The name Cipher mentioned hit everyone like a hard punch.

Dr. Aris Thorne.

The room went completely quiet. It felt like the air had been sucked out. Aris Thorne. Elias’s younger brother. A genius scientist, though quiet and private. He had joined Amelia’s secret team years ago, pulled in by a shared interest in Elias’s research. Aris had always said he wanted to understand Elias’s mistakes and maybe fix them. He had helped study the black liquid after the first outbreak. He had always been trusted. Always.

Jason shook his head slowly, in shock. “Aris? No. That doesn’t make sense. He hated what Elias became. He helped us fight against...