The hospital breathed again.
\nSlowly.
\nDeeply.
\nLike something enormous was sleeping beneath the floor.
\nDaniel stood beside the crib.
\nThe baby stared at him.
\nIts eyes were no longer black.
\nThey were white.
\nPure white.
\nAnd somehow\u2014
\nDaniel could see himself reflected inside them.
\nNot his current face.
\nEvery face.
\nEvery version.
\nEvery life.
\nEvery death.
\nEvery mistake.
\nEvery choice.
\nThe baby whispered:
\n\u201cYou finally came back.\u201d
\nDaniel couldn’t move.
\n\u201cElias.\u201d
\nThe baby smiled.
\n\u201cYou remember my name.\u201d
\n\u201cI’ve never heard it before.\u201d
\n\u201cYou have.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore your first memory.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked around.<\/p>\n
The hospital doors were still open.<\/p>\n
Every version of Daniel was running through the corridors.<\/p>\n
But none of them were running toward him.<\/p>\n
They were running away.<\/p>\n
Daniel pointed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are they afraid of?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias looked toward the hallway.<\/p>\n
\u201cMe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared at the baby.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I remember what they did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did they do?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey killed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
The baby pointed at Daniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped backward.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou always say that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen explain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias laughed softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want the truth?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if it destroys you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s what you said last time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened last time?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias didn’t answer.<\/p>\n
Instead, he lifted one tiny hand.<\/p>\n
The hospital walls changed.<\/p>\n
The room disappeared.<\/p>\n
Daniel found himself standing in a field.<\/p>\n
A green field.<\/p>\n
Blue sky.<\/p>\n
Children running.<\/p>\n
Families laughing.<\/p>\n
Everything looked peaceful.<\/p>\n
Beautiful.<\/p>\n
Normal.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are we?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias’s voice came from behind him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel turned.<\/p>\n
Elias was no longer a baby.<\/p>\n
He was a boy.<\/p>\n
Maybe ten years old.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou grew up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The boy smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is how I looked before you killed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat year?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c1959.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked around.<\/p>\n
People were walking past.<\/p>\n
Nobody noticed them.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre these real people?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre they memories?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPossibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias pointed toward the horizon.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery choice creates a world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel followed his finger.<\/p>\n
There were thousands of horizons.<\/p>\n
Thousands of skies.<\/p>\n
Thousands of versions of the same town.<\/p>\n
Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cParallel worlds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot exactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnchosen worlds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorlds that could have existed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias walked forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the world you destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel followed him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you wanted to save everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never do.\u201d<\/p>\n
They reached a small house.<\/p>\n
Daniel recognized it.<\/p>\n
His childhood home.<\/p>\n
But it looked different.<\/p>\n
A woman stood on the porch.<\/p>\n
Daniel’s mother.<\/p>\n
Young.<\/p>\n
Smiling.<\/p>\n
Beside her\u2014<\/p>\n
Daniel’s father.<\/p>\n
And between them\u2014<\/p>\n
a little boy.<\/p>\n
Daniel.<\/p>\n
But another child stood beside him.<\/p>\n
Elias.<\/p>\n
Daniel stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were my brother?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias nodded.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you were my son.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you were my father.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you were a memory.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s mind spun.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou keep trying to separate us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause that’s how the House taught you to think.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at the family.<\/p>\n
His mother.<\/p>\n
His father.<\/p>\n
Himself.<\/p>\n
Elias.<\/p>\n
\u201cWere we all real?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias looked toward the sky.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou asked for forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel felt a chill.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause our mother died.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at his mother.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe died?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c1961.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel remembered.<\/p>\n
The first death.<\/p>\n
His first resurrection.<\/p>\n
The beginning.<\/p>\n
Elias continued:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou couldn’t accept it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I built the House.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you asked him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did I ask?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou asked him to build a place where nothing could ever be forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s face went pale.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo the House\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStarted as a promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd became a prison.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked toward his family.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened to Elias?\u201d<\/p>\n
The boy smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou killed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I refused to forget.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wanted everyone to forget death.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI refused.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou tried to erase me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias smiled sadly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why don’t I remember?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you erased the memory of killing me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou regretted it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I rebuilt you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAgain and again?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cForty-seven times?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cThree hundred and twelve.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s blood went cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree hundred and twelve?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why did I only remember forty-seven?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause forty-seven was the number you could survive remembering.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat’s the real number?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree hundred and thirteen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat’s different about 313?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias answered:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was in every one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were only in the first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel felt his entire body go cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other three hundred and eleven were experiments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cCopies?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMemories?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel couldn’t breathe.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou created people?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom my memories?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo find one version that could kill death.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd did I?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s heart pounded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich one?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias pointed toward the house.<\/p>\n
Daniel looked.<\/p>\n
A man stepped out.<\/p>\n
He looked exactly like Daniel.<\/p>\n
But he was older.<\/p>\n
Calmer.<\/p>\n
And he was holding a knife.<\/p>\n
Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias answered:<\/p>\n
\u201cNumber 313.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n
He smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou finally arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped backward.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you me?\u201d<\/p>\n
The man shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen who?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am what you were supposed to become.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you create me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you couldn’t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDie.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel froze.<\/p>\n
The man continued:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou spent your entire life trying to defeat death.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou failed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you created me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at Elias.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Number 313 could die.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that’s what you needed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause death wouldn’t release you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias looked toward the sky.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe House wasn’t preserving you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was imprisoning me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at Number 313.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why is he holding a knife?\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you asked me to kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel remembered the recording.<\/p>\n
The same words.<\/p>\n
Again.<\/p>\n
And again.<\/p>\n
And again.<\/p>\n
Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many times?\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 answered:<\/p>\n
\u201cThree hundred and twelve.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
Every version.<\/p>\n
Every death.<\/p>\n
Every reset.<\/p>\n
Every memory.<\/p>\n
All leading here.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened on the 313th?\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 looked at Elias.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe failed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel opened his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you remembered.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRemembered what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
Number 313 stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou finally remembered the person who created the experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cMe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot the House.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot my mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot Walter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot Arthur.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot Silas.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s hands shook.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what happens now?\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow we finish it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The field disappeared.<\/p>\n
Daniel was back in the hospital.<\/p>\n
The thousands of Daniels had stopped running.<\/p>\n
They stood silently in the hallway.<\/p>\n
Every face was looking toward Daniel.<\/p>\n
Number 313 stood among them.<\/p>\n
Elias was beside Daniel.<\/p>\n
Silas appeared at the far end of the corridor.<\/p>\n
Daniel’s heart jumped.<\/p>\n
\u201cSilas!\u201d<\/p>\n
Silas smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel ran toward him.<\/p>\n
But halfway there\u2014<\/p>\n
Silas disappeared.<\/p>\n
Daniel stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cHe isn’t here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s still inside the archive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why did I see him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you miss him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want him back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I bring him back?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias pointed at Number 313.<\/p>\n
\u201cKill him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at the man.<\/p>\n
Number 313 smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s the final experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I’ve killed enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’ve killed nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cI killed Elias.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI killed Silas.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI killed myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou killed memories.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never killed anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313’s face became serious.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou erased them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat’s the difference?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDeath ends a life.\u201d<\/p>\n
He pointed at Daniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou ended their ability to remember living.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked toward the thousands of Daniels.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 answered:<\/p>\n
\u201cFreedom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou created us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou trapped us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou erased us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow we want to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 pointed toward the hospital doors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe real world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you leave\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe become human.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBy using you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel understood.<\/p>\n
They needed his consciousness.<\/p>\n
His memories.<\/p>\n
His body.<\/p>\n
His identity.<\/p>\n
Everything that made him Daniel.<\/p>\n
They would divide it among themselves.<\/p>\n
Thousands of lives.<\/p>\n
One Daniel.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people.<\/p>\n
Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what happens to me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou become nobody.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at Elias.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Silas?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
He thought of Silas.<\/p>\n
His smile.<\/p>\n
His voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel opened his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI won’t give you my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you’ll lose him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at Elias.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s another way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere always was.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at the hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is the first machine?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias pointed downward.<\/p>\n
\u201cBelow us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow deep?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDeeper than the House.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel started walking.<\/p>\n
Number 313 followed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you don’t know what you’ll find.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s never stopped me before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
They descended.<\/p>\n
One floor.<\/p>\n
Two.<\/p>\n
Ten.<\/p>\n
Fifty.<\/p>\n
The hospital seemed impossible.<\/p>\n
The deeper they went, the older everything became.<\/p>\n
Modern machines disappeared.<\/p>\n
Metal disappeared.<\/p>\n
Concrete disappeared.<\/p>\n
Soon the walls became stone.<\/p>\n
Then dirt.<\/p>\n
Then something else.<\/p>\n
Bones.<\/p>\n
Thousands of them.<\/p>\n
Daniel stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first cemetery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked down.<\/p>\n
Every bone had a name.<\/p>\n
Every name was Daniel.<\/p>\n
Daniel Blackwood.<\/p>\n
Daniel Blackwood.<\/p>\n
Daniel Blackwood.<\/p>\n
Hundreds.<\/p>\n
Thousands.<\/p>\n
Number 313 walked through them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are the failed versions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cFailed at what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said they were people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey became memories.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s chest tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan they be restored?\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey’ve been remembered too long.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at the bones.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means they’re no longer people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are they?\u201d<\/p>\n
Number 313 looked into the darkness.<\/p>\n
\u201cWitnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bones began moving.<\/p>\n
One by one.<\/p>\n
Hands emerged from the ground.<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped backward.<\/p>\n
The skulls turned toward him.<\/p>\n
Then they spoke.<\/p>\n
Not one voice.<\/p>\n
Thousands.<\/p>\n
\u201cREMEMBER US.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel covered his ears.<\/p>\n
\u201cStop!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cREMEMBER US.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI CAN’T!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cREMEMBER US.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel screamed:<\/p>\n
\u201cI DON’T KNOW YOU!\u201d<\/p>\n
The voices stopped.<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
Then one skull spoke.<\/p>\n
A child’s voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s why we died.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel froze.<\/p>\n
The skull looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never knew us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
The skull answered:<\/p>\n
\u201cYour first mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s blood went cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat mistake?\u201d<\/p>\n
The skull smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou created us before you created yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat doesn’t make sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
The skull answered:<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suddenly\u2014<\/p>\n
the ground split open.<\/p>\n
Something rose from beneath the cemetery.<\/p>\n
A massive door.<\/p>\n
Black.<\/p>\n
Covered in names.<\/p>\n
Daniel approached.<\/p>\n
One name appeared at the top.<\/p>\n
SILAS BLACKWOOD.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias grabbed his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel touched the name.<\/p>\n The door opened.<\/p>\n Inside\u2014<\/p>\n Silas was sitting alone.<\/p>\n Older.<\/p>\n Thirty-nine.<\/p>\n Alive.<\/p>\n Real.<\/p>\n Daniel stopped breathing.<\/p>\n \u201cSilas?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas looked up.<\/p>\n His eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n \u201cDad.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel rushed inside.<\/p>\n He grabbed Silas.<\/p>\n This time\u2014<\/p>\n he could feel him.<\/p>\n Warm.<\/p>\n Real.<\/p>\n Human.<\/p>\n Daniel cried.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Silas nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve been waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel held him.<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas looked toward the doorway.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel turned.<\/p>\n Number 313 was standing there.<\/p>\n He wasn’t smiling anymore.<\/p>\n Daniel asked:<\/p>\n \u201cDid you do this?\u201d<\/p>\n Number 313 shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen who?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas answered:<\/p>\n \u201cI did.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI remembered how.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow to become real.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cThen why didn’t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas looked toward Elias.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause he wouldn’t let me.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel turned.<\/p>\n Elias was gone.<\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is Elias?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cHe’s not Elias.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s stomach dropped.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas stepped backward.<\/p>\n \u201cThat isn’t the boy you saw.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked toward the doorway.<\/p>\n The boy named Elias stood there.<\/p>\n But his face was changing.<\/p>\n The skin cracked.<\/p>\n The body grew.<\/p>\n The eyes turned black.<\/p>\n Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n The figure smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou finally asked.\u201d<\/p>\n Silas moved behind Daniel.<\/p>\n The figure answered:<\/p>\n \u201cMy real name is not Elias.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s heart pounded.<\/p>\n \u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n The figure smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cSubject 000.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n \u201cSubject 000?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho created you?\u201d<\/p>\n The figure looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n The figure stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cTo watch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo watch what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat experiment?\u201d<\/p>\n Subject 000 smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThe one you still haven’t discovered.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked at Silas.<\/p>\n Silas whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cDad\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel turned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas pointed behind him.<\/p>\n Daniel slowly looked back.<\/p>\n Every corpse in the cemetery was standing.<\/p>\n Thousands of Daniels.<\/p>\n All alive.<\/p>\n All staring.<\/p>\n And behind them\u2014<\/p>\n stood Daniel’s mother.<\/p>\n But she wasn’t alone.<\/p>\n Beside her was Walter.<\/p>\n Arthur.<\/p>\n Daniel’s father.<\/p>\n The original Silas.<\/p>\n And hundreds of other faces Daniel recognized.<\/p>\n People he thought were dead.<\/p>\n People he thought were memories.<\/p>\n People he thought had never existed.<\/p>\n His mother smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cNow you’re ready.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cReady for what?\u201d<\/p>\n She answered:<\/p>\n \u201cTo meet the person who started everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n The cemetery lights turned on.<\/p>\n At the end of the chamber\u2014<\/p>\n a man stepped out of the darkness.<\/p>\n He was old.<\/p>\n Very old.<\/p>\n He walked slowly toward Daniel.<\/p>\n Daniel couldn’t breathe.<\/p>\n Because the man had Daniel’s face.<\/p>\n But unlike every other version\u2014<\/p>\n he wasn’t a copy.<\/p>\n He wasn’t a memory.<\/p>\n He wasn’t a possibility.<\/p>\n He looked exactly like the photographs.<\/p>\n The first photograph.<\/p>\n The one taken in 1959.<\/p>\n Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s me.\u201d<\/p>\n The old man smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n He stepped closer.<\/p>\n \u201cI am your father.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you died.\u201d<\/p>\n The old man laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cI told you.\u201d<\/p>\n He lifted his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were the one who died.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel felt the world disappear.<\/p>\n His father leaned closer.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I was the one who brought you back.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n His father smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you asked me to.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI never asked you.\u201d<\/p>\n His father looked toward Silas.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Then he looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed toward the black door.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd now\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The door began closing.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026you finally remember why.\u201d<\/p>\n The darkness swallowed Silas.<\/p>\n Daniel screamed:<\/p>\n \u201cSILAS!\u201d<\/p>\n The door slammed shut.<\/p>\n A message appeared across it.<\/p>\n MEMORY RECOVERY: 99%.<\/strong><\/p>\n Then another.<\/p>\n FINAL MEMORY REMAINING: 1%.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n His father whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cJust one more memory.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat memory?\u201d<\/p>\n His father smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThe day you killed God.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n The lights went out.<\/p>\n And somewhere in the darkness\u2014<\/p>\n something laughed.<\/p>\n