A NAME WIT

ad lights seemed louder than usual, each flicker amplifying the tension in his chest. He tried to recall anything-anything at all-about himse

ervation glass, whispering among themselves. Larry could hear the faint echoes o

und that should have signaled clarit

over the keyboard. "No matches. No prior records, no criminal hi

barely audible. "I have... I was someone. I remember things-skills, inst

es don't lie. Either you've never existed, or someone erased every trace of you. That incl

ike a punch to the gu

d you gone... from every system, every record, every life you've

. "I do exist. I know I do. I have instincts. I have... memories. The

sympathy. "We'll help you. But first... we need to understand what you're dealing wit

ing-well, maybe something. It's not your usual database match. But there's a series of encrypted f

kipped. "Files?

le servers, multiple layers of encryption. Whoever created this... wanted it hidde

nawing at him. "Then let's see it.

ries of codes, encrypted lines, and digital fingerprints. Larry stared at the numbers and let

d. "I've seen encryption like t

wed. "Wait... you

But it's not going to be easy. And it could be dangerous. Whoe

reak into international, military-grade, enc

nstincts don't lie. And some

ity. "Fine. But know this: if this leads us to the

her. "I don't care. I need

. Codes unravelled, layers peeled back, each breakthrough revealing fragments of a digital footprint he

it it-the fir

ied under dozens of encryption

n echo of something buried deep within him. "Ard

... doesn't match anything in the datab

me, it's like it's been scrubbed

I... I feel it. Arden... it's me. And there's

on them all. Someone had deliberately wiped every trace of Larry Arden. And s

y's tablet flashed with an incoming signal

ted, then

erged. Deep shadows hid the figure's features. But the

you were never meant to remember. And those who erased you... are watching. Every move. Every breath. Step wr

face. "They know... they know I'm he

er gun. "Larry... who

. But I... I feel it. Whatever they are, they're con

ed ordinary, but Larry's instincts screamed otherwise. He cou

behind this... they're patient, powerful, and lethal. Larry... if the

video. The pieces were coming together, but the puzzle was far from complete. And each fra

think they want me to remember. But if I do... everyt

oss her face. "Then we do it together. Whatever comes next,

ainst metal-echoed through the pre

here," he

d in ways that weren't natural. Larry's

lly, the tablet flashed agai

now, Arden? Or mu

ipation, and the faint stirrings of

: the hunt for his past-and for the

the stakes were

ing message on the tablet

now, Arden? Or mu

escent lights flickered overhead, casting jittering shadows across the walls. He c

her eyes scanning the hallway outside the interr

ation. "I don't know. But whoever it is... th

You mean... they know you

"They know. Th

ed with images: locations, schematics of buildings, surveillance stills-one of them showing him, hooded and a

ds trembled as he traced the outline of the fig

ting. We fight. We find out what they w

the danger. Every muscle, every reflex, every shadow of memory told him the same thing: the truth of

e. A younger version of himself, standing beside a man whose face was obscured by shadows. A small girl-her featu

urmured, staring at t

der. "Who? Larry... are yo

t I know the face. And it matters. Whoever erased me... th

hard. "You thin

if she is... she's part of this. And she could

d again, a new message appe

rden. But the game is only begin

d. "What does that mea

they're dangerous. If they say don't trust me... maybe we shoul

brated slightly, almost imperceptibly, but enough to signal movemen

ere," he s

gation room rattled violently. A heavy knock follo

shield Larry. Marcus follow

silent until the last moment. His body moved instinctively, posit

rawn. Larry's muscles tensed. His instincts took over completely-ducking, pivoting, int

. Marcus shouted, struggling to find cover. The room erupted into c

stinctive. And in the chaos, a new realization hit him: he wasn't just fighting for himself. He was fighting for the truth, for the fragment

the arm, and twisted, sending him crashing into a filing cabinet. The man slumped, gro

sharply. "Larry-move t

ine driving him forward despite fear. They reached the stairwel

ackers-the one who had taunted him in previous encoun

, catching their breath. Larry's hands wer

ergency red glow, standing at the end of the hall

't know the connection. But instinct told him: this man held

slowly, voice carrying ef

ing, aren't you? Good. But do you hav

ided inside him. He felt fragments stirring-shapes, f

r happens, we survive this. Together. B

remember... something. And I'll f

owly, deliberately, he raised a hand-and the emergenc

Ella's hand tightened on her gun. Mar

instincts screamed louder than