The mansion never truly slept.
Even at midnight, footsteps echoed through its endless halls.
Jane waited.
Victor had left for his laboratory an hour ago.
Or at least…
That’s what he wanted everyone to believe.
She slipped out of her room barefoot, careful not to make a sound.
She knew exactly where she was going.
Victor’s study.
The door wasn’t locked.
Jane frowned.
Victor locked everything.
Always.
She pushed it open.
Darkness greeted her.
The room smelled of cedarwood and old books.
Moonlight spilled through the tall windows, illuminating Victor’s massive desk.
She walked toward the cabinet she had seen him open only once.
Her trembling fingers reached for the handle.
It opened.
Too easily.
Inside were dozens of black folders.
Each one labeled with a name.
Government officials.
Business executives.
Judges.
Military officers.
Victor had a file on everyone.
Everyone…
Except one.
A gray folder rested alone.
Its label read:
JANE
She quickly pulled it out.
Empty.
Not a single document.
Not one photograph.
Nothing.
Jane frowned.
“No…”
Victor documented everything.
Why would her file be empty?
Then she noticed something.
A faint rectangular outline inside the folder.
Documents had been removed.
Recently.
Someone wanted her to believe there had never been anything there.
A voice broke the silence.
“You found it.”
Jane froze.
Victor stood in the doorway.
His suit jacket was draped over one shoulder.
His expression was calm.
Almost amused.
“I…”
Jane couldn’t speak.
Victor walked toward her without hurry.
“I wondered how long it would take.”
Jane looked from the empty folder back to him.
“You knew I’d come.”
Victor smiled.
“I know you.”
He gently took the folder from her hands.
“You’ve been asking questions since I mentioned Hawk’s brother.”
Jane’s heart skipped.
“So you left this for me.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
Victor closed the folder.
“Because questions are more powerful than answers.”
Jane stared at him.
“You manipulate everything.”
Victor’s smile faded.
“No.”
“I prepare for everything.”
“There is a difference.”
Jane took a shaky breath.
“Who am I?”
For the first time…
Victor didn’t answer immediately.
He studied her face as if searching for the little girl he’d once known.
Finally, he spoke.
“You’re the only person I was never able to control completely.”
Jane’s eyes widened.
“But I tried.”
The confession hung in the air.
Cold.
Unsettling.
Victor turned toward the window.
“You think the medicine made you into someone else.”
Jane’s breathing stopped.
Medicine.
So it was real.
Victor continued.
“It didn’t create a monster.”
“It only removed your hesitation.”
Jane’s knees nearly gave way.
“What… did you make me do?”
Victor remained silent.
At that moment, a discreet vibration came from Victor’s watch.
He glanced at the screen.
Just one message.
Hawk has entered the lower laboratory.
Victor smiled.
Exactly on schedule.
He looked back at Jane.
“Stay here.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
Victor buttoned his jacket.
“Because Hawk has just reached the place I wanted him to find.”
Without another word, Victor walked out.
Jane stood alone in the study, staring at the empty folder.
Then she looked toward the door Victor had left open.
For the first time…
She realized something.
Victor hadn’t forgotten to lock the study.
He had unlocked it…
For her.