THE HEROS OF GODOLKIN | GEN V AND THE BOYS FIC |

14

As Sam, Claire, and Cate navigated the cold, sterile halls of the facility, the fluorescent lights overhead flickered, casting sharp shadows that seemed to dance along the walls. The atmosphere was heavy with the lingering tension of their mission, a palpable mixture of adrenaline and unease. Claire walked slightly ahead, her senses heightened, her mind racing with thoughts of their impending confrontation. The silence was abruptly shattered by the shrill ring of Claire's phone, slicing through the heavy air like a knife.

Claire glanced at the screen, her brow furrowing at the sight of an unknown number. An inexplicable chill ran down her spine. She gestured to Cate and Sam, who were deep in conversation, and with a sense of urgency, she said, "You two go ahead. Release the supes. I need to take this."

Without hesitation, they nodded, their expressions shifting from concern to determination as they disappeared into the facility, heading door to door to free the imprisoned supes. Claire watched them go, her heart pounding as the distant sounds of heavy doors creaking open and footsteps echoed down the hall. Alone now, she answered the call, steeling herself for whatever news awaited her.

"Hello? Is this Claire Taylor?" came a man's voice, formal and measured, cutting through the static on the line.

"Yes, this is her," Claire replied, her tone neutral but tinged with caution. She could feel a knot forming in her stomach as the man continued.

"I'm very sorry to inform you, Ms. Taylor, but there's been an incident at your family's home." There was a brief pause, and Claire could almost hear him gathering his thoughts, the weight of his words pressing heavily against her chest. "We found your father, your mother, and your siblings deceased. It appears that your mother took her own life after... after taking the lives of your father and siblings. I understand this is incredibly difficult, and we are doing everything we can to investigate what happened."

Claire's face remained emotionless, but inside, she felt a strange satisfaction bloom as her plan began to unfold perfectly. "Siblings?" she echoed, feigning confusion. "I had no idea I had siblings. My mother kicked me out when I was ten. I've been living with my uncle since. She visited me the other day, but she didn't mention having any other children."

The man on the other end seemed taken aback, silence stretching out as he processed her words. "I see... I understand this might be a shock, Ms. Taylor. From what we've gathered, your mother had two other children-a boy and a girl. I'm sorry to have to share this information in such a way. We'll need to follow up with more details. If you need any support during this time, we're here to assist."

Claire's voice softened, the practiced tone of concern slipping easily into place as she played along with the charade. "Thank you, sir. And what's your name? I'd like to know who I'm speaking to."

"Aiden Cromwell. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything. I'm truly sorry for your loss."

"Thank you, Aiden. I'll keep that in mind," Claire replied, then added quickly, "But I've got to go. I'm walking to class right now."

After hanging up, Claire took a moment to collect herself, the false sympathy in her voice dissipating like smoke in the air. She inhaled deeply, the familiar metallic scent of the facility mixed with something acrid lingering in her nostrils. Turning back toward the facility, she could hear the distant sound of footsteps, signaling Sam and Cate's return, followed by a stream of freed supes emerging from the shadows like phantoms released from chains. Claire moved to the front, her lips curling into a smile as she held the door open, watching the once-imprisoned supes march out, emboldened and ready to wreak havoc on the humans who had controlled them.

"Is Max still locked up?" Claire asked Cate as they regrouped, a playful lilt in her voice.

"Yeah... I left him back there," Cate replied, her voice tinged with guilt, her gaze shifting toward the floor.