Inside My Head (Silent Moment Series: Book 6)

Chapter 19

After he located Jackson, Joseph couldn't escape fast enough. He knew this was his chance to navigate Sanctum unnoticed, especially with the community engrossed in the funeral ceremony for Rose, the young victim of the Children of Gabriel. As he prepared to slip away from the crowd, his plan was momentarily thwarted by the sight of Bellamy and Murphy hastily making their way up the hill toward the palace. Joseph stood at the entrance of the lab, his fingers wrapped around the cold door knob. A moment of contemplation passed over his face, giving way to a mischievous grin. "That Murphy is kind of cute," he whispered to himself, bolstering his resolve before trailing the others up the hill.

Inside the lab, the air was heavy with the sanctity of the place. Gaia's presence there seemed almost a violation, a sentiment Joseph echoed in his sharp rebuke. "This is Sanctum's most sacred site. You shouldn't be here," he snapped, his tone a mix of admonishment and apology. "I'm sorry, I just... I saw you on the steps."

Murphy, ever the pragmatist, raised a valid concern. "Does that mean your bodyguard saw you too?"

Joseph, realizing the potential risk of being spotted, quickly redirected. "Good point. Let's take this discussion outside," he suggested, motioning towards the door, eager to steer clear of any further scrutiny.

But Gaia's attention was fixated on a skeleton, her thumb gently caressing the skull. "The mark of the flame? These are all Commanders," she observed, her voice filled with reverence and a hint of sorrow.

Bellamy, piecing together the puzzle, mumbled, "That explains the symbol on the flag."

Murphy, growing more impatient by the second, pushed for action. "Everything's coming together now. Can we go, please?"

Bellamy's flashlight revealed more secrets of the room, his beam settling on a row of skeletons. "Those in the front must be the original Eligius crew. Twelve in total. And they take children."

Joseph's voice, tinged with a touch of melancholy, echoed in the chamber. "Familial love is a powerful force. It drives people to extraordinary lengths for those they care about." He then added firmly, "Let's prioritize our survival and leave this place."

Jordan, intrigued by a peculiar section of the wall, nudged it open, revealing a hidden chamber. "Open sesame," he muttered softly.

The group hesitated briefly before following Jordan into the concealed room. Joseph let out a resigned sigh and followed, his mind clear on one thing: to keep up the façade, he had to take risks, maybe even more than he was comfortable with.

Murphy's voice cut through the dim light as the room revealed its contents. "An operating room next to a crypt? That's just bizarre."

Jordan, his voice heavy with emotion, approached a dress lying discarded on the floor. "She was here. This belonged to Delilah, I'm certain of it." His gaze lifted to meet the others, a mixture of grief and determination in his eyes. "Do you still think I'm overreacting?"

Bellamy paced slightly, his mind visibly churning through the complex web of information. "Okay, let's think this through," he muttered, more to himself than to the others. "Becca was the brains behind the AI for the first apocalypse. And it's clear she had a hand in supplying tech to the Eligius III mission beforehand. So, logically, that means—"

"They're not Commanders," Gaia interjected, a discernible sigh of relief escaping her lips. The realization seemed to lift a weight off her shoulders.

"Exactly," Bellamy affirmed, nodding in agreement, his eyes narrowing as he contemplated the next piece of the puzzle. "But that begs the question: what are they, then?"

I felt a surge of frustration and urgency from my silent vantage point. They're body snatchers! If only my thoughts could reach them!

Jordan, displaying a sense of purpose, moved towards the computer terminal. "Let's find out," he declared, his fingers poised over the keyboard.