the car crash? How did y

M

I'm an investigative

or newborns from Detrick was defective. They had extremely high

00 cases, t

still in production, distri

ut this before me, b

was a company traded

opoly capital, which muffles journa

ignore this h

ll, I couldn't let it go

ited me to a press conference on July 14, 2018. They were launch

found out what I was investiga

g, I didn't ask a

be nice, but because I w

ssor Ryan Scott's team at Harvard University. It would ex

ng ba

eport was

anted to get out of there and h

l reps, cornered me with their wine

ed an

eo for help. "Darling,

other call

s Mr.

I have ano

m Leo's call t

you're on the right track. Detric

e are you? I'm c

a big deal. Do

se to leave the party. Then I got in

that day, and thun

a bolt of lightning hit a tree n

ran down

p on Leo, I thought I heard him yell somet

om my ear, and I couldn

et and Harv

e to an intersection where t

the gas, but then I saw a stree

rton Street and H

ection...

st words of Leo's phone ca

uge truck zoom

d off the front bumper and se

ance away, and the driver poke

neither apolog

filled w

I regained my composure and

w I would have

. Time was running out. I hit the gas

door, the thunders

ell, and the

nto the living room and

t you a copy of the deta

rt isn't

e sounded so urg

ng with the signal and

hly and ambled to

of tea and fi

remembered to

sked me anxiously, "Are you okay?

s sh

ia! You surviv

Leo, how did you pr

. Now tell me, where are y

nded w

u suddenly

after you. Someon

feeling I shouldn't dr

be kidding me..." I t

op lying to me!

d my ful

ng the role of a nice and loyal girlfriend all this tim

say somethin

ucial. You... you'll be killed

?" I

That's what your a

not making

ause this phone call is a miracle. It's defying time and space!" He spoke rapidly, but every word was crisp

g time as if he cou

it? Tell me,

you've been gon

as si

ce cracked. "Mia, p

ne and saw that it

utside the window, and the

everything he said and fe

one to my ear

lling me...I'm a

peeked through the tiny gap between the stairs and

k raincoat was

d and stabbed him in the lower ba

he gap between the s

arely audible over the

eth and tried no

told me

would die. This w

the stairs, gasping qu

e tears that ra

was not the

eo

o the living room, trying to s

Scott... h

, so you're at Mr.

es

e are

living

is the

e base

e relatively

what do

plex," his voice was calm and reassuring. "So even if it

houldn't try

, don't r

felt more in control. "

he lights in th

ad switched

me out, where

ce came from

, swing it open, and to

er as I stepped out, drowning

ol the killer into think

aster bedroom and stay there!"

ed the stairs, I saw a dark f

d a corner, ho

oor, glancing at the open door. He

ood s

six feet in

d my phone screen, and turned down the

knife and sca

ral vision, but the villa was too dark,

e finally headed for the doo

traight to the master bedroom on

I'm

lized that I was

first aid kit inside, and you'll find several

e syringe. "There are a lot of

millilite

r a moment and

o the villa, he'll figure out that you're trying to lure him to this bedroom

nd wait for him to get to the second-floor landing before stab

L

y knowledge of Mr. Sco

gone through so much togethe

e, I had already been to Mr. Scott'

18, probably because no one had st

got inside, checking ev

and the drinks on the liquor cabinet,

with its fine edge and Mia's fo

found a surp

gency drugs were stashed on the nightstand

ived here, had set up these safety devices in case

le tip could pierce the skin quickly, and the syringe bod

for more wicked things. You didn't even need any drugs to

with a few milliliters of air. Even if she didn't hit the artery pr

irs filled the air, I was lost i

Probably not. There were other wa

but once she leaves the v

didn't make

e one who cau

to me. I would give

ving without her had been h

eo

ice came thro

He'll be here

is my final request,"

hurr

better place

ilent. A few seconds later, I hear

hu

an

an

an

ere getting clo

hear Mia clutch

choed from both outside

everal seconds before eve

railing, there we

of a s

asked shakily. "M

burst of laught

austic, gl

ne. Only

M

ps approached, I realiz

Leo's plan w

journalist, I faced ma

y, showing that he had become more careful

n my head, practicing my surpri

oaching the second floor,

lit up the whole room, throwi

w jerked

d it into the secret spot beh

'll figure out this bedroom is a setup, so he's bo

iling, wait for him to get to the second floor, and

d on

s the

ide behind t

y n

weak woman, tha

t I

g the villa door. He doesn't see you as a we

hat are you

think outside the box and hid

e bath

a ga

ut I lo

was no need for reass

l spoke up

's almos

ng, this is m

ake it

ove

ed for a

you wa

ed the killer's

over behind the stairs and

in the bedroom, where I had le

ay?" Leo asked t

p and answered. "She's

right into

distraction to

g in the bathroom, p

lasting hot wate

or was slic

a

the bathroom do

making him scream and flinch. He lost his balan

le pain, but he still grip

fford to miss

, pinning him d

I could ensure he wo

kin being punc

caug

st, but it was too late. The air in my s

injected 20 milliliters of ai

paralyzed by the ti

t will mess with your breathing and blood flow and give yo

om his limp hand and le

e will be

e into bringing you here. But

th in the basement. He bled too m

rds and weakly pointed h

ted to Leo on the phone. "Leo, thi

was no answer.

sy report h

work together and

not to tremble. "It's a police alert for a missing person now, with yo

ed for this, my heart sa

ay, Leo. I'm not

ion right away and ask

the police, they

t go to the police stati

ade him even

basement, ready to driv

a few black Mercedes-Benz cars driving i

d them as D

d villa area faster than

t holding a

lease check if Detrick has

N

say no, can you plea

Detrick's news, Mia,

all

ue has doubled sinc

rt I have in my h

about this, you need to get to the

can't ru

ny people, there was n

as a phone call from t

n the villa's living

pe? What are you talking about?"

for a while? Jus

anything for

ka

s 2022 lo

rld is in chaos, but we're li

that. I want to know w

ven't been

ou mar

wa

w girlfriend! How is she

ha

ho's hotter

ave a new

ars and

thi

ot? Can't get

ur

.

ia

, I'm

ka

r told me how you fel

ha

ish you n

he morning you woke up

ember! You spilled your guts

have imagi

p to it. You wis

p to anything. It

u hadn't don

wish I ha

ever got involved with someone like me,

h anything l

t belie

ieve what

one after another, at

time was r

t to spend the rest

t that

if I'm with you, having

need to

un, and I've even

ll, muscular men in black su

and dreadful sight, radiating malice and

lions had sent over a dozen six

boy Oliver and t

thousands of people wit

id you say so

ink it's unique

de me

p making jokes,

're h

ea

a,

ff. "Leo, I

p the phone and eras

villa's front ga

e faint light, making me feel like

L

ng up, everything

rted to flake

urned to dust and v

was nothing but a char

ceiling caved in, sending

, barely dodging t

lla collapsed int

erased it in the new timeline after they kil

Mi

ost her

ked by the rain, b

d was

only to realize with a pang that

was like

trick, teasing me with hope

ing tormente

sirens jolted me

creeched to a ha

me, tackling me to the ground and slap

car was James, who had roughed

stood back under an umbrella, smo

u escaped my suspic

proof that you

en I found out I was falsely ch

the fact that a conversation wi

all memory of t

ng for Detrick until the

y in June 2018, two mon

now an

but it had been around for four

me some photo

watching a show. But she was bare, covered in awful bruises, with a deep gash

disappeared without a trace. I said we were doing everything we could to find her, but it was a tough case.

I remember th

were to

it. I didn'

eo. You mak

g and making a scene at the station! All the female officers felt sorry for you and asked me not to press cha

u the truth. I

we searched your house, we didn't bother to look closely, just did it as a routine! Now I see it. You

deaf? I didn

e banged the tabl

ly realized that I had nothing

t remember a single thing that occurr

ng any homework?" James sneered and slapped my shoulde

nfants in several small towns. The scandal was covered up by the powerful

de her steps. Soon, the big shots at Detrick caught wind of her. But strangely enough, Detrick didn't do anything to Mia

ltant. What made them select you? A month later, on July 14, M

iend Mia. You beat Mia for a long time, and in the end, slit her wrist and left her in the bathtub. The water temperature in t

hide everything, you had to get rid of the body too! So you cut up Mia's corpse, disposed of it

staged a scene of assaulting an off

hoto in the old hard drive you tossed away. The creation date is July 15, 2018. W

nearly red. He looked like he wanted t

of solving crimes, using evi

tting the suspect un

sh a logical sequence of actions, a precise t

ng passion and a s

t.

ou see any f

a second. "Wha

something very helpfu

working for D

eath for the last four years. That's why I'v

t do you thin

you and I know these a

tood up, lit a new cigarette

history, they're all things you dug up recently. The story you came up with this

e laughed. "Why

to trust me, you need to prove tha

and said

ou with me or

le

g sil

at had been aimed at me. He then grabbed a chair, placed it diagonally i

shows where cops would block the

was happe

I heard hurried footsteps in the hallwa

ames, telling him

ed right up to me. He seized my head and sm

lurred for

I'm an idiot?" Ja

a

it the ta

n shot through my nose and spread to m

rew my head back. But the pain was so unbearable t

is large hand around my face, pi

stabbing me all over my body, each o

could do with my hands cuffed t

after what felt

reathe as blood

r spill the beans now. I enjoy no

d was about to smash

amed. "I'll confess, I

o spill? You better s

ody, where I burie

5, 2022 when they drove me

deserted forest. James and his two me

where it

this i

ig

shovels and they start

y had only made a few shall

this is where

," I

're wasting our time here

able to stand, while James nudged me with his elbow

you guys? Don't y

as giving me a si

? You'll be on the run f

ames had given me in t

It's now

ou with me or

im in the interrogation room. H

he camera and block

my ear. "Why should I believe

id it

a photo on

, I have all the ev

ide

es

to the police,

ave it, De

didn't

on, so I have to retrieve it. And you

n't

m n

hy

have nothin

ght for

ned off the video, and we'll pre

the camera, jamming a c

it," he sounded ge

raid of pai

t this? You'll be

It's now

y to bring d

way to a

e, I turned and ran thr

eard James yell from b

't loo

ently, and the other two cops were alr

rom the police car. There was no way those tw

driver's seat, turning the key that was

hed for the door handle

es had dropped on the back seat, unlocked the hand

ere, where Owen hung out

pull off such a perfect setup, m

, hooking up with a chic

fering a designer bag for ever

h the door and fel

open and glared at

. He stumbled towards the door, slurr

d a roll of toilet paper from a nearby box. It was

mouth," I s

zled expression. "Leo, wha

aper roll into his mouth. Then, I grabbed my Gerber 06 Auto Knif

d and flail

, stay stil

g. I felt a surge of irritation and dr

e blade and plu

I hit something har

okay? Owen

, but his face wa

you quiet," I said as I cleaned h

our head to ans

his head

or I'll hurt more than

r a moment, the

an easy one. Did you m

owing more heavily now, b

s is the easiest ques

pt his he

twisted it 45 degrees

Did you mess with my

in agony before he fi

, Owen. G

m in the eye. "Alright, let's

he truth. Did

Mid

.

a?" Owen's voice was

d on my face, shocking

y wound on my body li

h me, making me sh

en respond to

n his hands. "Don't forget

me back

for a friend

ab on the top floor, wh

here's the data? Tell me now, and mayb

ked away from h

to say?" Owen de

lock on the wall.

m., Mia. You've been frozen for six hours now.

said he had a surprise for me today before he got on hi

d glared at me. His pa

motioned to the men

hed and swit

forearms, with sparks of electricit

ng orders," Owen said,

sending jolts of pain that felt l

essed the buttons, but every s

I saw Owen's hand in m

lly stopped, but I coul

muffled and horrible. I collapsed to the floor,

ook awfu

. Leo would always thi

ng out of time! Wh

ed, unabl

I didn't have

motioned again, and the men in black came c

to

r opened, and a middl

ou treat Mi

.

d frantically, mak

ll the trigger on Mia yoursel

pped s

e there when s

dded

n't die at Mr.

dded

d at you

ded on

both her death and

her

any office and interrogate her p

ded on

boss who took

for a second

sed m

on felt like seeing M

.

e final

ick of Detrick thr

k besides the vaccine? How many of your

re is th

a chair and s

r you a huge payoff, and ensure you

, but all the shots, from producing faulty vaccines to murdering Mr. Scott, were called by your father. If you mess th

my wounds. "Sam, what c

ced his hands on his chest, feeling

e set his phone aside on his lap and gazed at me. "But what if I told you I h

rang at th

up and put

prepared to proceed

are y

Street, apartment

Mia's home

n't you dare hu

asked the caller,

ilding first. Then we'll sneak in and sever th

g. "Stand by f

. "Mia, are you f

ut after a while, I managed

t's

there so man

, and Owen and oth

bound me, "Is this how yo

t up, loosening

have steroids in them, your health products have blood pressure drugs in them, and you

.

of Owen's leg and pre

he toilet paper th

red the hit on Mia

ave the guts to kill anyone else but Sam? He

ho cowered under my

"You can't bea

ok him. "Don't you dare call

around. The door behind

ing f

d slammed into the back of my head

h my blurry eyes, I saw a middle-aged man crouching over me, playi

you, Sam?

or four years now. What made yo

n a small lab on the top fl

the one who killed Mia. But not before

played a video, and cranked up

Mia being pressured in

of electric sparks, were unbearable. Even with closed

cut into my skin and draw blood. I w

more than an hour, and

picked u

I want. You'll see soon enough th

down bit by bit. And when you have no hope lef

n down my hand, then raised his

my body crack, and

less precision, splatterin

pause, no mer

o matter the cost, she was ready t

ple were

.

ds in them, your health products have blood pressure drugs in them, and your kid

for your silence, but you h

e vaccines. I don't know anything about t

oping around?" S

, so everyone keeps their

you said

you look so worried? Did I hit

messing with m

th you, but I do ha

ou got?" Sam

t of secrets

M

your past deeds, and y

you dig up

er to America and gave birth to you but soon realized that your father was just a low-wage worker. You lived in a place that was one block away from a ghetto

o say these things," he s

nd married another man. They worked hard and built Detrick. T

encountered and the most seductive woman I've ever laid eyes on. Bu

r killed herself in Boston because she felt guilty for the babies who died from yo

g, he grabbed me by the throat and

d you say such

, finally

he perfe

mp on the lab table and

is eyes, and he refl

a piece of glass from the shatter

instead. Before I could strike again,

agments when he broke my wrist. He

ck, then hot blood gushed out,

.

ng goo

fter crushing my right hand. Sweat soak

he cloth fr

om Mia's investigati

the face twice. I felt

He looked at me with

face and said. "Someth

ha

f Mia. You're te

yes narrowing. "Are yo

with you. I know where the data

.

rror when he saw t

o die," he said in

ust want

self-defense techniques. I once considered provoking hi

I would look for another chance to kill my

wanted

family and Leo and to get t

.

know the drill. Wha

e data is, if you tell

. "What di

Where did y

d. "Does i

ou killed her. Now I want to be bu

.

w!" Sam shouted. "Mia, you can'

s knees next to m

was closing in on me, slowly blotti

rkness, with only dist

ave a huge surprise fo

before he left for his

egret this

he phone that could connec

ove

ove for me one nig

nt to find

.

ing up, Leo.

smart," I commented with a snicker. "I eve

tell me, wher

ow. You just sa

said it

's body. She swallowed the thumb dri

then shouted, "Everyon

he police will get t

ed a bug on me? H

ad a bandage around his thigh. "It's on Owe

lab burst open w

stormed in, followed by James,

ur game

ns at everyone, and no on

d the crooks, and

han I thought. You should

f he could sp

ha

rt a lot when you use

cuffs. Don't beat him to deat

.

nd he ended up with a few broken ribs, a fra

d Sam could show up in court wi

excuse. He thought I'd go cra

Mor

.

ke. The forensics team was already there and had taken out a thumb drive from h

wanted to go with

her body once and didn

's what she would h

o get my wounds treated and t

how I managed to get a

elieve it, but Mia

ve you,"

salute when w

.

r, a painful reminder of what I had lost. I ignore

into a box, incl

nly 2% battery left and

nged since I fo

ing was dif

to plug it in

n had s

dy happened, but I st

wounds, and I realized

i

sage

to talk to any

t.

i

from t

still getti

it be from, b

e From Mia (

bly dreaming right now. But

're such a fool, Leo. Just go to s

Mia

ight after the first one and

as I t

text him

it clea

hree weekends in a row.

before each date, meticulous

a lot o

was smart, wasn't he? He would take

was I st

I text him t

mbarr

etween texting those thin

a min

st tell him tha

im right no

t.

.m. now, he m

s asleep? Wake h

2015

el

you answered? Y

I'm

mething to tell you.

, let me

ha

I love

ha

you're mad at me... I know I should have told you sooner, but I was scared of losing you. You're so beautiful. The most g

bad with

this for so long, but I

an't hold it b

iss you t

a few hours si

only been a

.

od why Mia always said that I

who confessed to her wa

sn't the thunderstorm on July 14 tha

my love

2015

be, more than

the sa

2015

e is trembling. Hav

No, I h

, confessing your feel

g you, I'm

on't f

your

set some ground rules. From now on, when we talk o

hing, d

od

ave a ru

t is

go undercover in the ph

w did yo

I can get you the test results, my organization has enough credibility, and I'm s

u bringing

ep what I said i

.

n the phone f

she woke up. We exchanged countless

how we

that I was from the future

struggled or how earnestly I tried to alter hi

I didn't want to ruin her

st all odds, I hoped that somet

y time I tweak

long, lo

nly silence

ft pink and the light gen

, I hear

by's

't in m

w louder and clearer

I heard M

, where

Olivia is makin