Locker 317 was inside the old central station.

Daniel returned the next morning.

He waited until the station was crowded.

The locker stood in a forgotten corner.

He inserted the key.

Inside was a small metal box.

Daniel opened it.

There was a photograph.

Tom stood beside a group of men.

Daniel recognized one of them immediately.

Detective Marcus Vale.

The police officer who had investigated Tom’s death.

Daniel’s hands trembled.

Under the photograph was a memory card.

He took it.

Then his phone rang.

Tom’s voice.

“Daniel.”

Daniel stepped back.

“Where are you?”

“You’re closer than you think.”

“Tell me the truth.”

“I’ve been trying to protect you.”

“From who?”

A pause.

“From yourself.”

The call ended.

Daniel stared at the phone.

Suddenly, police officers entered the station.

They were searching for him.

Daniel ran.

He escaped through a side entrance and returned to the hotel.

The memory card contained dozens of files.

Names.

Bank accounts.

Photographs.

Videos.

Daniel opened the final file.

It showed Tom sitting in a dark room.

“Daniel,” Tom said, “The Circle isn’t the real enemy.”

Daniel leaned forward.

“There is someone above them.”

Tom continued.

“Someone who controls The Circle.”

The video ended.

Daniel felt a terrible realization forming.

Someone had been manipulating the organization.

Someone powerful.

He opened the photograph again.

Tom.

Detective Vale.

And a third man.

Daniel recognized him.

Victor Kane.

The city’s most respected businessman.

The man who had donated millions to charity.

The man who owned half the city’s media companies.

Daniel searched the memory card.

Victor’s name appeared everywhere.

Then he found a file titled:

PROJECT MIRROR.

Daniel opened it.

A list appeared.

Names of ordinary citizens.

Teachers.

Doctors.

Lawyers.

Police officers.

Judges.

Politicians.

Each person had a status.

ACTIVE.

Daniel scrolled.

Then he saw his own name.

DANIEL CROSS – SUBJECT 47.

His heart stopped.

Below his name was a photograph.

It showed Daniel sleeping.

Taken inside his apartment.

The date was yesterday.

Daniel closed the laptop.

Someone had been watching him.

For years.

Then a knock came at the door.

Daniel froze.

“Room service.”

He hadn’t ordered anything.

He moved silently toward the door.

A second knock.

He looked through the peephole.

Detective Marcus Vale.

Daniel stepped back.

“Daniel,” Vale said. “I know you’re inside.”

Daniel grabbed his jacket.

The bathroom window opened toward the next building.

He climbed through.

Vale broke down the hotel door.

Daniel escaped.

But he knew he couldn’t run forever.

He needed answers.

That night, Daniel received another message.

COME TO VICTOR KANE’S PRIVATE MUSEUM.

Daniel stared at the screen.

The message continued.

YOU WANT THE TRUTH.

Daniel knew it was dangerous.

But he went.

The museum was empty.

Victor Kane stood alone inside.

He smiled.

“Daniel Cross.”

Daniel stopped.

“You know who I am.”

“Of course.”

“Did you know my brother?”

Victor’s smile disappeared.

“Tom was a brilliant man.”

“What happened to him?”

“He became obsessed.”

“With The Circle?”

Victor walked toward a large painting.

“No. With you.”

Daniel’s heart tightened.

“What does that mean?”

Victor turned.

“Your brother discovered that you were part of an experiment.”

Daniel stared at him.

“What experiment?”

Victor smiled.

“Memory.”

Before Daniel could respond, the museum doors locked.

Gas began filling the room.

Daniel covered his mouth.

Victor disappeared behind a hidden door.

Daniel searched desperately.

Then he saw the painting.

Behind it was a passage.

He escaped.

Outside, he collapsed on the pavement.

His phone rang.

Tom’s voice.

“Daniel, listen carefully.”

Daniel whispered.

“Where are you?”

“Inside The Circle.”

“You’re alive.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you come home?”

“Because they have the person who can destroy them.”

“Who?”

Tom paused.

“Your mother.”

Daniel’s blood turned cold.

“My mother is dead.”

Tom’s voice became almost a whisper.

“That’s what they wanted you to believe.”