experimented on me like I was some kind of…of lab rat!”

“It wasn’t like that,” he said, his tone infuriatingly measured. “You don’t understand the scope of this project, Elara. What we’re doing at Chronos Labs could change the world. And you were a vital part of that.”

“I didn’t agree to any of this!” Elara shouted. “You had no right—”

“I had every right,” he interrupted, his voice hardening. “I’m your father. I made choices to protect you, to give you a future you couldn’t have otherwise.”

Theo stepped forward, unable to stay silent any longer. “Protect her? By erasing her memories and manipulating her life? That doesn’t sound like protection to me.”

Her father’s eyes flicked to Theo, his gaze narrowing. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. This isn’t about you.”

“No,” Theo shot back. “It’s about Elara. And you owe her the truth.”

For a moment, the tension in the room was unbearable. Elara’s father looked at her, his expression softening slightly, as if he truly believed he had done the right thing.

“There were risks,” he admitted. “But the results were worth it. You’ve been able to experience things no one else ever could. Time isn’t linear for you, Elara. It’s fluid. You’ve seen it yourself—the hourglass was proof of that.”

Elara’s jaw tightened. “The hourglass was a mistake. All of this was a mistake. And I’m going to make sure no one else has to go through what I did.”

Her father’s face darkened. “You don’t know what you’re saying. Chronos Labs isn’t just a project—it’s a lifeline. Without it, you could—”

“Enough!” Elara shouted, cutting him off. “I don’t want to hear any more excuses. I’m done being your experiment.”

Before her father could respond, the sound of sirens cut through the night air, growing louder with every second.

Liam appeared in the doorway, his face pale. “We need to go. Now.”

Elara turned to Theo, her eyes blazing with determination. “I’m going to destroy Chronos Labs.”

Theo nodded. “Then we’ll do it together.”

As the sirens drew closer, they fled into the night, leaving behind the ruins of secrets and lies that had defined Elara’s life for far too long.

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Can y'all ☆, and comment your opinions on my book please? I'm nearly 16 and I don't mind criticism <3