Luna. Chapter 137

(Lyra's POV)

Iris arrived at the hospital within an hour, bringing files and photographs that made my stomach turn. Evidence of the systematic collection and abuse of supernatural children dating back decades.

"How long has this been going on?" I asked, flipping through documents that detailed "research protocols" and "ability enhancement procedures."

"Based on what we've found, at least twenty years. Maybe longer." Iris sat down beside my bed, her expression grim. "Emma wasn't the first child to escape. She's just the first one brave enough to talk."

"Where are the others?"

"Dead. Missing. Or too traumatized to function." Iris pulled out a photograph of a young boy, maybe ten years old. "This is Marcus. He escaped three years ago. Powers similar to Asher's—celestial wolf hybrid with enhanced psychic abilities."

"What happened to him?"

"Suicide. Left a note saying he couldn't live with what they'd done to him."

I closed my eyes, feeling sick. This could be Asher's future if we didn't stop them.

"How many children are we talking about?"

"Currently? We estimate fifteen to twenty kids are being held at the royal estate. But over the years, hundreds have been processed through their program."

"Processed." The clinical term made my blood boil. "They're children, not inventory."

"To them, that's exactly what they are. Resources to be developed and exploited."

A soft knock interrupted our conversation. Emma appeared in the doorway again, this time accompanied by another girl—older, maybe twelve, with the same haunted expression.

"Luna? This is Sage. She wants to tell you something too."

Sage stepped forward hesitantly. "I was at the house longer than Emma. I saw more things."

"What did you see?"

"They have a special room. Underground. Where they keep the kids with the strongest abilities."

"How many kids?"

"Five. Maybe six. They're kept separate from everyone else."

"Why?"

Sage looked down at her hands. "Because they're the ones who fight back. The ones who won't cooperate."

"What happens to them?"

"Bad things. They have machines down there. Things that hurt you if you try to use your powers."

I felt rage building in my chest. They were torturing children for the crime of having supernatural abilities.

"Sage, can you remember anything about the layout of this underground area?"

"There's a big metal door. You need a special card to get in. And there are cameras everywhere."

"How many guards?"

"During the day, maybe four or five. At night, just two."

Iris leaned forward. "You're thinking about a rescue operation."

"I'm thinking about getting those children out of there before more of them end up like Marcus."

"Lyra, the risks—"

"The risks to them if we do nothing are worse than the risks to us if we try."

"What about Asher? What about your own family?"

"What kind of world am I protecting Asher for if we allow this to continue?"

Iris was quiet for a moment, clearly weighing the implications. "It would have to be a surgical strike. Small team, fast entry and exit."

"Who would we need?"

"Someone with intimate knowledge of the estate layout. Someone with the skills to disable security systems. And someone powerful enough to handle whatever supernatural defenses they have in place."

"I know the layout," Sage said quietly. "I could draw you a map."

"Sage, you're twelve years old—"

"I'm twelve years old with photographic memory and two years of experience navigating that place." Her voice was stronger now, determined. "Those kids down there, they're my friends. I'm not leaving them behind."

Emma nodded emphatically. "We want to help."

"Absolutely not. It's too dangerous."

"More dangerous than what's already happening to them?" Sage's question hung in the air.

She was right. We were talking about children who were already living in hell. A rescue mission might be risky, but doing nothing was a guaranteed death sentence.

"We'd need Council backing," Iris said. "Official sanction for the operation."

"Would we get it?"

"If we present enough evidence, maybe. But it would take time. Weeks, possibly months."

"Those children don't have weeks."

"Then we do it without official sanction."

I stared at Iris. "You'd risk your career for this?"

"I'd risk everything for this. Some things are more important than following proper channels."

"What about backup? Support?"

"Your pack. Kael's pack. Anyone else with a conscience who's willing to stand up for children."

I thought about the conversation I'd had with Derek earlier, about being prepared for war. This felt like the first battle.

"When?"

"As soon as possible. Before they realize Emma and Sage have given us intelligence."

"How soon?"

"Tomorrow night. New moon, minimal visibility, skeleton guard rotation."

I looked at the two young girls who'd already survived horrors no child should face, who were now volunteering to help rescue others.

"We do this right. No unnecessary risks. And the children's safety comes first, before everything else."

"Agreed," Iris said.

"And if something goes wrong, if we're captured—"

"Then we make sure the truth comes out anyway. No matter what it costs us personally."

I thought about Kael, about the conversation we'd had about marriage and legal protection. All of that seemed secondary now compared to children being tortured in underground facilities.

"Iris?"

"Yeah?"

"Get me a secure phone. I need to call in some favors."

"What kind of favors?"

"The kind that might get us all killed. But might also save those kids."

Iris smiled grimly. "My favorite kind."