CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT – WHAT’S SHE UP TO

Laura crouched behind a thick bush, her heart pounding as she watched Vivienne pace nervously. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows – a tall, lean man with a shock of white hair. Laura's blood ran cold as she recognized him: Dr. Carter's right-hand man, known only as "The Alchemist." "You're late," Vivienne hissed. The Alchemist shrugged. "Time is a fickle thing when you're juggling multiple realities. Do you have it?" Vivienne nodded, pulling a small vial from her pocket. "Fresh from the source. Logan suspects nothing." Laura's mind reeled. What was in that vial? And how long had Vivienne been working with Dr. Carter? As she leaned forward to get a better look, a twig snapped under her foot. Vivienne's head whipped around, her eyes scanning the darkness. "Someone's here," she growled. Laura didn't wait to see what would happen next. She turned and ran, her heart pounding in her ears. She could hear Vivienne crashing through the underbrush behind her, gaining ground quickl