The man standing inside the machine room looked exactly like Daniel.
\nSame eyes.
\nSame jaw.
\nSame scar above the eyebrow.
\nEven the small white mark on his left hand was there.
\nDaniel stared at him.
\nThe man smiled.
\n\u201cYou finally remembered me.\u201d
\nDaniel couldn’t move.
\nClaire stood behind him.
\nLeah whispered,
\n\u201cDaniel\u2026\u201d
\nHe didn’t answer.
\nThe man took one step forward.
\n\u201cIt’s been a long time.\u201d
\nDaniel’s voice finally came out.
\n\u201cWho are you?\u201d
\nThe man’s smile disappeared.
\n\u201cYou really don’t remember?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cYou will.\u201d
\nHe looked toward the machine.
\n\u201cYou always do.\u201d
\nDaniel glanced at Silas’s empty chair.
\n\u201cWhere is my son?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The man looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich one?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s blood ran cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour son.\u201d<\/p>\n
He pointed toward the darkness.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich one are you looking for?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cSilas.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is he?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSafe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
The man didn’t answer.<\/p>\n
Daniel grabbed him by the collar.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man didn’t resist.<\/p>\n
Instead, he whispered,<\/p>\n
\u201cYou shouldn’t have come here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel tightened his grip.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou brought me here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man’s eyes shifted toward Claire.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel turned.<\/p>\n
Claire’s face went pale.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew where this would lead.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou brought me here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI brought you to the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel released the man.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’re lying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish I were.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man stepped toward the machine.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour problem has always been the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel watched him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat problem?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou believe everything has a beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man touched the side of the machine.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome things repeat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat repeats?\u201d<\/p>\n
The man smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suddenly\u2014<\/p>\n
The lights flickered.<\/p>\n
Once.<\/p>\n
Twice.<\/p>\n
Then every monitor in the room turned on.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of screens.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of photographs.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of children.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
There were children everywhere.<\/p>\n
Different ages.<\/p>\n
Different years.<\/p>\n
Different faces.<\/p>\n
But one thing was identical.<\/p>\n
Every child had the same small black mark behind the left ear.<\/p>\n
Daniel touched his own neck.<\/p>\n
He had one too.<\/p>\n
He had always assumed it was a birthmark.<\/p>\n
Claire saw him touch it.<\/p>\n
Her eyes widened.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou remember that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve had it since I was born.\u201d<\/p>\n
The older Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn’t have it when you were born.\u201d<\/p>\n
He pointed toward the screens.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was added.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s fingers froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
The older man answered quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo identify you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs what?\u201d<\/p>\n
The screens suddenly changed.<\/p>\n
Every photograph disappeared.<\/p>\n
One photograph remained.<\/p>\n
A newborn baby.<\/p>\n
A woman was holding it.<\/p>\n
Daniel recognized the woman.<\/p>\n
His mother.<\/p>\n
But she looked terrified.<\/p>\n
Underneath the photograph were four words.<\/p>\n
SUBJECT 000 \u2014 ORIGINAL HOST.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cThat isn’t me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n The older man shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was Silas.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cSilas was Subject 000?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n The man smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was the first host.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked toward the empty chair.<\/p>\n \u201cHost for what?\u201d<\/p>\n The older Daniel didn’t answer.<\/p>\n Instead, he walked to a control panel.<\/p>\n He pressed a button.<\/p>\n A hidden door opened in the wall.<\/p>\n Beyond it was another corridor.<\/p>\n Daniel looked inside.<\/p>\n There were dozens of doors.<\/p>\n Each one had a name.<\/p>\n Not numbers.<\/p>\n Names.<\/p>\n WALTER.<\/strong><\/p>\n CLAIRE.<\/strong><\/p>\n MARGARET.<\/strong><\/p>\n ELIAS.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel stopped.<\/p>\n Then he saw another.<\/p>\n DANIEL.<\/strong><\/p>\n He walked toward it.<\/p>\n The older man said,<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel ignored him.<\/p>\n He opened the door.<\/p>\n Inside was a room almost identical to the one from his childhood.<\/p>\n A small table.<\/p>\n A chair.<\/p>\n A camera.<\/p>\n And a single red button.<\/p>\n Daniel stepped inside.<\/p>\n The door closed behind him.<\/p>\n He heard Claire shouting outside.<\/p>\n \u201cDaniel!\u201d<\/p>\n He turned.<\/p>\n The glass wall darkened.<\/p>\n He was alone.<\/p>\n Then the camera turned on.<\/p>\n A young version of himself appeared on the screen.<\/p>\n Ten years old.<\/p>\n His face was covered in tears.<\/p>\n Someone was questioning him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you see?\u201d<\/p>\n Young Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you see?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n Young Daniel said nothing.<\/p>\n The voice became harsher.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n Young Daniel looked toward the camera.<\/p>\n Then whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cI gave him to my father.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n The recording changed.<\/p>\n A different room.<\/p>\n Walter stood beside the young Daniel.<\/p>\n A newborn baby was in Walter’s arms.<\/p>\n Walter looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n \u201cYou cannot tell anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Young Daniel nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happens if I do?\u201d<\/p>\n Walter answered,<\/p>\n \u201cThey will take him back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe House.\u201d<\/p>\n Young Daniel looked at the baby.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do they want him?\u201d<\/p>\n Walter’s face became pale.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause he remembers.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stepped closer to the screen.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does he remember?\u201d<\/p>\n The recording stopped.<\/p>\n The red button on the table began blinking.<\/p>\n Daniel stared at it.<\/p>\n A voice came from the speaker.<\/p>\n \u201cPress it.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel didn’t move.<\/p>\n \u201cPress it, Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n He recognized the voice.<\/p>\n His own.<\/p>\n The older Daniel.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you need to see what happened next.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel pressed the button.<\/p>\n The room went dark.<\/p>\n Then\u2014<\/p>\n A woman’s scream.<\/p>\n A gunshot.<\/p>\n Glass breaking.<\/p>\n Walter running.<\/p>\n Young Daniel carrying the baby.<\/p>\n And behind them\u2014<\/p>\n A fire.<\/p>\n Daniel watched himself running through a burning hallway.<\/p>\n He was only ten years old.<\/p>\n But he wasn’t crying.<\/p>\n He was determined.<\/p>\n He was carrying Silas.<\/p>\n Daniel whispered,<\/p>\n \u201cI saved him.\u201d<\/p>\n The older man’s voice came through the speaker.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn’t save him.\u201d<\/p>\n The screen showed young Daniel handing the baby to someone.<\/p>\n A woman.<\/p>\n The woman turned.<\/p>\n Daniel’s breath stopped.<\/p>\n It was Claire.<\/p>\n But Claire was younger.<\/p>\n Much younger.<\/p>\n She took the baby.<\/p>\n Young Daniel said,<\/p>\n \u201cPromise me you’ll protect him.\u201d<\/p>\n Young Claire nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n The screen went black.<\/p>\n Daniel stood frozen.<\/p>\n Then the door opened.<\/p>\n Claire entered.<\/p>\n Daniel stared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou took him.\u201d<\/p>\n Claire looked at the floor.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou knew him before I did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou raised him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn’t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you asked me not to.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t remember asking you.\u201d<\/p>\n Claire looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were ten.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn’t have made that decision.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n Claire’s eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you knew what they would do if they found him.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stepped closer.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat would they do?\u201d<\/p>\n Claire whispered,<\/p>\n \u201cThey would wake him.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cWake him from what?\u201d<\/p>\n Claire didn’t answer.<\/p>\n Daniel’s voice became louder.<\/p>\n \u201cWake him from what?\u201d<\/p>\n Claire looked toward the machine.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom being a child.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n Daniel stared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Claire took a breath.<\/p>\n \u201cSilas was never meant to grow up.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s face hardened.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause his memories were unstable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat memories?\u201d<\/p>\n Claire looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYours.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel felt cold.<\/p>\n \u201cMy memories?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll of them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut how?\u201d<\/p>\n Claire pointed toward the machine.<\/p>\n \u201cThat machine doesn’t transfer memories.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked at it.<\/p>\n \u201cThen what does it do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt copies identity.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s what everyone thought.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWalter?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe built this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Claire looked toward the older Daniel.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel turned.<\/p>\n The older man was standing silently beside the machine.<\/p>\n \u201cYou built it?\u201d<\/p>\n The man nodded.<\/p>\n Daniel stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter you died.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n \u201cI never died.\u201d<\/p>\n The man looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n The man pointed toward Silas’s empty chair.<\/p>\n \u201cThe night he was born.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s mind went blank.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou died that night.\u201d<\/p>\n Claire whispered,<\/p>\n \u201cDaniel\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He turned toward her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n She couldn’t answer.<\/p>\n The older Daniel did.<\/p>\n \u201cYou gave your life to create him.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou weren’t supposed to survive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n The older man shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are what survived.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s breathing stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re saying I’m\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA copy.\u201d<\/p>\n The word echoed through the room.<\/p>\n Daniel stepped backward.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were reconstructed from memory.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour original body died.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour consciousness was transferred.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe man standing here isn’t the original Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cThen who am I?\u201d<\/p>\n The older man answered:<\/p>\n \u201cYou are the version that remembered.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked at Claire.<\/p>\n She was crying.<\/p>\n \u201cYou knew.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou knew all this time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why did you stay?\u201d<\/p>\n Claire wiped her tears.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I promised a ten-year-old boy I’d protect his son.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cSilas.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I failed.\u201d<\/p>\n A loud alarm suddenly sounded.<\/p>\n The monitors turned red.<\/p>\n WARNING.<\/strong><\/p>\n MEMORY BREACH.<\/strong><\/p>\n HOST 000 AWAKENING.<\/strong><\/p>\n Claire looked terrified.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel turned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed toward the machine.<\/p>\n The chair was empty.<\/p>\n But the machine was still running.<\/p>\n The older Daniel rushed toward the controls.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe’s awake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n The older Daniel looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n \u201cThe original.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s heart pounded.<\/p>\n \u201cOriginal what?\u201d<\/p>\n The older man whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cOriginal Silas.\u201d<\/p>\n The lights went out.<\/p>\n A sound came from the corridor.<\/p>\n Footsteps.<\/p>\n Slow.<\/p>\n Heavy.<\/p>\n Approaching.<\/p>\n Claire grabbed Daniel’s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t let him see you.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause if he recognizes you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Claire looked at the darkness.<\/p>\n \u201cHe’ll remember what you did.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared into the corridor.<\/p>\n A figure appeared.<\/p>\n A boy.<\/p>\n Silas.<\/p>\n But not the Silas Daniel knew.<\/p>\n This Silas looked older.<\/p>\n Maybe seventeen.<\/p>\n Maybe twenty.<\/p>\n His eyes were completely black.<\/p>\n He stopped beneath the red light.<\/p>\n Then he looked directly at Daniel.<\/p>\n \u201cDad.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel couldn’t move.<\/p>\n The boy smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou came back.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel whispered,<\/p>\n \u201cSilas?\u201d<\/p>\n The boy shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s not my name.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel felt his blood turn cold.<\/p>\n \u201cThen what is your name?\u201d<\/p>\n The boy looked toward Claire.<\/p>\n She immediately backed away.<\/p>\n The boy smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cAsk her.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel turned.<\/p>\n \u201cClaire?\u201d<\/p>\n She was shaking.<\/p>\n The boy spoke again.<\/p>\n \u201cShe knows.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stepped toward Claire.<\/p>\n \u201cKnows what?\u201d<\/p>\n Claire whispered,<\/p>\n \u201cHis real name.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel waited.<\/p>\n Claire closed her eyes.<\/p>\n Then she said it.<\/p>\n \u201cSamuel.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n The same name from the old photograph.<\/p>\n Samuel.<\/p>\n The boy smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Silas\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSilas is the name you gave me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you wanted me to forget.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s chest tightened.<\/p>\n \u201cForget what?\u201d<\/p>\n Samuel walked closer.<\/p>\n \u201cThe House.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is the House?\u201d<\/p>\n Samuel stopped directly in front of him.<\/p>\n Then he whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cIt isn’t an organization.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cThen what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n Samuel smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n Samuel pointed downward.<\/p>\n Daniel looked at the floor.<\/p>\n \u201cUnder us?\u201d<\/p>\n Samuel nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cMuch deeper.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow deep?\u201d<\/p>\n Samuel’s smile disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201cDeep enough that nobody has ever reached the bottom.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked at Claire.<\/p>\n She was crying again.<\/p>\n Samuel continued.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that’s where your real father is.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cMy father?\u201d<\/p>\n Samuel nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThe man who created the first memory.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Samuel leaned closer.<\/p>\n Then whispered a name Daniel had never heard before.<\/p>\n The entire building shook.<\/p>\n Concrete cracked above them.<\/p>\n Dust fell from the ceiling.<\/p>\n The older Daniel shouted,<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to go!\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel didn’t move.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is my father?\u201d<\/p>\n Samuel looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ll meet him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n Samuel smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cTonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s phone suddenly turned on.<\/p>\n One message appeared.<\/p>\n 12:00 A.M.<\/strong><\/p>\n Then another.<\/p>\n WELCOME TO THE HOUSE.<\/strong><\/p>\n And beneath it\u2014<\/p>\n A photograph.<\/p>\n Daniel opened it.<\/p>\n His hands began to shake.<\/p>\n The photograph showed a room deep underground.<\/p>\n A man was sitting in a chair.<\/p>\n His face was hidden.<\/p>\n But on the wall behind him was a single photograph.<\/p>\n Daniel zoomed in.<\/p>\n It was a photograph of Daniel.<\/p>\n As a newborn.<\/p>\n Beside him stood his mother.<\/p>\n And beside his mother\u2014<\/p>\n Was the same man from the chair.<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n He recognized the man’s hand.<\/p>\n The ring.<\/p>\n The scar.<\/p>\n The watch.<\/p>\n He had seen them before.<\/p>\n In every photograph.<\/p>\n Every memory.<\/p>\n Every nightmare.<\/p>\n Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Claire looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel turned the phone toward her.<\/p>\n Claire’s face went white.<\/p>\n Because she recognized the man too.<\/p>\n Daniel’s father.<\/p>\n The man everyone believed had died before Daniel was born.<\/p>\n The man who had supposedly never met his son.<\/p>\n The man whose name had been erased from every record.<\/p>\n Daniel looked at Claire.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is he?\u201d<\/p>\n Claire’s lips trembled.<\/p>\n Then she answered:<\/p>\n \u201cArthur.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cArthur?\u201d<\/p>\n Claire nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Arthur you know isn’t the one who started this.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s blood ran cold.<\/p>\n \u201cThen who is the Arthur we’ve been following?\u201d<\/p>\n Claire looked toward Samuel.<\/p>\n Samuel smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cA copy.\u201d<\/p>\n The lights came back on.<\/p>\n But Samuel was gone.<\/p>\n The older Daniel was gone.<\/p>\n Claire was gone.<\/p>\n Daniel stood alone in the chamber.<\/p>\n Then the machine activated one final time.<\/p>\n A screen appeared.<\/p>\n A live video feed.<\/p>\n Arthur was sitting in a chair.<\/p>\n Alive.<\/p>\n Older.<\/p>\n Different.<\/p>\n And standing behind him was another Daniel.<\/p>\n Another Claire.<\/p>\n Another Silas.<\/p>\n And another Arthur.<\/p>\n Four people.<\/p>\n Four copies.<\/p>\n Four versions of the same story.<\/p>\n Arthur looked directly into the camera.<\/p>\n \u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stepped closer.<\/p>\n Arthur smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cNow you understand why we couldn’t let you remember.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared at him.<\/p>\n Arthur leaned forward.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause if you remember everything\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The screen flickered.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026you’ll remember how to create us.\u201d<\/p>\n The video ended.<\/p>\n Daniel stood in silence.<\/p>\n Then he heard a child’s voice behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cDad?\u201d<\/p>\n He turned.<\/p>\n Silas was standing in the doorway.<\/p>\n The little boy he knew.<\/p>\n The seven-year-old Silas.<\/p>\n Alive.<\/p>\n Crying.<\/p>\n Daniel ran toward him.<\/p>\n Silas wrapped his arms around Daniel.<\/p>\n \u201cDad, please take me home.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel held him tightly.<\/p>\n \u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n Silas whispered into his ear:<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t trust Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas pulled away.<\/p>\n His eyes were filled with fear.<\/p>\n \u201cShe isn’t Claire anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas looked toward the darkness.<\/p>\n Then whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cShe was replaced years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n Behind them, the door slowly closed.<\/p>\n And from the other side came Claire’s voice.<\/p>\n Calm.<\/p>\n Cold.<\/p>\n Completely different.<\/p>\n \u201cDaniel\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n A pause.<\/p>\n \u201cYou shouldn’t have brought him back.\u201d<\/p>\n The door locked.<\/p>\n Silas began screaming.<\/p>\n Daniel turned toward the darkness.<\/p>\n And somewhere deep beneath the laboratory\u2014<\/p>\n Something enormous woke up.<\/p>\n