For several seconds, nobody moved. Or at least, someone who looked exactly like him.<\/p>\n Marcus walked toward the computer.<\/p>\n \u201cFreeze the image.\u201d<\/p>\n Evelyn did.<\/p>\n Marcus studied the photograph.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s not a photograph.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook at the reflection.\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed to the window behind my father.<\/p>\n There was a distorted reflection.<\/p>\n But it wasn’t my father.<\/p>\n It was someone standing behind him.<\/p>\n A woman.<\/p>\n I leaned closer.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is that?\u201d<\/p>\n Evelyn zoomed in.<\/p>\n The image became grainy.<\/p>\n But the woman’s face slowly became visible.<\/p>\n I knew her.<\/p>\n I had seen her before.<\/p>\n In old family photographs.<\/p>\n In my grandfather’s files.<\/p>\n In the Northstar records.<\/p>\n Elena Vale.<\/p>\n My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n \u201cSo she was there.\u201d<\/p>\n Evelyn nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cShe’s been there from the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at Adrian.<\/p>\n \u201cThen the photograph could have been taken recently.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMeaning my father could still be alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian stared at the screen.<\/p>\n \u201cOr Elena wants you to believe he is.\u201d<\/p>\n I didn’t answer.<\/p>\n Because deep down, I knew.<\/p>\n She wasn’t showing us the photograph to give us hope.<\/p>\n She was showing it to control us.<\/p>\n She wanted me desperate.<\/p>\n She wanted me emotional.<\/p>\n She wanted me to walk straight into her trap.<\/p>\n I looked at the clock.<\/p>\n 2:17 a.m.<\/p>\n Tomorrow morning was approaching.<\/p>\n Elena had given us one night.<\/p>\n One night to find my grandfather.<\/p>\n One night to uncover the truth.<\/p>\n One night to decide whether my father was alive.<\/p>\n Marcus loaded another magazine.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to move.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHospital.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause that’s where Elena’s witnesses are.\u201d<\/p>\n Evelyn shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou won’t make it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause the hospital is already surrounded.\u201d<\/p>\n I stared.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Evelyn pointed toward a monitor.<\/p>\n Security cameras.<\/p>\n Dozens of them.<\/p>\n Every entrance.<\/p>\n Every hallway.<\/p>\n Every floor.<\/p>\n And on one screen, I saw Daniel.<\/p>\n He was standing inside the hospital.<\/p>\n Waiting.<\/p>\n \u201cHe knows we’re coming,\u201d Marcus said.<\/p>\n I smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n Marcus frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cYou keep saying that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause we need him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n I walked toward the map.<\/p>\n I studied the hospital.<\/p>\n Then the archive.<\/p>\n Then the cemetery.<\/p>\n Then the old courthouse.<\/p>\n Four locations.<\/p>\n Four pieces of the same puzzle.<\/p>\n I suddenly understood something.<\/p>\n \u201cDaniel isn’t protecting Elena.\u201d<\/p>\n Marcus looked at me.<\/p>\n \u201cThen what is he doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe’s protecting someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n I pointed to the hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone inside.\u201d<\/p>\n Evelyn shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n I pointed to the patient records.<\/p>\n \u201cLook.\u201d<\/p>\n She opened the database.<\/p>\n I scanned the names.<\/p>\n Then stopped.<\/p>\n One name appeared repeatedly.<\/p>\n CARTER, ELIAS.<\/strong><\/p>\n I stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is Elias Carter?\u201d<\/p>\n Nobody answered.<\/p>\n I looked at Evelyn.<\/p>\n She became pale.<\/p>\n \u201cElias\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n She whispered,<\/p>\n \u201cYour father’s older brother.\u201d<\/p>\n I froze.<\/p>\n \u201cMy father had a brother?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is he?\u201d<\/p>\n Evelyn swallowed.<\/p>\n \u201cHe died before you were born.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at the record.<\/p>\n The patient was listed as deceased.<\/p>\n But the file had been accessed yesterday.<\/p>\n I pointed.<\/p>\n \u201cThen why is someone opening his medical record?\u201d<\/p>\n Evelyn stared at the screen.<\/p>\n Her face changed.<\/p>\n \u201cThat can’t be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n She opened the patient details.<\/p>\n The date of birth was correct.<\/p>\n The name was correct.<\/p>\n But the status had been changed.<\/p>\n ACTIVE.<\/strong><\/p>\n I stepped backward.<\/p>\n \u201cElias is alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Marcus looked at Evelyn.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many people in this family are supposed to be dead?\u201d<\/p>\n She whispered,<\/p>\n \u201cToo many.\u201d<\/p>\n Then the lights flickered.<\/p>\n Once.<\/p>\n Twice.<\/p>\n The archive door slammed shut.<\/p>\n Marcus immediately raised his weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone stay together.\u201d<\/p>\n A sound came from the hallway.<\/p>\n Footsteps.<\/p>\n Slow.<\/p>\n Measured.<\/p>\n Someone was approaching.<\/p>\n Evelyn grabbed my arm.<\/p>\n \u201cThere’s another exit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBehind the shelves.\u201d<\/p>\n We moved.<\/p>\n But before Evelyn could open the hidden door\u2014<\/p>\n a voice came through the speakers.<\/p>\n My father’s voice.<\/p>\n \u201cNathan.\u201d<\/p>\n I froze.<\/p>\n Everyone froze.<\/p>\n The voice continued.<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t leave.\u201d<\/p>\n I stared at the ceiling.<\/p>\n \u201cDad?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian looked at me.<\/p>\n \u201cNathan, don’t.\u201d<\/p>\n But the voice continued.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want to know what happened to me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n A pause.<\/p>\n \u201cCome downstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at Evelyn.<\/p>\n \u201cDownstairs?\u201d<\/p>\n She shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no downstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n The voice spoke again.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is.\u201d<\/p>\n A panel in the floor opened.<\/p>\n A staircase descended into darkness.<\/p>\n Nobody moved.<\/p>\n Then I heard something.<\/p>\n A faint sound.<\/p>\n A heartbeat.<\/p>\n Coming from below.<\/p>\n I looked at Adrian.<\/p>\n He whispered,<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s not a recording.\u201d<\/p>\n I nodded.<\/p>\n We descended.<\/p>\n The staircase was narrow.<\/p>\n Cold air rose from below.<\/p>\n At the bottom was a metal corridor.<\/p>\n On the walls were old photographs.<\/p>\n My father.<\/p>\n My grandfather.<\/p>\n Elena.<\/p>\n Theresa.<\/p>\n Lucy.<\/p>\n Adrian.<\/p>\n Me.<\/p>\n And another man.<\/p>\n Elias.<\/p>\n We reached a door.<\/p>\n It opened automatically.<\/p>\n Inside was a laboratory.<\/p>\n Machines lined the walls.<\/p>\n Medical equipment.<\/p>\n Old monitors.<\/p>\n Cameras.<\/p>\n And in the center\u2014<\/p>\n a glass chamber.<\/p>\n There was someone inside.<\/p>\n An elderly man.<\/p>\n Connected to wires.<\/p>\n I stepped closer.<\/p>\n \u201cElias?\u201d<\/p>\n The man opened his eyes.<\/p>\n He looked at me.<\/p>\n Then smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look just like your father.\u201d<\/p>\n My heart pounded.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re alive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Elena needed me alive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked toward Adrian.<\/p>\n \u201cTo find him.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know me?\u201d<\/p>\n Elias smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew you before you knew yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at me.<\/p>\n \u201cYour family was never meant to have two heirs.\u201d<\/p>\n I frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly one child was supposed to inherit the Carter legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich one?\u201d<\/p>\n Elias smiled sadly.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n I stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat experiment?\u201d<\/p>\n Elias pointed toward the wall.<\/p>\n A photograph appeared on a screen.<\/p>\n Two newborn babies.<\/p>\n One was me.<\/p>\n One was Adrian.<\/p>\n Underneath was a title.<\/p>\n PROJECT LEGACY.<\/strong><\/p>\n Elias spoke slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cElena wanted to know which twin would become more obedient.\u201d<\/p>\n My stomach turned.<\/p>\n \u201cShe raised us differently.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe sent me away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe kept Adrian.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe made us believe we hated each other.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo see which one would eventually return to her.\u201d<\/p>\n I felt sick.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd who won?\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at me.<\/p>\n \u201cNeither.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at Adrian.<\/p>\n \u201cYou both escaped.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian stepped closer.<\/p>\n \u201cThen why are you still working for her?\u201d<\/p>\n Elias shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI stopped working for her years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why stay here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I was waiting for you.\u201d<\/p>\n I frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor both of you.\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed toward a locked cabinet.<\/p>\n \u201cYour father left something there.\u201d<\/p>\n I opened it.<\/p>\n Inside was a small black box.<\/p>\n No lock.<\/p>\n No code.<\/p>\n Just a fingerprint scanner.<\/p>\n I placed my finger on it.<\/p>\n Nothing.<\/p>\n Adrian tried.<\/p>\n Nothing.<\/p>\n Lucy stepped forward.<\/p>\n The box opened.<\/p>\n Everyone froze.<\/p>\n Inside was a single key.<\/p>\n And a note.<\/p>\n I unfolded it.<\/p>\n THE BLOODLINE DOES NOT OPEN THE DOOR.<\/strong><\/p>\n THE MOTHER DOES.<\/strong><\/p>\n I looked at Lucy.<\/p>\n She understood.<\/p>\n She picked up the key.<\/p>\n The moment her fingers touched it, every machine in the room turned on.<\/p>\n The monitors displayed the same image.<\/p>\n A door.<\/p>\n An old wooden door.<\/p>\n I recognized it.<\/p>\n My childhood home.<\/p>\n The basement.<\/p>\n I hadn’t seen that door in years.<\/p>\n Elias whispered,<\/p>\n \u201cThe original house.\u201d<\/p>\n My grandfather’s voice suddenly came through the speaker.<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t open it.\u201d<\/p>\n I spun around.<\/p>\n \u201cGrandfather?\u201d<\/p>\n His face appeared on the monitor.<\/p>\n He looked injured.<\/p>\n But alive.<\/p>\n He was sitting somewhere dark.<\/p>\n Behind him stood Daniel.<\/p>\n Daniel smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou found Elias.\u201d<\/p>\n I stepped closer to the screen.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is my father?\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou still care about him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe’s alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s smile disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome find him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have my grandfather.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet him go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen I’ll come for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel leaned closer.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s what I want.\u201d<\/p>\n The screen went black.<\/p>\n Adrian stared at me.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a trap.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen don’t go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian grabbed my arm.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve spent your entire life walking into traps.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cThen come with me.\u201d<\/p>\n He released my arm.<\/p>\n \u201cI was hoping you’d say that.\u201d<\/p>\n Lucy stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m coming too.\u201d<\/p>\n I shook my head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n She stared.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t get to decide that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re pregnant.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n My heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Lucy looked at me.<\/p>\n Her eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n \u201cI was going to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian stepped backward.<\/p>\n Marcus looked shocked.<\/p>\n I couldn’t speak.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSix weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n I felt everything around me disappear.<\/p>\n A child.<\/p>\n Our child.<\/p>\n Another Carter.<\/p>\n Another life that could be caught in this nightmare.<\/p>\n I walked toward her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn’t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I didn’t know who to trust.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at Marcus.<\/p>\n Then Adrian.<\/p>\n Then Elias.<\/p>\n Everyone had secrets.<\/p>\n Everyone had lied.<\/p>\n But this was different.<\/p>\n This was our future.<\/p>\n I held Lucy’s hands.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re staying here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLucy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked directly into my eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you go, I go.\u201d<\/p>\n I couldn’t argue.<\/p>\n Because I understood.<\/p>\n She had already lost one child.<\/p>\n She wasn’t going to lose another.<\/p>\n Elias watched us.<\/p>\n Then he said something that changed everything.<\/p>\n \u201cYour father knew.\u201d<\/p>\n I turned.<\/p>\n \u201cKnew what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout the baby.\u201d<\/p>\n My heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe left a message.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat message?\u201d<\/p>\n Elias pointed to the monitor.<\/p>\n A video began playing.<\/p>\n My father appeared.<\/p>\n This time, he looked older than I remembered.<\/p>\n Exhausted.<\/p>\n But alive.<\/p>\n He looked directly into the camera.<\/p>\n \u201cNathan.\u201d<\/p>\n I couldn’t breathe.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you’re watching this, then you’ve discovered the truth about Adrian.\u201d<\/p>\n He paused.<\/p>\n \u201cI need you to understand something.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked down.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn’t abandon either of you.\u201d<\/p>\n I felt tears forming.<\/p>\n \u201cI made a terrible choice.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked back at the camera.<\/p>\n \u201cI chose to let Elena believe I was dead.\u201d<\/p>\n I froze.<\/p>\n \u201cSo yes\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n My father continued.<\/p>\n \u201cI am alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Lucy covered her mouth.<\/p>\n Adrian stared at the screen.<\/p>\n My father continued.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I’m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n He leaned closer.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m sorry I made you hate me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI’m sorry I let you believe I died.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I had no choice.\u201d<\/p>\n The video paused.<\/p>\n Then my father’s expression changed.<\/p>\n Fear.<\/p>\n Real fear.<\/p>\n \u201cNathan, if Elena finds out Lucy is pregnant\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He stopped.<\/p>\n The video glitched.<\/p>\n His voice became distorted.<\/p>\n \u201cProtect the child.\u201d<\/p>\n The screen went black.<\/p>\n Then a final sentence appeared.<\/p>\n THE CHILD IS THE KEY.<\/strong><\/p>\n I stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Elias answered.<\/p>\n \u201cThe child carries something Elena needs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Carter bloodline.\u201d<\/p>\n I shook my head.<\/p>\n \u201cThat doesn’t make sense.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt will.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias pulled himself away from the machine.<\/p>\n He looked at Lucy.<\/p>\n \u201cYour child may be the first Carter heir born outside Elena’s control.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo Elena loses control of the succession.\u201d<\/p>\n I understood.<\/p>\n \u201cShe needs the baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlive?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n Elias hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cTo continue the bloodline.\u201d<\/p>\n A terrible realization hit me.<\/p>\n \u201cShe doesn’t want to kill us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe wants us alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cEspecially Lucy.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at Lucy.<\/p>\n Then at Adrian.<\/p>\n Then at the screen.<\/p>\n Elena had spent decades manipulating our family.<\/p>\n But now she needed something from us.<\/p>\n Something she couldn’t manufacture.<\/p>\n A child.<\/p>\n Our child.<\/p>\n I felt anger replace fear.<\/p>\n \u201cShe won’t get it.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cNow you’re thinking like a Carter.\u201d<\/p>\n Suddenly, alarms began screaming.<\/p>\n Red lights flashed.<\/p>\n Elias looked toward the ceiling.<\/p>\n \u201cThey’re here.\u201d<\/p>\n Marcus checked the corridor.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many?\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at the monitors.<\/p>\n \u201cToo many.\u201d<\/p>\n The screens filled with security footage.<\/p>\n Men entering the archive.<\/p>\n Men entering the hospital.<\/p>\n Men surrounding the courthouse.<\/p>\n Then one camera showed something else.<\/p>\n A black helicopter landing on the roof.<\/p>\n Someone stepped out.<\/p>\n Elena Vale.<\/p>\n I stared.<\/p>\n \u201cShe came herself.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cShe doesn’t usually.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy now?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at Lucy.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause she knows about the baby.\u201d<\/p>\n The door behind us began to shake.<\/p>\n Someone was trying to break through.<\/p>\n Marcus raised his weapon.<\/p>\n Adrian stood beside him.<\/p>\n I stood in front of Lucy.<\/p>\n The door shook again.<\/p>\n Then a voice came through.<\/p>\n Elena.<\/p>\n \u201cNathan.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at the door.<\/p>\n \u201cYou wanted me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou wanted my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou wanted Lucy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd now you want my child.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n Then Elena answered.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n I frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cNo?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want something much more valuable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n The door shook again.<\/p>\n Elena’s voice became almost gentle.<\/p>\n \u201cI want you to choose which person in this room dies.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone froze.<\/p>\n I looked at Adrian.<\/p>\n Then Lucy.<\/p>\n Then Marcus.<\/p>\n Then Elias.<\/p>\n The door began opening.<\/p>\n Elena continued.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have sixty seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n A countdown appeared on the monitor.<\/p>\n 60<\/strong><\/p>\n 59<\/strong><\/p>\n 58<\/strong><\/p>\n My grandfather appeared on another screen.<\/p>\n Daniel stood behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cChoose.\u201d<\/p>\n 57<\/strong><\/p>\n 56<\/strong><\/p>\n 55<\/strong><\/p>\n I looked around the room.<\/p>\n There had to be another way.<\/p>\n There always was.<\/p>\n My father had prepared this archive.<\/p>\n He had hidden the evidence.<\/p>\n He had anticipated Elena.<\/p>\n I searched the walls.<\/p>\n The floor.<\/p>\n The machines.<\/p>\n Then I saw it.<\/p>\n A small red light blinking beneath the glass chamber.<\/p>\n I walked toward it.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Marcus asked.<\/p>\n \u201cTrusting my father.\u201d<\/p>\n I opened the panel.<\/p>\n Inside was a button.<\/p>\n One word was written above it.<\/p>\n RESET.<\/strong><\/p>\n The countdown reached:<\/p>\n 30<\/strong><\/p>\n I pressed it.<\/p>\n Everything went dark.<\/p>\n The door opened.<\/p>\n Elena stepped inside.<\/p>\n Daniel followed.<\/p>\n But before either could speak\u2014<\/p>\n the entire building shook.<\/p>\n A massive explosion erupted somewhere above us.<\/p>\n Elena stumbled.<\/p>\n Daniel turned.<\/p>\n Marcus fired.<\/p>\n Chaos exploded.<\/p>\n I grabbed Lucy.<\/p>\n Adrian grabbed Elena.<\/p>\n For one brief second, everyone was fighting everyone.<\/p>\n Then the lights came back.<\/p>\n The glass chamber was empty.<\/p>\n Elias was gone.<\/p>\n And Elena was smiling.<\/p>\n She looked directly at me.<\/p>\n \u201cYou pressed the reset.\u201d<\/p>\n I stared.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t understand what you just activated.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThe original system.\u201d<\/p>\n The floor began opening beneath us.<\/p>\n A deep mechanical rumble filled the room.<\/p>\n Then a hidden elevator rose from beneath the laboratory.<\/p>\n The doors opened.<\/p>\n Inside stood one person.<\/p>\n A man.<\/p>\n Older.<\/p>\n Scarred.<\/p>\n Holding a gun.<\/p>\n I knew him immediately.<\/p>\n My father.<\/p>\n Alive.<\/p>\n He looked at me.<\/p>\n Then at Adrian.<\/p>\n Then Lucy.<\/p>\n And finally at Elena.<\/p>\n His voice was barely a whisper.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s over.\u201d<\/p>\n Elena smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at me.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s finally beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n My father raised his weapon.<\/p>\n And then he said the words that changed everything:<\/p>\n \u201cNathan\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed his gun at me.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n BANG.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" PART 10 \u2014 THE MAN WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD For several seconds, nobody moved. The photograph remained frozen on the screen. My father. Alive. Older. Scarred. Standing beside my … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4598"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4598\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4599,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4598\/revisions\/4599"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe photograph remained frozen on the screen.
\n<\/span>My father.
\n<\/span>Alive.
\nOlder.
\nScarred.
\nStanding beside my grandfather.
\nI stared at his face until my eyes began to hurt.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nThe word escaped my mouth before I could stop it.
\n\u201cNo. That’s not possible.\u201d
\nAdrian stepped closer to the screen.
\n\u201cThat’s him.\u201d
\nI nodded.
\n\u201cIt can’t be.\u201d
\nLucy whispered,
\n\u201cNathan\u2026\u201d
\nI ignored her.
\nMy father had died four years ago.
\nI had seen the body.
\nI had stood at the funeral.
\nI had watched them lower the coffin.
\nI had carried the weight of his death every day since.
\nAnd now there he was.
\nAlive.<\/p>\n