The man smiled.
\n\u201cFinally.\u201d
\nI couldn’t move.
\nMy arms were still wrapped around the two children.
\nThe baby was crying against my chest.
\nThe older girl was gripping my hand.
\nAnd standing in front of me was the man who was supposed to have died before I was born.
\nThe man who had supposedly disappeared from every record.
\nThe man who had created Project Zero.
\nThe man who had been behind everything.
\nI stared at him.
\n\u201cWho are you?\u201d
\nHe smiled.
\n\u201cYou know who I am.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cYou’ve spent your entire life looking for me.\u201d
\n\u201cI’ve never seen you before.\u201d
\n\u201cThat is because I made sure you wouldn’t remember.\u201d
\nMy blood ran cold.
\nI looked toward the younger version of myself standing in the kitchen.
\nShe was staring at me in complete confusion.
\n\u201cWho are you?\u201d she asked again.
\nI couldn’t answer.
\nBecause I knew.<\/p>\n
She was me.<\/p>\n
Before the lies.<\/p>\n
Before Diego.<\/p>\n
Before the program.<\/p>\n
Before the deaths.<\/p>\n
Before Adriana.<\/p>\n
Before everything.<\/p>\n
The man stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know what happens when two versions of the same person meet?\u201d<\/p>\n
I tightened my grip on the children.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing good.\u201d<\/p>\n
He laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cCorrect.\u201d<\/p>\n
My younger self stepped backward.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad?\u201d<\/p>\n
The word hit me.<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad?\u201d<\/p>\n
He turned toward her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach dropped.<\/p>\n
My younger self looked terrified.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat’s happening?\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing you need to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stepped between them.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon’t go near her.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou still think you’re protecting her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
He pointed at the older girl beside me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’re protecting the wrong daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
The girl squeezed my hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon’t listen to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’ve already heard the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked down at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat truth?\u201d<\/p>\n
She whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cHe needs both of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause one remembers the past.\u201d<\/p>\n
She pointed at the baby.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd one remembers the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at the infant.<\/p>\n
The baby had stopped crying.<\/p>\n
She was looking directly at the man.<\/p>\n
Then she smiled.<\/p>\n
He stopped smiling.<\/p>\n
For the first time, I saw fear in his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is she doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
The older girl answered:<\/p>\n
\u201cShe remembers you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man stepped backward.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The baby raised one tiny hand.<\/p>\n
The lights above us flickered.<\/p>\n
The younger version of me screamed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is happening?\u201d<\/p>\n
My father rushed toward her.<\/p>\n
But the older girl shouted:<\/p>\n
\u201cDON’T!\u201d<\/p>\n
He stopped.<\/p>\n
The baby began laughing.<\/p>\n
Then every clock in the house stopped.<\/p>\n
I looked at the nearest one.<\/p>\n
12:24<\/strong><\/p>\n Another.<\/p>\n 12:24<\/strong><\/p>\n Another.<\/p>\n 12:24<\/strong><\/p>\n The same number.<\/p>\n My grandfather whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cShe shouldn’t be able to do that yet.\u201d<\/p>\n I stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cDo what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRemember.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRemember what?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at the baby.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything.\u201d<\/p>\n The lights went out.<\/p>\n A voice came from the darkness.<\/p>\n My voice.<\/p>\n But older.<\/p>\n Calmer.<\/p>\n More frightening.<\/p>\n \u201cDad.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone froze.<\/p>\n The voice continued.<\/p>\n \u201cYou should have killed me when you had the chance.\u201d<\/p>\n The man looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are you?\u201d<\/p>\n The voice laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know where.\u201d<\/p>\n A screen suddenly turned on.<\/p>\n It showed the laboratory.<\/p>\n The original laboratory.<\/p>\n But empty.<\/p>\n Then the camera moved.<\/p>\n Slowly.<\/p>\n Toward a chair.<\/p>\n Someone was sitting there.<\/p>\n A woman.<\/p>\n Older.<\/p>\n Scarred.<\/p>\n And holding a photograph.<\/p>\n It was me.<\/p>\n The woman looked into the camera.<\/p>\n Then she said:<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Father.\u201d<\/p>\n My grandfather’s face went pale.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n The woman smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou thought you destroyed me.\u201d<\/p>\n He whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cI did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n She leaned closer.<\/p>\n \u201cYou destroyed one version.\u201d<\/p>\n The screen went black.<\/p>\n Then another appeared.<\/p>\n Another woman.<\/p>\n Another Laura.<\/p>\n Then another.<\/p>\n Then another.<\/p>\n Dozens.<\/p>\n Hundreds.<\/p>\n Thousands.<\/p>\n Every version of me.<\/p>\n Every possible life.<\/p>\n Every possible ending.<\/p>\n My grandfather stepped backward.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou created this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI created the first system.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at me.<\/p>\n \u201cYou continued it.\u201d<\/p>\n My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were the one who refused to let it end.\u201d<\/p>\n I shook my head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re lying.\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cAsk your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n I turned.<\/p>\n My mother was standing in the hallway.<\/p>\n Crying.<\/p>\n \u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n She couldn’t look at me.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me.\u201d<\/p>\n She remained silent.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me!\u201d<\/p>\n Finally she whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cHe’s telling the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n My heart broke.<\/p>\n \u201cYou knew?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow long?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSince before you were born.\u201d<\/p>\n I couldn’t breathe.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat you would come back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrom where?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrom every timeline.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at the older girl.<\/p>\n She was crying now.<\/p>\n My mother continued:<\/p>\n \u201cYour grandfather discovered that your consciousness could survive the collapse of a timeline.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he used me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause he wanted to create someone who could exist outside time.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at the baby.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he succeeded?\u201d<\/p>\n My mother shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen what is she?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe consequence.\u201d<\/p>\n The baby suddenly stopped smiling.<\/p>\n She looked directly at my mother.<\/p>\n Then whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cGrandma.\u201d<\/p>\n My mother froze.<\/p>\n \u201cDid she just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n The baby spoke again.<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t be afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n My mother began crying harder.<\/p>\n \u201cYou remember me.\u201d<\/p>\n The baby nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n The older girl answered:<\/p>\n \u201cShe remembers everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n I stared at the children.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are their names?\u201d<\/p>\n The older girl looked at me.<\/p>\n \u201cYou already know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve called me by my name a thousand times.\u201d<\/p>\n I swallowed.<\/p>\n \u201cAdriana?\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at the baby.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you?\u201d<\/p>\n The baby smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cEva.\u201d<\/p>\n My heart stopped.<\/p>\n Eva.<\/p>\n The name I had seen in the records.<\/p>\n The name that appeared in one of the oldest files.<\/p>\n The child who was supposed to be the final Subject Zero.<\/p>\n I whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cEva\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She reached toward me.<\/p>\n I held her closer.<\/p>\n My grandfather suddenly shouted:<\/p>\n \u201cTake the children!\u201d<\/p>\n Several armed men entered the room.<\/p>\n My mother screamed.<\/p>\n \u201cNO!\u201d<\/p>\n My younger self ran toward me.<\/p>\n \u201cWait!\u201d<\/p>\n I grabbed her hand too.<\/p>\n Now I was holding three versions of my family.<\/p>\n My younger self.<\/p>\n Adriana.<\/p>\n Eva.<\/p>\n And I suddenly understood.<\/p>\n This wasn’t a rescue.<\/p>\n It was a test.<\/p>\n My grandfather wanted to see which one I’d choose.<\/p>\n I looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re not taking any of them.\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThen you will have to choose.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChoose what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich Laura survives.\u201d<\/p>\n I froze.<\/p>\n He pointed toward my younger self.<\/p>\n \u201cShe is the original.\u201d<\/p>\n Then toward me.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are the anomaly.\u201d<\/p>\n Then toward Adriana.<\/p>\n \u201cShe is the reset.\u201d<\/p>\n Then toward Eva.<\/p>\n \u201cShe is the future.\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly one can remain.\u201d<\/p>\n My younger self started crying.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy is he saying this?\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause he’s afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n My grandfather’s smile disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201cAfraid?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n I stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cYou created all of this because you were afraid of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n He said nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cYou couldn’t control what would happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you tried to control everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n His jaw tightened.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand perfectly.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at the children.<\/p>\n \u201cYou thought if you could predict every possible future, you’d never lose anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n My grandfather whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you were wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were.\u201d<\/p>\n He raised his weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cEnough.\u201d<\/p>\n My mother stepped in front of me.<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were always weak.\u201d<\/p>\n She shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at me.<\/p>\n \u201cI was afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n Then she looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I’m not anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n He fired.<\/p>\n The shot exploded through the room.<\/p>\n My mother fell.<\/p>\n \u201cMom!\u201d<\/p>\n I screamed.<\/p>\n Everything happened at once.<\/p>\n Adriana ran toward her.<\/p>\n My younger self screamed.<\/p>\n Eva began crying.<\/p>\n Diego appeared from the hallway.<\/p>\n He tackled one of the armed men.<\/p>\n My father rushed in.<\/p>\n The room erupted into chaos.<\/p>\n I dropped to my knees beside my mother.<\/p>\n Blood covered her shirt.<\/p>\n \u201cMom!\u201d<\/p>\n She grabbed my hand.<\/p>\n \u201cListen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLaura.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to listen.\u201d<\/p>\n I held her tighter.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease don’t leave me.\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled weakly.<\/p>\n \u201cI already did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn another timeline.\u201d<\/p>\n Tears filled her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I came back.\u201d<\/p>\n I shook my head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can’t leave again.\u201d<\/p>\n She touched my face.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to stop trying to save everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n I stared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause that’s how it started.\u201d<\/p>\n Her eyes closed.<\/p>\n \u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n Nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cMom!\u201d<\/p>\n I shook her.<\/p>\n \u201cMom!\u201d<\/p>\n Adriana appeared beside me.<\/p>\n She placed her hand on my mother’s chest.<\/p>\n Her eyes closed.<\/p>\n A strange light appeared beneath her palm.<\/p>\n My mother suddenly gasped.<\/p>\n She opened her eyes.<\/p>\n I froze.<\/p>\n \u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n She breathed.<\/p>\n Adriana smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI remembered where she was.\u201d<\/p>\n My mother stared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBetween.\u201d<\/p>\n My father looked terrified.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Adriana stood.<\/p>\n \u201cShe wasn’t dead.\u201d<\/p>\n My mother sat up.<\/p>\n The wound was gone.<\/p>\n Everyone froze.<\/p>\n My grandfather whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Adriana turned toward him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou taught me how to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n He stepped backward.<\/p>\n \u201cI taught you nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou taught my mother.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at me.<\/p>\n I suddenly remembered.<\/p>\n A memory.<\/p>\n A laboratory.<\/p>\n Me as an older woman.<\/p>\n Standing beside my grandfather.<\/p>\n Holding a baby.<\/p>\n He was teaching me how to transfer memories.<\/p>\n I whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cI created Adriana.\u201d<\/p>\n My grandfather nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you created me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo who created Eva?\u201d<\/p>\n He didn’t answer.<\/p>\n I looked at the baby.<\/p>\n She was staring at him.<\/p>\n Then she said:<\/p>\n \u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n My grandfather’s face went white.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Eva smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou remember.\u201d<\/p>\n He stepped backward.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re not supposed to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n Eva laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m not supposed to exist.\u201d<\/p>\n The room became silent.<\/p>\n She continued:<\/p>\n \u201cBut I do.\u201d<\/p>\n My grandfather looked at the machines.<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Eva pointed toward him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou created me to replace them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStop.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou wanted a world where nobody could make a choice you couldn’t predict.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStop!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you created someone who could predict every choice.\u201d<\/p>\n He covered his ears.<\/p>\n \u201cStop!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Eva smiled.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026I chose you.\u201d<\/p>\n The machines suddenly exploded.<\/p>\n Sparks filled the room.<\/p>\n The armed men ran.<\/p>\n My father grabbed my arm.<\/p>\n \u201cWE HAVE TO GO!\u201d<\/p>\n I picked up Eva.<\/p>\n Adriana grabbed my other hand.<\/p>\n My younger self followed.<\/p>\n Diego shouted:<\/p>\n \u201cLaura!\u201d<\/p>\n I turned.<\/p>\n He was standing in front of my grandfather.<\/p>\n My grandfather was on his knees.<\/p>\n Diego held a gun.<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t!\u201d<\/p>\n I ran toward him.<\/p>\n \u201cDiego, no!\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at me.<\/p>\n \u201cHe killed millions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe’ll do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why stop me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause killing him is what he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n Diego froze.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n My grandfather looked up.<\/p>\n And smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou finally understand.\u201d<\/p>\n I stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does he want?\u201d<\/p>\n My grandfather laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cTo die.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause death is the only timeline I haven’t controlled.\u201d<\/p>\n I felt a chill.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wants us to kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo the system activates.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at the machines.<\/p>\n The screens were lighting up again.<\/p>\n PRIMARY SUBJECT DEATH DETECTED.<\/strong><\/p>\n I understood.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he dies\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Adriana whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThe reset begins.\u201d<\/p>\n My grandfather smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd all of you disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n I pointed the weapon at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou planned this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou knew we’d come here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou knew we’d find the children.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou knew we’d try to stop you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n I lowered the weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cThen you’re going to be disappointed.\u201d<\/p>\n He frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI’m not killing you.\u201d<\/p>\n His face changed.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n I stepped backward.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone out.\u201d<\/p>\n My father looked confused.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEnding this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at the machines.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout giving him what he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n My grandfather suddenly screamed:<\/p>\n \u201cYOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!\u201d<\/p>\n I smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand now.\u201d<\/p>\n I walked toward the central console.<\/p>\n The machine displayed:<\/p>\n PRIMARY SUBJECT: UNKNOWN<\/strong><\/p>\n I looked at it.<\/p>\n Then I typed one word.<\/p>\n NONE.<\/strong><\/p>\n The machine rejected it.<\/p>\n INVALID SUBJECT.<\/strong><\/p>\n I typed again.<\/p>\n NONE.<\/strong><\/p>\n Again.<\/p>\n INVALID.<\/strong><\/p>\n Adriana stepped beside me.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChanging the rules.\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s what you did before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cThis time I’m not changing the future.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI’m removing the person who controls it.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked toward my grandfather.<\/p>\n His face turned white.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n I pressed the final command.<\/p>\n DELETE CREATOR.<\/strong><\/p>\n The entire facility shook.<\/p>\n My grandfather screamed.<\/p>\n The screens went black.<\/p>\n One by one.<\/p>\n His body began disappearing.<\/p>\n Not dying.<\/p>\n Disappearing.<\/p>\n Like a photograph being erased.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n He reached toward me.<\/p>\n \u201cLaura!\u201d<\/p>\n I didn’t move.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can’t erase me!\u201d<\/p>\n I whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cYou already erased yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n His body vanished.<\/p>\n The machines stopped.<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n Then\u2014<\/p>\n A single screen turned on.<\/p>\n It displayed:<\/p>\n PROJECT ZERO TERMINATED.<\/strong><\/p>\n I breathed for the first time in what felt like years.<\/p>\n Adriana smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s over.\u201d<\/p>\n I looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it?\u201d<\/p>\n She didn’t answer.<\/p>\n Because another message appeared.<\/p>\n PROJECT ZERO: BACKUP ACTIVE.<\/strong><\/p>\n My heart stopped.<\/p>\n The screen changed again.<\/p>\n BACKUP LOCATION: UNKNOWN.<\/strong><\/p>\n Then:<\/p>\n BACKUP SUBJECT: EVA.<\/strong><\/p>\n I looked down.<\/p>\n Eva was awake.<\/p>\n She smiled.<\/p>\n And whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cMom\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n Her tiny fingers touched my face.<\/p>\n \u201cRun.\u201d<\/p>\n I froze.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n She looked toward the ceiling.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause they found us.\u201d<\/p>\n A sound came from above.<\/p>\n Hundreds of footsteps.<\/p>\n Then a voice over the speakers.<\/p>\n Not Elias.<\/p>\n Not my grandfather.<\/p>\n Not Diego.<\/p>\n Not mine.<\/p>\n A completely unfamiliar voice.<\/p>\n \u201cLaura.\u201d<\/p>\n I stared at the ceiling.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n The answer came immediately.<\/p>\n \u201cThe government.\u201d<\/p>\n My father looked at me.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to move.\u201d<\/p>\n The voice continued.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have thirty seconds to surrender Subject Zero.\u201d<\/p>\n Adriana stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cWhich one?\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n Then the voice answered:<\/p>\n \u201cAll of them.\u201d<\/p>\n The lights turned red.<\/p>\n 30<\/strong><\/p>\n 29<\/strong><\/p>\n 28<\/strong><\/p>\n I looked at my younger self.<\/p>\n At Adriana.<\/p>\n At Eva.<\/p>\n At my parents.<\/p>\n At Diego.<\/p>\n And for the first time, I understood something terrifying.<\/p>\n Project Zero hadn’t ended.<\/p>\n We had only destroyed its creator.<\/p>\n The system itself had survived.<\/p>\n And now\u2026<\/p>\n the world knew exactly where we were.<\/p>\n 20<\/strong><\/p>\n 19<\/strong><\/p>\n Adriana grabbed my hand.<\/p>\n \u201cMom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever happens\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at Eva.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026don’t let them separate us.\u201d<\/p>\n I nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI won’t.\u201d<\/p>\n 10<\/strong><\/p>\n 9<\/strong><\/p>\n The doors began opening.<\/p>\n 8<\/strong><\/p>\n My father raised his weapon.<\/p>\n 7<\/strong><\/p>\n My mother stood beside me.<\/p>\n 6<\/strong><\/p>\n Diego moved behind us.<\/p>\n 5<\/strong><\/p>\n Adriana took Eva’s hand.<\/p>\n 4<\/strong><\/p>\n My younger self stepped closer.<\/p>\n 3<\/strong><\/p>\n The doors opened.<\/p>\n 2<\/strong><\/p>\n Hundreds of soldiers flooded the facility.<\/p>\n 1<\/strong><\/p>\n And the woman leading them walked into the room.<\/p>\n I recognized her.<\/p>\n She was the woman from the first photograph.<\/p>\n The one standing beside my grandfather.<\/p>\n The one everyone had said was dead.<\/p>\n She smiled at me.<\/p>\n Then looked at the three girls.<\/p>\n Finally, she said:<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Laura.\u201d<\/p>\n I stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThe woman who started Project Zero before your grandfather ever knew it existed.\u201d<\/p>\n My heart stopped.<\/p>\n She pointed at Eva.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that child\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Her smile disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026was never created to save humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked directly into my eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was created to destroy it.\u201d<\/p>\n Eva smiled.<\/p>\n And whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s not why I’m here.\u201d<\/p>\n The woman frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cThen why are you here?\u201d<\/p>\n Eva looked at me.<\/p>\n And answered:<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I’m here to save my mother.\u201d<\/p>\n The soldiers raised their weapons.<\/p>\n Adriana stepped in front of Eva.<\/p>\n I stepped in front of both of them.<\/p>\n And somewhere far beneath the facility, something enormous began waking up.<\/p>\n The woman smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThen let’s see which future wins.\u201d<\/p>\n TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 16\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" PART 15 \u2014 THE TWO DAUGHTERS The man smiled. \u201cFinally.\u201d I couldn’t move. My arms were still wrapped around the two children. The baby was crying against my chest. The … <\/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-4920","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\/4920","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=4920"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4920\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4922,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4920\/revisions\/4922"}],"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=4920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}