Chapter 10: The Night Shruti Was Kidnapped

Rain attacked the ocean violently.

Black waves crashed against sharp volcanic rocks surrounding the private island while lightning tore across the midnight sky like cracks in the heavens.

From above, the island looked abandoned.

No official maps showed its existence.

No satellites publicly recognized it.

But hidden beneath the dense tropical forest stood one of the most dangerous research facilities in the world.

Facility G-9.

Owned secretly by Mathew Harry.

Protected by governments.

Funded by billionaires.

Feared by people who knew too much.

And tonight…

Shruti Talwar was trapped inside it.

—

Her consciousness returned slowly.

Pain exploded behind her eyes.

Cold metal pressed against her wrists.

The smell of chemicals filled the air.

Shruti opened her eyes weakly.

Dark room.

Steel walls.

A single white light hanging above her head.

For several seconds she couldn’t remember what happened.

Then flashes returned suddenly.

The mountain road.

Gunshots.

Masked men.

A black helicopter descending through fog.

And William shouting her name before explosions separated them.

Fear hit instantly.

“William…”

Her voice came out barely as a whisper.

The door opened.

Two armed guards entered first.

Then Mathew Harry walked inside calmly.

Expensive black suit.

Perfect posture.

Cold blue eyes carrying the smile of a man who enjoyed controlling fear.

“Good evening, Miss Talwar.”

Shruti’s breathing hardened immediately.

“What do you want?”

Mathew sat across from her casually.

“You inherited your father’s intelligence.”

“You kidnapped me.”

“A temporary inconvenience.”

“You’re insane.”

He smiled faintly.

“People often confuse vision with insanity.”

Shruti looked around carefully.

“Where am I?”

“A place the world prefers not to know exists.”

Lightning flashed outside narrow glass panels behind him.

For one brief moment Shruti saw ocean waves crashing far below cliffs.

An island.

Isolated.

Hidden.

Mathew leaned forward slightly.

“William Singh will contact us soon.”

Her chest tightened.

“You won’t touch him.”

“Oh, I fully intend to.”

The room suddenly felt colder.

Mathew placed a digital tablet on the table between them.

Several holographic files appeared instantly.

Military contracts.

Wildlife drone schematics.

Global political maps.

Target systems.

Shruti stared in confusion.

Then horror slowly replaced it.

Mechanical animal drones.

Thousands of them.

Wolves.

Birds.

Panthers.

Insects.

All weaponized.

All controlled by artificial intelligence.

“This…” Shruti whispered. “This isn’t wildlife protection.”

Mathew’s smile widened slightly.

“Protection is merely the marketing version.”

“You’re building military surveillance systems.”

“No,” he corrected calmly. “I’m building the future.”

He activated another hologram.

AI-controlled drone birds entered simulated cities silently.

Within seconds they hacked communications towers, disabled vehicles, and tracked civilians through facial recognition.

Another simulation showed robotic wolves attacking armed targets inside forests.

Shruti’s stomach twisted.