Page 98 of Artifice

Henry nodded to Director Ingraham before turning to Colin. “P-18, eliminate the intruders. Begin with the woman.”

Colin stepped toward Olive, knife raised.

“Think about your family,” Olive said desperately. “They miss you. They love you. They can’t wait to take you rock climbing again.”

For a split second, something flickered in Colin’s eyes—confusion, perhaps, or pain.

“Fascinating.” Henry made a note on a tablet. “Even with the highest dosage, emotional triggers still create micro-hesitations. We’ll need to adjust the frontal lobe suppression.”

“He’s still in there,” Olive said, not breaking eye contact with Colin. “You’re still you, Colin. Fight it.”

The knife trembled in his hand.

“Remarkable resistance.” Henry sounded genuinely impressed. “Increase compliance sequence.”

Director Ingraham stepped forward, whispering a series of numbers into Colin’s ear.

The effect was immediate. Colin’s expression hardened, his movements becoming more robotic as he raised the knife again.

“This isn’t who you are.” Olive’s fingers continued to work frantically at the rope behind her back. “They’re trying to erase everything that makes you you. Abe is worried about you too. You don’t want these people to do the same thing to your friend.”

Colin paused, his blank expression cracking slightly. “A—Abe?”

“Yes, Abe,” Olive pressed. “Your friend. He told me that you’d discovered some information and had been collecting evidence. That’s why they’re targeting you now.”

Henry frowned, tapping at his tablet. “Emotional anchoring is breaking through. We’ll need to up his dose.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew a syringe. “Hold him still.”

As Director Ingraham stepped forward to restrain Colin, Olive felt the rope at her wrists give way.

With a silent thanks for years of escape training, she kept her hands behind her back, waiting for the right moment.

CHAPTER 53

“No more drugs,” Colin whispered, the knife shaking violently in his hand. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he fought against whatever was controlling him. “Please.”

“You’ve been a fascinating subject, Colin.” Henry stepped closer with the syringe. “But I’m afraid your usefulness has reached its end.”

The moment Henry reached for Colin’s arm, Olive made her move.

She lunged forward, her rope falling away as she tackled Henry to the ground.

The syringe clattered across the floor as they fell.

Director Ingraham reached for the syringe. But Tevin, still restrained, swept the woman’s legs out from under her with a powerful kick.

“Colin!” Olive called out, struggling to keep Henry pinned. “Help us!”

The boy stood frozen, knife still in hand. His expression flickered between vacancy and terror as his mind seemed to fight against the chemicals controlling it.

“Subject P-18, protect me!” Henry shouted, his calm facade cracking. “That’s an order!”

Colin took a step forward, then another.

He raised his knife toward Olive.

His movements were jerky, as if each step required tremendous effort.

“Think of Abe,” Olive said desperately. “Think of your mom and dad. They’re going to be devastated. All your mom does right now is cry. More than anything, she wants to take you on that trip to Yosemite you always talked about. She knows how much you want to rock climb there. Onward and upward! She said that’s your catchphrase.”