Prologue

December 27th, 2026

I’m starting to lose hope. Project N.O.V.A seems impossible to complete. I thought we were close. The project stirred again today, but the poor girl’s body refused to awaken. The heartbeat is as faint as ever, and from the research we have conducted so far, it won’t be long until it’s gone for good. She’s lasted for so long, but I don’t think it will go on for much longer.

What were my parents thinking when they started this? What had they wanted to achieve? Fame? Glory? Intelligence? All three? I had been excited to follow in their footsteps, but now…

To put it bluntly, I’m starting to hate myself.

Professor Kremlin sighed as he set his notebook and pencil down on the table. It was almost midnight, and the weather outside had turned from rain to hail just a few short hours ago, pelting the roof with pounding force. He was alone that night. Everyone else had gone home three days ago for Christmas Vacation, and he only a couple, if anyone, wouldn’t be back until after the first week of January.

But his thoughts weren’t focused on the missing workers. Instead, all his brain attempted to process was the girl.

Closing his eyes, he let out a loud yawn, stretching his sore arms and legs. Standing up, he walked to the metal table and stared down at his victim. “Project.” He muttered quickly in an attempt to make himself feel better. The girl was lying on her back with metal straps around her arms, legs, and stomach. Her hair- a strange, bright red that reminded him of untainted blood- flowed out around her head. Her eyes were closed, and her mouth remained in an unemotional line. Scientists had dressed her with a comfortable pair of purple pajamas.

She looked the same she had for the past 26 years.

Walking around to the other side, he traced the mark just below her right eye. It looked like a thickly drawn “V” lying on its side, pointing in toward her noise. The shape itself was colored just slightly darker than her skin. In fact, if it wouldn’t have had the thin black outline, someone would have to be just inches away from her to notice it.

It was the mark of a project. Professor Kremlin’s parents had placed it on her the first time she had been brought in.

Sighing, he sat back down again, placing his chin in his hands. The hail outside had turned to snow, and the Project’s finger’s twitched. To think, five years ago, he hadn’t even known that she existed! Of course he knew his parents were scientists, but it wasn’t until they died of natural causes that he learned about Project N.O.V.A. It was so top secret, that even most of the colleagues had no idea what they will went when it said “And we give the details of N.O.V.A over to our son”

At first, he had been thrilled to be a part of such astounding research. It was for a good cause after all. But after learning that they tested on humans, he started to regret ever being excited.

“Professor?” He looked up as a younger scientist walked in.

“Your back early Zale.” He said, slight surprise tied in with his voice.

“I just came to make sure that nothing had been stolen.” Zale shrugged. “Plus, I got lost in the blizzard outside and this place was the closest shelter I could find.” He paused, walking over to the professor. “How is she doing?”

“Same as before.” The professor said quietly as he stood back up. “Completely unconscious, barely breathing, faint blood flow…”

“How long do you think she has left?”

“She’s been in this comatose state for 26 years.”  Was his only reply.

“So your parents actually did it.” Zale said. “They actually created a serum for immortality. She looks so young…”

“Yes but it’s completely useless if everyone who takes it is knocked out cold for the rest of their life.”

Just moments after a finished, a loud beep echoed through the room, catching both of the men’s attention. Turning in surprise, Professor Kremlin immediately pressed his hands to her neck. “The pulse just got stronger!” He pressed the back of his hand against her forehead. “Her temperature’s gone up!”

“But that’s impossible!” Zale rushed over, pressing his fingers against the girl’s wrist for confirmation.

“She might be awakening!” The professor’s eyes widened with a mix of excitement and disbelief.

Without warning, her eyes snapped open, and a terrified scream erupted from her unused lips.

December 28th, 2026

I still can’t believe she awakened. The dream of my parents really has come true!

But this Triumph came with great terror.

It would seem that my family was doing more than testing for immortality, much more then I could have ever imagined.  

To make matters worse, Project N.O.V.A- a terrified girl who could become a potential threat to the word if not taught quickly- has escaped.

Shivering from the cold, she trekked through the harsh storm. Deep, uncontrollable fear made her heart race, but she tried everything she could to keep herself together. Her face was already as white as the snow, and her lips were frosted blue. She was so cold that she found herself unable to even shiver. The outfit she had on was soaked, making her suffering twenty times worse than normal. “Where am I?” She thought, stumbling over her aching feet. “Why can’t I remember anything?”

Tripping over a hidden tree root, she yelped loudly as she tumbled face first into the deep snow. “I can’t move.” She thought weakly too tired to panic. “Someone… please… help…”

The last thing she remembered was a pair of black boots stopping in front of her face, and a voice screaming for help.