NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12: Shadows at Dawn
The sun's first light colored Seoul's skyline gold and pink as Ji-Hyun rode in Sung-min's private car's back seat. Her wedding gown lay packed in the trunk. After what happened at Genesis Lab, walking down the aisle felt almost unreal.
"Reporters are already showing up at the Crystal Palace Hotel," Sarah said from the front seat. Her tablet showed several news feeds. "They think they'll see the year's biggest tech wedding. Instead, they might witness Korea's largest corporate scandal ever."
Min-ah, now stable in her split-mind state, gave a dry smile. "Fifteen years of hidden truths are about to blow up on what you hoped would be your flawless day. I'm sorry, sis."
"Nothing about this was ever going to be flawless," Ji-Hyun said, her hand drifting to her scar. Her neural connection - a result of Protocol Genesis-Omega - let her sense ARIA's presence, which now blended with both digital and organic systems.
"Several security teams are heading to the hotel," ARIA informed them through their shared mind. "Trust Tech's private force, XeeCo's company guards, and... strange groups sneaking in through the back door."
Sung-min lifted his head. He had been calling his loyal board members. "We haven't caught Father yet. We spotted a quantum signature at Genesis Lab – he must have planned for this."
"He always plans," Min-ah agreed. "The wedding means more now. Protocol Genesis-Omega worked so both companies have quantum tech that's worth more than ever. Whoever runs the merger runs the future of human consciousness."
The car twisted through Seoul's waking streets. It passed workers heading out and partiers heading home late. The city seemed unaware of how close it came to digital failure just hours ago. It also didn't know about the change in human evolution that happened in an empty lab.
"Mrs. Yoon just sent a text," Sarah said. "She wants to know where the bride is. The hair and makeup team is waiting."
Ji-hyun shut her eyes, feeling the pressure of what would happen next. Through her neural connection, she sensed the hotel's systems – security cameras, electronic locks, and climate controls, all buzzing with stored energy. And underneath it all something else... something lying in wait.
"They plan to push through the merger," she said at last. "They'll use the wedding as a smokescreen to take over both companies' quantum research."
"We'll stop them before that happens." Sung-min grabbed her hand, providing comfort and reassurance. "Sarah, get in touch with our friends on both boards. Min-ah, can you tap into the hotel's security using your digital mind?"
"I've already done it." Min-ah's eyes flashed with quantum light. "But sister... there's more. The Ghost Protocol members who weren't at Genesis Lab? They're spread out all over the hotel. And they've brought company."
Through their linked minds, Ji-Hyun saw what Min-ah had uncovered – more quantum signals, more digitized mind patterns scattered throughout the building's systems. Chairman Yoon hadn't just run tests on willing participants. He'd created an army.
"How many?" she asked.
"Dozens," ARIA replied. "All stuck between digital and organic forms, unstable and desperate. They've waited years for a shot at what Protocol Genesis-Omega accomplished."
The car entered the hotel's underground parking garage where Sarah had set up a private entrance. As they got out, Ji-Hyun sensed the focus of multiple surveillance systems on them.
"Well," Min-ah said with a bleak smile, "at least you won't need to worry about having enough guests for the ceremony."
"This isn't funny," Sung-min snapped, but Ji-Hyun noticed a glimpse of concern in his eyes. He had already lost one sister to quantum experiments. The idea of losing her too...
"I won't run," she said, caressing his face. "We'll face whatever happens up there together."
Through their neural connections, ARIA and Min-ah started to find weak spots in the hotel while Sarah worked with their friends. But Ji-Hyun saw someone she knew waiting by the service elevator – Mrs. Yoon, flawless as usual in her traditional hanbok.
"Come on dear," her soon-to-be mother-in-law said with a forced smile, "making everyone wait on your wedding day? And Min-ah... how nice to see you've chosen to become part of the family."
The quantum light shimmered in Min-ah's eyes. "Hi, stepmother. You look good for someone who's about to lose it all."
Mrs. Yoon's smile stayed put. "Lose? My sweet inexperienced kids. Who do you think came up with the idea for the marriage in the first place? My husband might know quantum tech, but I..." She lifted her hand, and every digital system in the garage went black. "I know power."
As backup lights switched on, Ji-Hyun noticed ARIA's influence diminish in her mind. Through their brain connection, Min-ah's digital signal turned chaotic and unsteady.
"What did you do?" Sung-min asked.
"I set up a quantum suppression field," his mother answered without emotion. "It's temporary, of course. Just long enough to have a real family talk about where our dynasty is headed. Now..." She pointed to the elevator. "Should we prepare the bride? We don't want to make our guests wait. Any of them."
As the elevator doors closed, Ji-Hyun saw their reflection - the bride, the groom, and the lost sister. Someone led them to what should have been a joyous event but felt more like a snare.
The morning sun rose over Seoul unaware that the destiny of human awareness hung by a thread in one posh hotel. ARIA lingered in the quantum void keeping watch, making plans, and guarding.
The wedding ceremony would start in three hours. The real question was: who would remain when the final notes faded?
Ji-hyun squared her shoulders. She felt the pressure from her two worlds – digital and organic, past and future – at this moment. They had made it through the night's disclosures. Now they faced the day's uprising.
This time, she wasn't just a bride walking to the altar. She was a fighter heading into combat, with family on both ends of the quantum split.
The elevator doors shut, trapping them with their stylish captor. The biggest social gathering of the season got ready to turn into something much riskier: a clash for humanity's future. This battle would use weapons both old and new – family ties, business might, and the core of awareness itself.