Inside My Head (Silent Moment Series: Book 6)

Chapter 23

 In the lab, Simone stood staring at the screen, the code flickering in front of her. Her face was etched with inner turmoil as she grappled with the weight of their decision. "How can we just erase them forever?" she murmured, her voice a mixture of doubt and despair.

Joseph, having meticulously orchestrated this moment, brought his mother up to speed on everything that had transpired. His tone was unyielding, betraying no sign of emotion. "We're left with no choice," he declared. "I've completed my task. Abby's agreed to reveal the secrets of creating nightblood, but only under the condition that we resurrect her beloved Kane."

Simone, her suspicion creeping into her voice, questioned his motives. "Why approach me with this and not your father?"

Joseph's answer was shrewd, appealing to Simone's sense of practicality. "Dad's decisions are clouded by emotion, as evidenced by this very body. We need to think strategically. We're out of hosts. It's a stark choice between extinction in these bodies or survival by erasing the Lees."

He leaned in closer, his words carefully chosen for maximum impact. "Once Abby teaches you the nightblood procedure, our dependence on cryosleep ends. And there's more – this means an end to the distinction between nulls and oblation. Any person can become a host. It's a genetic goldmine."

Simone's eyes moved between Joseph and the case of drives in front of her. After a moment of contemplation, she softly acknowledged his sacrifice. With the press of a button, the Lee family was erased from existence, a decision made with the cold efficiency of a seasoned Prime.

Joseph's plan, however, was far from complete. His next target was Bellamy. Entering the room where Bellamy was, Joseph attempted to disarm any potential conflict. "I don't want to fight," he stated.

Bellamy, weary and distrustful, responded with a raspy voice. "Why are you here?"

Joseph's approach was a blend of feigned empathy and calculated manipulation. "We're both finding it hard to come to terms with everything. I thought, maybe, we could support each other through this."

Internally, I raged against Joseph's duplicity. His offer of support was nothing more than a thinly veiled strategy to further his own agenda. His unsettling interest in getting close to my friends, under the guise of mutual aid, was transparent to me, yet I was frustratingly unable to intervene.

The sound of approaching footsteps caused both Joseph and Bellamy to turn towards the door. The sight of Murphy walking in with Russell was alarming. This definitely spelled trouble.

Joseph, his disbelief evident, confronted Murphy. "You went to my father?"

Murphy, unapologetic and bold, replied with a smirk. "I take big swings."

Joseph just grumbled in response, his plan seemingly unraveling.

Russell, his tone harsh and authoritative, demanded, "What are you doing here?"

Joseph, his patience wearing thin, retorted sharply, "Trying to save us. Unlike Murphy here, Bellamy won't just let your murder of Kegan slide."

Russell, hissing with frustration, admonished him. "Enough. Have you become so desensitized to the feelings of others? Do you not remember the pain of loss?"

Russell's gaze shifted from Joseph to Bellamy, his voice softening. "I understand your pain and desire for revenge. We had a chance to bring back our son, and we took it without considering the consequences—"

Joseph, unable to contain his frustration, interrupted. "For god's sake—"

"Be quiet," Russell snapped at him, then turned back to Bellamy.