Chapter 16 - The Water
Russell jumped after the drive.
Elias watched him vanish into the harbor.
Federal agents rushed past.
One dove in.
Another pulled Celeste away from the edge.
She was alive.
Shoulder wound.
Furious.
"Get the drive!"
Elias looked at her.
"Still thinking about property."
She spat, "That archive could change medicine."
"It already changed my family."
Russell surfaced twenty feet away.
He had the silver drive.
Then a patrol boat cornered him.
He raised both hands.
It was over.
Almost.
At the hospital, Tomas was stable.
Samuel surrendered.
Celeste and Russell were charged.
Elias testified publicly.
He did not use soft language.
"I funded a system I failed to supervise. I ignored warnings because I trusted profitable people more than uncomfortable facts."
Reporters shouted questions.
One asked whether Grace had healed him.
Elias looked into the cameras.
"No child owes the public access to her body."
Another shouted, "But can she cure paralysis?"
Elias stood with his cane.
"That is exactly the wrong question."
The clip went everywhere.
For the first time in his life, Elias was famous for saying no to something money wanted.
Months passed.
His walking improved slowly.
Doctors could not prove how much came from Grace's contact and how much from renewed nerve activity triggered by the experimental protein.
Elias stopped caring about the distinction.
He could cross a room.
He could hold Grace while standing.
That was enough.
Then the arrhythmias returned.
Elena reviewed his tests.
"We need to suppress the regenerative signal."
"Will I lose movement?"
"Maybe."
He looked at his legs.
Six years ago, the answer would have destroyed him.
Now Mateo was doing homework at the kitchen island.
Ruby was arguing with Mara about an article headline.
Caleb was teaching Grace to throw cereal.
Tomas was asleep on the sofa.
Elena stood in front of him alive.
Elias smiled.
"Do it."
Elena's eyes filled.
"You're sure?"
"I already got the miracle."
She looked at his legs.
He shook his head.
"Not those."
Then the doorbell rang.
A woman stood outside holding a folder.
She introduced herself as Nora Bell.
"My son was Subject G-09."
Elena went pale.
Nora handed Elias the folder.
"He died at Haven."
"I'm sorry."
"He left something."
Inside was a photograph.
Eight children in a lab playroom.
Grace was not the youngest.
A newborn sat in a nurse's arms.
The ankle band read:
G-18.
Nora whispered, "They told us Grace was the last."
May you like
Elias stared at the photograph.
"She wasn't."
