PART 15 — THE TWO DAUGHTERS

The man smiled.
“Finally.”
I couldn’t move.
My arms were still wrapped around the two children.
The baby was crying against my chest.
The older girl was gripping my hand.
And standing in front of me was the man who was supposed to have died before I was born.
The man who had supposedly disappeared from every record.
The man who had created Project Zero.
The man who had been behind everything.
I stared at him.
“Who are you?”
He smiled.
“You know who I am.”
“No.”
“You’ve spent your entire life looking for me.”
“I’ve never seen you before.”
“That is because I made sure you wouldn’t remember.”
My blood ran cold.
I looked toward the younger version of myself standing in the kitchen.
She was staring at me in complete confusion.
“Who are you?” she asked again.
I couldn’t answer.
Because I knew.

She was me.

Before the lies.

Before Diego.

Before the program.

Before the deaths.

Before Adriana.

Before everything.

The man stepped closer.

“Do you know what happens when two versions of the same person meet?”

I tightened my grip on the children.

“Nothing good.”

He laughed.

“Correct.”

My younger self stepped backward.

“Dad?”

The word hit me.

I looked at him.

“Dad?”

He turned toward her.

“Yes.”

My stomach dropped.

My younger self looked terrified.

“What’s happening?”

He smiled.

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

I stepped between them.

“Don’t go near her.”

He looked at me.

“You still think you’re protecting her.”

“I am.”

“No.”

He pointed at the older girl beside me.

“You’re protecting the wrong daughter.”

The girl squeezed my hand.

“Don’t listen to him.”

He smiled.

“You’ve already heard the truth.”

I looked down at her.

“What truth?”

She whispered:

“He needs both of us.”

“Why?”

“Because one remembers the past.”

She pointed at the baby.

“And one remembers the future.”

I stared at the infant.

The baby had stopped crying.

She was looking directly at the man.

Then she smiled.

He stopped smiling.

For the first time, I saw fear in his eyes.

“What is she doing?”

The older girl answered:

“She remembers you.”

The man stepped backward.

“No.”

The baby raised one tiny hand.

The lights above us flickered.

The younger version of me screamed.

“What is happening?”

My father rushed toward her.

But the older girl shouted:

“DON’T!”

He stopped.

The baby began laughing.

Then every clock in the house stopped.

I looked at the nearest one.

12:24

Another.

12:24

Another.

12:24

The same number.

My grandfather whispered:

“She shouldn’t be able to do that yet.”

I stared at him.

“Do what?”

“Remember.”

“Remember what?”

He looked at the baby.

“Everything.”

The lights went out.

A voice came from the darkness.

My voice.

But older.

Calmer.

More frightening.

“Dad.”

Everyone froze.

The voice continued.

“You should have killed me when you had the chance.”

The man looked around.

“Where are you?”

The voice laughed.

“You know where.”

A screen suddenly turned on.

It showed the laboratory.

The original laboratory.

But empty.

Then the camera moved.

Slowly.

Toward a chair.

Someone was sitting there.

A woman.

Older.

Scarred.

And holding a photograph.

It was me.

The woman looked into the camera.

Then she said:

“Hello, Father.”

My grandfather’s face went pale.

“No.”

The woman smiled.

“You thought you destroyed me.”

He whispered:

“I did.”

“No.”

She leaned closer.

“You destroyed one version.”

The screen went black.

Then another appeared.

Another woman.

Another Laura.

Then another.

Then another.

Dozens.

Hundreds.

Thousands.

Every version of me.

Every possible life.

Every possible ending.

My grandfather stepped backward.

“That’s impossible.”

I looked at him.

“You created this.”

“No.”

“You did.”

“I created the first system.”

“And then?”

He looked at me.

“You continued it.”

My stomach tightened.

“What?”

“You were the one who refused to let it end.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“You’re lying.”

He smiled.

“Ask your mother.”

I turned.

My mother was standing in the hallway.

Crying.

“Mom?”

She couldn’t look at me.

“Tell me.”

She remained silent.

“Tell me!”

Finally she whispered:

“He’s telling the truth.”

My heart broke.

“You knew?”

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“Since before you were born.”

I couldn’t breathe.

“What did you know?”

“That you would come back.”

“From where?”

“From every timeline.”

I looked at the older girl.

She was crying now.

My mother continued:

“Your grandfather discovered that your consciousness could survive the collapse of a timeline.”

“And he used me.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because he wanted to create someone who could exist outside time.”

I looked at the baby.

“And he succeeded?”

My mother shook her head.

“No.”

“Then what is she?”

“The consequence.”

The baby suddenly stopped smiling.

She looked directly at my mother.

Then whispered:

“Grandma.”

My mother froze.

“Did she just…”

“Yes.”

The baby spoke again.

“Don’t be afraid.”

My mother began crying harder.

“You remember me.”

The baby nodded.

“How?”

The older girl answered:

“She remembers everyone.”

I stared at the children.

“What are their names?”

The older girl looked at me.

“You already know.”

“No.”

“You’ve called me by my name a thousand times.”

I swallowed.

“Adriana?”

She smiled.

“Yes.”

I looked at the baby.

“And you?”

The baby smiled.

“Eva.”

My heart stopped.

Eva.

The name I had seen in the records.

The name that appeared in one of the oldest files.

The child who was supposed to be the final Subject Zero.

I whispered:

“Eva…”

She reached toward me.

I held her closer.

My grandfather suddenly shouted:

“Take the children!”

Several armed men entered the room.

My mother screamed.

“NO!”

My younger self ran toward me.

“Wait!”

I grabbed her hand too.

Now I was holding three versions of my family.

My younger self.

Adriana.

Eva.

And I suddenly understood.

This wasn’t a rescue.

It was a test.

My grandfather wanted to see which one I’d choose.

I looked at him.

“You’re not taking any of them.”

He smiled.

“Then you will have to choose.”

“Choose what?”

“Which Laura survives.”

I froze.

He pointed toward my younger self.

“She is the original.”

Then toward me.

“You are the anomaly.”

Then toward Adriana.

“She is the reset.”

Then toward Eva.

“She is the future.”

He smiled.

“Only one can remain.”

My younger self started crying.

“Why is he saying this?”

I looked at her.

“Because he’s afraid.”

My grandfather’s smile disappeared.

“Afraid?”

“Yes.”

I stepped forward.

“You created all of this because you were afraid of the future.”

He said nothing.

“You couldn’t control what would happen.”

Silence.

“So you tried to control everyone.”

His jaw tightened.

“You don’t understand.”

“I understand perfectly.”

I looked at the children.

“You thought if you could predict every possible future, you’d never lose anyone.”

My grandfather whispered:

“Exactly.”

“And you were wrong.”

“No.”

“You were.”

He raised his weapon.

“Enough.”

My mother stepped in front of me.

“Don’t.”

He looked at her.

“You were always weak.”

She shook her head.

“No.”

She looked at me.

“I was afraid.”

Then she looked at him.

“But I’m not anymore.”

He fired.

The shot exploded through the room.

My mother fell.

“Mom!”

I screamed.

Everything happened at once.

Adriana ran toward her.

My younger self screamed.

Eva began crying.

Diego appeared from the hallway.

He tackled one of the armed men.

My father rushed in.

The room erupted into chaos.

I dropped to my knees beside my mother.

Blood covered her shirt.

“Mom!”

She grabbed my hand.

“Listen.”

“No.”

“Laura.”

“No!”

“You have to listen.”

I held her tighter.

“Please don’t leave me.”

She smiled weakly.

“I already did.”

“What?”

“In another timeline.”

Tears filled her eyes.

“And I came back.”

I shook my head.

“You can’t leave again.”

She touched my face.

“You have to stop trying to save everyone.”

I stared at her.

“Why?”

“Because that’s how it started.”

Her eyes closed.

“Mom?”

Nothing.

“Mom!”

I shook her.

“Mom!”

Adriana appeared beside me.

She placed her hand on my mother’s chest.

Her eyes closed.

A strange light appeared beneath her palm.

My mother suddenly gasped.

She opened her eyes.

I froze.

“Mom?”

She breathed.

Adriana smiled.

“I remembered where she was.”

My mother stared at her.

“Where?”

“Between.”

My father looked terrified.

“What does that mean?”

Adriana stood.

“She wasn’t dead.”

My mother sat up.

The wound was gone.

Everyone froze.

My grandfather whispered:

“No.”

Adriana turned toward him.

“You taught me how to do it.”

He stepped backward.

“I taught you nothing.”

“You taught my mother.”

He looked at me.

I suddenly remembered.

A memory.

A laboratory.

Me as an older woman.

Standing beside my grandfather.

Holding a baby.

He was teaching me how to transfer memories.

I whispered:

“I created Adriana.”

My grandfather nodded.

“Yes.”

“But you created me.”

“Yes.”

“So who created Eva?”

He didn’t answer.

I looked at the baby.

She was staring at him.

Then she said:

“You did.”

My grandfather’s face went white.

“No.”

Eva smiled.

“You remember.”

He stepped backward.

“You’re not supposed to speak.”

Eva laughed.

“I’m not supposed to exist.”

The room became silent.

She continued:

“But I do.”

My grandfather looked at the machines.

“No…”

Eva pointed toward him.

“You created me to replace them.”

“Stop.”

“You wanted a world where nobody could make a choice you couldn’t predict.”

“Stop!”

“So you created someone who could predict every choice.”

He covered his ears.

“Stop!”

“And then…”

Eva smiled.

“…I chose you.”

The machines suddenly exploded.

Sparks filled the room.

The armed men ran.

My father grabbed my arm.

“WE HAVE TO GO!”

I picked up Eva.

Adriana grabbed my other hand.

My younger self followed.

Diego shouted:

“Laura!”

I turned.

He was standing in front of my grandfather.

My grandfather was on his knees.

Diego held a gun.

“Don’t!”

I ran toward him.

“Diego, no!”

He looked at me.

“He killed millions.”

“I know.”

“He’ll do it again.”

“I know.”

“Then why stop me?”

“Because killing him is what he wants.”

Diego froze.

“What?”

My grandfather looked up.

And smiled.

“You finally understand.”

I stared at him.

“What does he want?”

My grandfather laughed.

“To die.”

Silence.

“Why?”

“Because death is the only timeline I haven’t controlled.”

I felt a chill.

“He wants us to kill him.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“So the system activates.”

I looked at the machines.

The screens were lighting up again.

PRIMARY SUBJECT DEATH DETECTED.

I understood.

“If he dies…”

Adriana whispered:

“The reset begins.”

My grandfather smiled.

“And all of you disappear.”

I pointed the weapon at him.

“You planned this.”

“Yes.”

“You knew we’d come here.”

“Yes.”

“You knew we’d find the children.”

“Yes.”

“You knew we’d try to stop you.”

“Yes.”

I lowered the weapon.

“Then you’re going to be disappointed.”

He frowned.

“What?”

“I’m not killing you.”

His face changed.

“No.”

I stepped backward.

“Everyone out.”

My father looked confused.

“What are you doing?”

“Ending this.”

“How?”

I looked at the machines.

“Without giving him what he wants.”

My grandfather suddenly screamed:

“YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!”

I smiled.

“I understand now.”

I walked toward the central console.

The machine displayed:

PRIMARY SUBJECT: UNKNOWN

I looked at it.

Then I typed one word.

NONE.

The machine rejected it.

INVALID SUBJECT.

I typed again.

NONE.

Again.

INVALID.

Adriana stepped beside me.

“What are you doing?”

“Changing the rules.”

She smiled.

“That’s what you did before.”

“No.”

I looked at her.

“This time I’m not changing the future.”

“Then what?”

“I’m removing the person who controls it.”

I looked toward my grandfather.

His face turned white.

“No.”

I pressed the final command.

DELETE CREATOR.

The entire facility shook.

My grandfather screamed.

The screens went black.

One by one.

His body began disappearing.

Not dying.

Disappearing.

Like a photograph being erased.

“No!”

He reached toward me.

“Laura!”

I didn’t move.

“You can’t erase me!”

I whispered:

“You already erased yourself.”

His body vanished.

The machines stopped.

Silence.

Then—

A single screen turned on.

It displayed:

PROJECT ZERO TERMINATED.

I breathed for the first time in what felt like years.

Adriana smiled.

“It’s over.”

I looked at her.

“Is it?”

She didn’t answer.

Because another message appeared.

PROJECT ZERO: BACKUP ACTIVE.

My heart stopped.

The screen changed again.

BACKUP LOCATION: UNKNOWN.

Then:

BACKUP SUBJECT: EVA.

I looked down.

Eva was awake.

She smiled.

And whispered:

“Mom…”

“Yes?”

Her tiny fingers touched my face.

“Run.”

I froze.

“Why?”

She looked toward the ceiling.

“Because they found us.”

A sound came from above.

Hundreds of footsteps.

Then a voice over the speakers.

Not Elias.

Not my grandfather.

Not Diego.

Not mine.

A completely unfamiliar voice.

“Laura.”

I stared at the ceiling.

“Who are you?”

The answer came immediately.

“The government.”

My father looked at me.

“We have to move.”

The voice continued.

“You have thirty seconds to surrender Subject Zero.”

Adriana stepped forward.

“Which one?”

Silence.

Then the voice answered:

“All of them.”

The lights turned red.

30

29

28

I looked at my younger self.

At Adriana.

At Eva.

At my parents.

At Diego.

And for the first time, I understood something terrifying.

Project Zero hadn’t ended.

We had only destroyed its creator.

The system itself had survived.

And now…

the world knew exactly where we were.

20

19

Adriana grabbed my hand.

“Mom.”

“What?”

“Whatever happens…”

She looked at Eva.

“…don’t let them separate us.”

I nodded.

“I won’t.”

10

9

The doors began opening.

8

My father raised his weapon.

7

My mother stood beside me.

6

Diego moved behind us.

5

Adriana took Eva’s hand.

4

My younger self stepped closer.

3

The doors opened.

2

Hundreds of soldiers flooded the facility.

1

And the woman leading them walked into the room.

I recognized her.

She was the woman from the first photograph.

The one standing beside my grandfather.

The one everyone had said was dead.

She smiled at me.

Then looked at the three girls.

Finally, she said:

“Hello, Laura.”

I stared.

“Who are you?”

She smiled.

“The woman who started Project Zero before your grandfather ever knew it existed.”

My heart stopped.

She pointed at Eva.

“And that child…”

Her smile disappeared.

“…was never created to save humanity.”

She looked directly into my eyes.

“She was created to destroy it.”

Eva smiled.

And whispered:

“That’s not why I’m here.”

The woman frowned.

“Then why are you here?”

Eva looked at me.

And answered:

“Because I’m here to save my mother.”

The soldiers raised their weapons.

Adriana stepped in front of Eva.

I stepped in front of both of them.

And somewhere far beneath the facility, something enormous began waking up.

The woman smiled.

“Then let’s see which future wins.”

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 16…