Chapter 17 - CASE ZEROCase Zero was not a child.
It was an adult.
A woman.
The first person ever used in Project Lantern.
Her name was Dr. Margaret Cross.
Adrian Cross's mother.
She had suffered from severe memory loss.
Adrian had tried to save her.
The first experiments were not conducted on children.
They were conducted on his mother.
He had tried to transfer memories.
To preserve her.
To prevent her from forgetting him.
But the experiments failed.
Her memories became fragmented.
She forgot her husband.
Her home.
Then Adrian.
He became obsessed.
If memory could be lost—
perhaps it could be stored.
Transferred.
Rebuilt.
He began researching children.
Children whose brains were still developing.
Children whose memories were not fully formed.
He believed they could become vessels.
That was how Project Lantern began.
Not with evil.
With grief.
But grief became obsession.
Obsession became science.
Science became cruelty.
And Adrian Cross became a man who believed his goal justified everything.
When James confronted him in prison, Cross said:
“You think I wanted children to suffer?”
James stared.
“You used them.”
“I was trying to preserve human memory.”
“You destroyed lives.”
“I saved some.”
“You killed Lily.”
Cross's face changed.
“She was dying.”
“She was six.”
“She was already dying.”
“You caused it.”
Cross said nothing.
James stepped closer.
“You didn't save anyone.”
Cross looked at him.
“You don't understand.”
James smiled bitterly.
“No.”
“I understand perfectly.”
Cross laughed.
“You think your hands are clean?”
James froze.
Cross continued.
“Your father funded me.”
“I know.”
“You signed the foundation reports.”
“I know.”
“You built hospitals while my work continued.”
James said nothing.
Cross leaned forward.
“You are not different from me.”
James stared at him.
Then answered:
“Yes.”
Cross smiled.
James continued:
“I ignored people.”
“You destroyed them.”
“I was careless.”
“You were deliberate.”
“I will face what I did.”
Cross's smile disappeared.
“And I will make sure the truth is known.”
Cross looked away.
For the first time, he seemed afraid.
Because the truth was no longer hidden.
The files had been found.
May you like
The survivors were speaking.
And the children he had treated as experiments were finally becoming people again.
