The Woman They Built to Obey

Chapter 1: The Woman on the Runway

Mia walked across the runway as if the jet had been waiting for her.

The wind pulled at her coat, but she did not slow down. Ahead of her, a white private jet waited under the sun. At the stairs stood a handsome pilot in a perfect uniform, wearing the calm confidence of a man used to stopping people.

"Excuse me," he said, raising one hand. "This is a private flight."

Mia stopped just long enough to look at him over her sunglasses.

"I know."

The pilot blinked. "Then you're at the wrong plane."

Mia lowered her sunglasses slightly. "What's your name again?"

He hesitated.

"Captain Daniel Mercer."

Mia nodded, walked around him, and started up the stairs.

"Ma'am, you can't just—"

Her phone was already at her ear.

"Hey," she said casually. "Can we swap the pilot on this one? Daniel Mercer. Yes, right now."

Mercer froze halfway up the stairs.

"Look," he said quickly, "I'm sorry. I didn't realize—"

Mia turned at the cabin door.

"That's the whole problem."

She entered the jet.

Inside, the cabin was quiet. A file folder waited on the seat facing hers. Her name was written across the front.

Not Mia Walker.

The name on the folder was Amelia Voss.

A name she had not used since the night she escaped.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

She answered.

Static.

Then a familiar older voice spoke.

"You're late, Amelia."

Mia's fingers tightened around the phone.

"No one calls me that anymore."

"I do."

The cabin door sealed behind her.

The engines began to rise.

Mia opened the folder. Inside was a photograph of a concrete facility by the sea.

Under it, typed in red ink, was one sentence:

Subject A-17 has been recalled.