Tuesday – 6:17 A.M. | Ava's Dorm Rooftop
The sun peeked over the city skyline.
Kieron, Subject 3, slept quietly under layered blankets. His spasms had stopped during the night, but he hadn't spoken since.
Rick stood by the ledge, watching the street below.
Ava stepped out, coffee in hand.
"Didn't sleep?"
"Didn't try," Rick answered. "Someone out there activated that boy like a switch. He's proof this isn't some rogue experiment. It's a system. A weapon."
Ava handed him the coffee.
"What's the plan?"
Rick sipped.
"We find out who's running this from the inside. We expose them. Or we shut them down ourselves."
7:45 A.M. | Carter University – South Wing
The day looked normal. Students passed by, earbuds in, classes in session.
But Rick noticed something strange.
A woman. Black leather jacket. No bag. Standing too still. Watching him.
He pretended not to notice, kept walking.
But when he glanced again… she was gone.
8:09 A.M. | Carter Library – Basement Reading Room
Rick and Ava cross-checked names from the Hollow Bridge database. Old student IDs. Disappearances. A pattern was forming.
Suddenly, the lights flickered.
Then died.
In total darkness, they heard a voice.
Smooth. Calm. Feminine.
> "Subject 7… Subject 12. You've breached operational zones and interfered with extraction protocols."
Ava whispered:
"That's not a recorded message."
The lights returned.
A woman now stood inside the room.
Late twenties. Sharp gaze. Short white-blonde hair. A long, coiled tattoo ran from her wrist to her jaw — a black widow spider.
Rick instinctively shifted in front of Ava.
"You're with Hollow Bridge."
She smiled faintly. "I am Hollow Bridge."
8:11 A.M. | Library Standoff
Ava pulled a shock pen from her coat.
The woman laughed.
"You think I came unarmed?"
She stepped forward.
"I'm Subject 9. They call me Widow. Unlike you two… I volunteered."
Rick held his ground.
"What do you want?"
"To deliver a message: Stop digging. Stop rescuing. And stop pretending your morality gives you immunity."
"Or what?" Ava snapped.
Widow's eyes flared — she moved in a blur, closing the gap between her and Rick in seconds.
She whispered into his ear:
"Or I remind you what grief feels like... again."
8:15 A.M. | Quick Escape
Rick threw a chair at the emergency alarm.
Ava yanked the fire sprinkler override.
Water burst through the ceiling — Widow hissed and shielded her face.
They ran.
Through the smoke. Up the stairwell. Back into sunlight.
Ava gasped, hands on her knees. "That's Widow? She was a myth. A cautionary story in hacker forums.
Rick's jaw tightened.
"She's real. And she's not just following orders."
11:02 A.M. | Rooftop – Return
Kieron was awake. Barely. His voice hoarse.
"They're watching... everything. Even this. You think you're safe here. You're not."
Rick crouched beside him.
"Who is Widow?"
Kieron looked terrified.
"She was the prototype. Before us. They let her choose. She chose power. She never left."
Ava frowned.
"Then she's what happens when the project succeeds."
Kieron nodded weakly.
"She'll be back."
Final Scene – Hollow Bridge HQ
Widow stood in a white, sterile room.
A large mirror on one wall. Behind it, observers in suits. Silent.
She stared at her reflection.
"Subject 9 has made contact," a voice reported over comms.
Widow smiled. Not kind.
"He still has emotion. Still has weakness."
She traced the black widow on her skin.
"That means I'll always be stronger."