Page 7 of Her Immortal Protector

I pace the cramped motel room, mind whirling. If this tip's legit, it blows my initial investigation wide open. Environmental violations were just the tip of the iceberg. What the hell are they really up to?

No time to waste. I grab my laptop, fingers flying over the keys. Flight to Athens, ferry schedules, local contacts. It's a scramble, but within hours, I've got a plan.

It seems the corporation behind this facility is the same one I was originally investigating — a parent company for both Neos Kosmos and Gentech Industries. If one has missing people and the other is conducting unethical experiments…

I have to find out what's going on there.

Two days later, I'm on a rickety boat, salt spray stinging my face as we approach the island. It's smaller than I expected, all rocky cliffs and dense vegetation. Perfect for hiding secrets.

"Remember," I whisper to myself, adjusting my designer sunglasses. "You're Alexia Demas, tech entrepreneur and potential investor. Cool, confident, loaded."

The boat docks, and I step onto the weathered pier, heels clicking against wood. A sleek black car waits at the end, a man in a crisp suit standing beside it.

"Ms. Demas?" He smiles, all teeth. "Welcome to Neos Kosmos. We're thrilled to have you here."

I flash my most dazzling smile. "The pleasure's all mine. I've heard fascinating things about your work."

He opens the car door, and I slide in, heart pounding beneath my carefully calm exterior. As we drive, I take in every detail. The winding road, the security checkpoints, the glimpses of strange structures through the trees.

"Your facility is quite... remote," I comment casually.

The man—Dr. Stavros, he'd introduced himself—nods. "Privacy is essential in our line of work. We're pushing boundaries here, Ms. Demas. Changing the world."

I lean forward, letting excitement creep into my voice. "Tell me more."

As he launches into a carefully rehearsed spiel about "revolutionary biotech" and "unlocking human potential," my mind races. What's really going on behind those sleek walls? What are they hiding?

The car pulls up to a gleaming white building, all curves and glass. It's beautiful, futuristic—and utterly terrifying.

"Shall we begin the tour?" Dr. Stavros asks, opening my door.

I step out, straightening my jacket. "Lead the way."

As we walk towards the entrance, I steel myself. Whatever's inside, I'm going to find out. No matter the cost.

I wait until a lab tech comes up to Dr. Stavros and slip away while he is distracted, my heart racing as I duck into an unmarked corridor. The pristine white walls give way to stark concrete, and the air grows thick with the scent of chemicals.

My journalistic instincts kick into high gear, every nerve on edge as I creep further into the bowels of the facility. The stark contrast between the sleek public facade and this gritty, industrial underbelly only confirms my suspicions - there's definitely something sinister going on here.

I strain my ears, listening for any approaching footsteps, while my eyes dart around, searching for anything out of place. Whatever secrets Stavros is hiding, I'm determined to uncover them, no matter how dangerous it might be.

"Holy shit," I whisper, pulling out my phone to snap photos. Rows of cages line the walls, filled with... something. Not quite human, not quite animal. My stomach churns.

I creep further, documenting everything. Vials of strange, glowing liquids. Charts with impossible data. Files left lying around. I snap pictures, knowing I can read it all later.

"This is it," I breathe, adrenaline surging. "This'll take them down for good."

A shout echoes down the hall. "Hey! You can't be here!"

Shit. I bolt, shoving my phone in my pocket and sprinting past bewildered scientists. Alarms blare, and heavy footsteps thunder behind me.

I burst through an emergency exit, gasping as I hit fresh air. The dense forest looms ahead, my only chance. I'm on a fucking island so I can't get too far.

"Stop her!" Someone yells.

I plunge into the trees, branches whipping my face as I run. My designer heels are long gone, bare feet pounding the earth. I weave between trunks, trying to lose them, but their shouts grow closer.

My lungs burn as I push myself harder. The trees thin, and suddenly I'm skidding to a stop at the edge of a cliff. Waves crash against rocks far below.

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