Chapter 24: The First Lie

I stared at Michael.

"Say that again."

He kept his eyes on the road.

"Your mother started Project Echo."

I shook my head.

"No. That's not possible."

"That's what Dad wanted you to believe."

"Then why did he leave the journal?"

"Because the journal was never the beginning."

I looked down at the black envelope in my hands.

THE FIRST LIE.

My fingers tightened around it.

"Open it," Michael said.

I tore the envelope carefully.

Inside was a single photograph.

My mother.

She looked much younger.

Standing beside her were my father, Professor Elias...

And Victor.

But there was something else.

Behind them was a large sign.

ECHO RESEARCH INITIATIVE

I stared at the photograph.

"When was this taken?"

"Twenty-five years ago."

I looked at Michael.

"How old was Mum?"

"Twenty-three."

My stomach twisted.

"She was involved from the beginning?"

"She didn't just help Dad."

Michael paused.

"She created the first version of Echo."

I felt numb.

"Then why did Dad get all the blame?"

"Because Mum disappeared from the project."

"Why?"

Michael didn't answer immediately.

Then he said quietly:

"Because she discovered what Echo was really being used for."

Daniel leaned forward from the back seat.

"What was it being used for?"

Michael glanced at him through the mirror.

"Surveillance."

My heart sank.

"Of who?"

"Everyone."

Students.

Journalists.

Politicians.

Businessmen.

Even ordinary people.

The project had secretly collected information on thousands of people.

"Your mother tried to shut it down," Michael continued. "But by then, powerful people had already taken control of it."

"And Dad?"

"He wanted to expose them."

I looked out the window.

Everything I thought I knew about my family was falling apart.

"Then why did Mum lie?"

Michael's voice became quieter.

"Because she made another mistake."

"What mistake?"

"She trusted Victor."

I looked at Daniel.

He was watching me.

His expression was gentle.

For the first time since this nightmare began, I felt like someone understood how scared I was.

He reached forward and lightly touched my hand.

"You don't have to figure everything out tonight."

I looked at him.

"Why are you still here?"

He gave a small smile.

"Because you're here."

My heart skipped.

Before I could respond, Michael suddenly slammed on the brakes.

The car stopped violently.

"What happened?"

Michael stared through the windscreen.

A black car was blocking the road.

Another appeared behind us.

Daniel looked around.

"We're trapped."

Michael reached beneath his seat.

He pulled out a gun.

My heart began pounding again.

"Stay inside."

He opened the door.

"Michael, wait!"

He looked back at me.

"If anything happens..."

He hesitated.

"...don't trust anyone who comes looking for you."

He stepped out.

The doors of the two black cars opened.

Men emerged.

Then the woman in black appeared.

But she wasn't looking at Michael.

She was looking directly at me.

She smiled.

And slowly raised her phone.

My mother's name appeared on the screen.

Then the phone began to ring.

I stared at it.

Mum was calling.

At that exact moment...

Michael turned towards me and shouted,

"Don't answer it!"