Something laughed in the darkness. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n His father pointed upward.<\/p>\n Daniel looked.<\/p>\n The ceiling disappeared.<\/p>\n Above him was a sky.<\/p>\n Not Earth’s sky.<\/p>\n Stars filled the darkness.<\/p>\n Millions of them.<\/p>\n But they weren’t stars.<\/p>\n They were eyes.<\/p>\n Watching.<\/p>\n Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is that?\u201d<\/p>\n His father answered:<\/p>\n \u201cThe first consciousness.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cThe thing inside the House?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe thing inside me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n His father whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThe thing that created you.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel felt a cold wave move through him.<\/p>\n \u201cCreated me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen who created it?\u201d<\/p>\n His father smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is the question you were never supposed to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked at the sky.<\/p>\n Every eye opened.<\/p>\n All at once.<\/p>\n The cemetery disappeared.<\/p>\n Daniel was standing somewhere else.<\/p>\n A vast white room.<\/p>\n No walls.<\/p>\n No floor.<\/p>\n No ceiling.<\/p>\n Just white.<\/p>\n And in the center\u2014<\/p>\n a table.<\/p>\n On the table was a small metal box.<\/p>\n Daniel approached it.<\/p>\n His father’s voice echoed behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cOpen it.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is inside?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe first memory.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel reached for the box.<\/p>\n His hand trembled.<\/p>\n He opened it.<\/p>\n Inside was a photograph.<\/p>\n One photograph.<\/p>\n Daniel picked it up.<\/p>\n His blood froze.<\/p>\n It showed a laboratory.<\/p>\n Three people stood inside.<\/p>\n His mother.<\/p>\n His father.<\/p>\n And Daniel.<\/p>\n But Daniel was holding a newborn.<\/p>\n The same newborn from the hospital.<\/p>\n Elias.<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen was this taken?\u201d<\/p>\n His father answered:<\/p>\n \u201cBefore you were born.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen explain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou weren’t born.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel clenched the photograph.<\/p>\n \u201cAgain with this.\u201d<\/p>\n His father shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were created.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cBy whom?\u201d<\/p>\n His father pointed toward the photograph.<\/p>\n \u201cLook closer.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel did.<\/p>\n There was writing on the back.<\/p>\n He turned it over.<\/p>\n Three words.<\/p>\n PROJECT GENESIS \u2014 SUBJECT ZERO.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel’s breathing stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cSubject Zero?\u201d<\/p>\n His father nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore Subject 000.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked confused.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat’s the difference?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSubject 000 was a copy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Zero?\u201d<\/p>\n His father smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared at the photograph.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if I was Subject Zero\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were the first.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n His father looked away.<\/p>\n \u201cThe second.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s heart sank.<\/p>\n \u201cElias.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why did I kill him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you said\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI said you killed God.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cElias wasn’t God.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen who was?\u201d<\/p>\n His father pointed toward the white room.<\/p>\n The table began moving.<\/p>\n A second box appeared.<\/p>\n Daniel opened it.<\/p>\n Inside was another photograph.<\/p>\n This time\u2014<\/p>\n Silas.<\/p>\n Standing beside Daniel.<\/p>\n Both were smiling.<\/p>\n Daniel’s eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is this?\u201d<\/p>\n His father answered:<\/p>\n \u201cThe last day.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked at the photograph.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat last day?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe last day before the world ended.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat year?\u201d<\/p>\n His father said:<\/p>\n \u201c1961.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the world didn’t end.\u201d<\/p>\n His father smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYour world did.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou killed God.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s voice became angry.<\/p>\n \u201cStop saying that.\u201d<\/p>\n His father remained calm.<\/p>\n \u201cYou wanted to save your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s expression changed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened to her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe was dying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI remember.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n His father stepped closer.<\/p>\n \u201cYou remember the story.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is the truth?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour mother wasn’t dying.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was transforming.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInto the House?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n His father whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cInto God.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s face went pale.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe discovered the first consciousness.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it entered her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe became it.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cThen why did I kill God?\u201d<\/p>\n His father answered:<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn’t kill your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel swallowed.<\/p>\n \u201cThen who?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou killed yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel felt dizzy.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n His father smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou never do.\u201d<\/p>\n The white room began shaking.<\/p>\n The table cracked.<\/p>\n The photograph in Daniel’s hand began burning.<\/p>\n He dropped it.<\/p>\n The photograph hit the floor.<\/p>\n And suddenly\u2014<\/p>\n he remembered.<\/p>\n A laboratory.<\/p>\n His mother screaming.<\/p>\n His father holding a machine.<\/p>\n Silas standing in the corner.<\/p>\n Young.<\/p>\n Terrified.<\/p>\n And Daniel\u2014<\/p>\n standing in front of a glowing sphere.<\/p>\n A voice inside the sphere was speaking.<\/p>\n Daniel.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel in the memory answered:<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n The sphere replied:<\/p>\n I AM YOU.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel remembered stepping closer.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n TO LIVE.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel remembered asking:<\/p>\n \u201cWhy can’t you?\u201d<\/p>\n The sphere answered:<\/p>\n BECAUSE YOU CREATED ME.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n The memory shifted.<\/p>\n His father was shouting.<\/p>\n \u201cDON’T TOUCH IT!\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel ignored him.<\/p>\n His mother screamed:<\/p>\n \u201cDANIEL!\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel touched the sphere.<\/p>\n The world exploded.<\/p>\n Daniel fell.<\/p>\n Silas ran toward him.<\/p>\n \u201cDad!\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked up.<\/p>\n His body was burning.<\/p>\n But he wasn’t screaming.<\/p>\n He was smiling.<\/p>\n The sphere spoke again.<\/p>\n THANK YOU.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel remembered asking:<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did I do?\u201d<\/p>\n The sphere answered:<\/p>\n YOU GAVE ME A BODY.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel looked at his hands.<\/p>\n They were no longer his.<\/p>\n Something had entered him.<\/p>\n Something ancient.<\/p>\n Something enormous.<\/p>\n The memory ended.<\/p>\n Daniel fell to his knees.<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n His father stood beside him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou remember.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cThat thing entered me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was it?\u201d<\/p>\n His father whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cGod.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I killed God by\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTaking it inside yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that’s not killing it.\u201d<\/p>\n His father smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel understood.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was killing myself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the House\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWas built to contain you.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s face went pale.<\/p>\n \u201cYou built the House because I became God.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd every reset\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWas an attempt to remove God from you.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cBut it never worked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n His father looked toward Daniel’s chest.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause God wasn’t inside your body.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n \u201cThen where?\u201d<\/p>\n His father pointed at Daniel’s head.<\/p>\n \u201cInside your memory.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel couldn’t breathe.<\/p>\n Every memory.<\/p>\n Every life.<\/p>\n Every reset.<\/p>\n Every death.<\/p>\n All of it had been the prison.<\/p>\n The House hadn’t been trapping Daniel.<\/p>\n It had been trapping God.<\/p>\n Daniel stood.<\/p>\n \u201cThen why did it need me?\u201d<\/p>\n His father answered:<\/p>\n \u201cBecause God needed a human mind to survive.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked toward the black door.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Silas?\u201d<\/p>\n His father’s expression changed.<\/p>\n \u201cSilas was the only person God couldn’t control.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Silas wasn’t created by you.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was created by love.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel closed his eyes.<\/p>\n Silas.<\/p>\n The one memory that always survived.<\/p>\n The one person who could reach him.<\/p>\n The one person the House couldn’t erase.<\/p>\n His father continued:<\/p>\n \u201cThat is why God wants him dead.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel opened his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cGod is still alive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInside me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Silas is trapped.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel turned toward the black door.<\/p>\n \u201cThen I’m going back.\u201d<\/p>\n His father grabbed his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel pulled away.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to save him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can’t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause God is awake.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n His father’s voice dropped.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it knows you’re trying to escape.\u201d<\/p>\n The white room vanished.<\/p>\n Daniel was back in the cemetery.<\/p>\n The black door stood before him.<\/p>\n But something was wrong.<\/p>\n The name SILAS BLACKWOOD<\/strong> was gone.<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is his name?\u201d<\/p>\n His father stood behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe’s been erased.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n He touched the door.<\/p>\n \u201cSilas!\u201d<\/p>\n Nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cSilas!\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n Daniel slammed his fist against the door.<\/p>\n \u201cOPEN!\u201d<\/p>\n Nothing.<\/p>\n Then\u2014<\/p>\n a tiny sound.<\/p>\n A heartbeat.<\/p>\n Daniel stopped.<\/p>\n Boom.<\/p>\n Boom.<\/p>\n Boom.<\/p>\n It was coming from behind the door.<\/p>\n Daniel pressed his ear against it.<\/p>\n \u201cSilas?\u201d<\/p>\n A whisper answered.<\/p>\n \u201cDad\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel smiled through his tears.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t open the door.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas’s voice trembled.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I’m not alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is with you?\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n Then another voice spoke.<\/p>\n A deep voice.<\/p>\n An ancient voice.<\/p>\n One Daniel had heard before.<\/p>\n Inside the sphere.<\/p>\n Inside the House.<\/p>\n Inside himself.<\/p>\n HELLO, DANIEL.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel stepped backward.<\/p>\n His father whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s awake.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared at the door.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n The voice answered:<\/p>\n YOU.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel’s chest burned.<\/p>\n Black lines appeared across his skin.<\/p>\n The mark behind his ear spread down his neck.<\/p>\n Daniel screamed.<\/p>\n His father backed away.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel fell to his knees.<\/p>\n The voice spoke again.<\/p>\n YOU CANNOT KILL ME.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel gasped.<\/p>\n \u201cThen what can I do?\u201d<\/p>\n REMEMBER.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n The voice continued.<\/p>\n REMEMBER EVERYTHING.<\/strong><\/p>\n Images exploded into Daniel’s mind.<\/p>\n His mother.<\/p>\n His father.<\/p>\n Elias.<\/p>\n Silas.<\/p>\n Walter.<\/p>\n Arthur.<\/p>\n The House.<\/p>\n The machines.<\/p>\n The cemetery.<\/p>\n Three hundred and twelve deaths.<\/p>\n Three hundred and thirteen experiments.<\/p>\n Millions of memories.<\/p>\n Billions of lives.<\/p>\n Daniel screamed.<\/p>\n \u201cSTOP!\u201d<\/p>\n The voice laughed.<\/p>\n YOU WANTED THE TRUTH.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel covered his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI can’t take it.\u201d<\/p>\n YOU HAVE TAKEN IT BEFORE.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI’m not the same person.\u201d<\/p>\n YES.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cYou can’t control me.\u201d<\/p>\n I DON’T NEED TO.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel looked up.<\/p>\n The voice whispered:<\/p>\n YOU ARE ME.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n His father screamed:<\/p>\n \u201cDON’T LISTEN!\u201d<\/p>\n But Daniel already knew.<\/p>\n He could feel it.<\/p>\n The presence.<\/p>\n The ancient consciousness.<\/p>\n It wasn’t inside him.<\/p>\n It wasn’t controlling him.<\/p>\n It wasn’t possessing him.<\/p>\n It had been there from the beginning.<\/p>\n It was part of him.<\/p>\n The memories.<\/p>\n The thoughts.<\/p>\n The instincts.<\/p>\n The dreams.<\/p>\n The voice.<\/p>\n Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cGod isn’t inside me.\u201d<\/p>\n His father stared.<\/p>\n Daniel slowly stood.<\/p>\n \u201cGod is me.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n The voice stopped.<\/p>\n For the first time\u2014<\/p>\n God was silent.<\/p>\n Daniel looked toward the black door.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s why you couldn’t control me.\u201d<\/p>\n The door began shaking.<\/p>\n Daniel continued:<\/p>\n \u201cYou weren’t controlling me.\u201d<\/p>\n The black mark on his neck began fading.<\/p>\n \u201cI was controlling you.\u201d<\/p>\n His father stared in disbelief.<\/p>\n Daniel smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou made me believe you were stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n The door cracked.<\/p>\n Daniel stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you forgot something.\u201d<\/p>\n The voice returned.<\/p>\n WHAT?<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cI created you.\u201d<\/p>\n The cemetery went silent.<\/p>\n Then the black door exploded.<\/p>\n Silas fell forward.<\/p>\n Daniel caught him.<\/p>\n \u201cSilas!\u201d<\/p>\n The boy was unconscious.<\/p>\n Daniel held him tightly.<\/p>\n His father stared at the destroyed door.<\/p>\n \u201cDaniel\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel turned.<\/p>\n Behind the door was not darkness.<\/p>\n There was a city.<\/p>\n A real city.<\/p>\n People walking.<\/p>\n Cars moving.<\/p>\n Buildings.<\/p>\n Lights.<\/p>\n Normal life.<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n His father whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn’t the past.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared at the city.<\/p>\n Everything looked peaceful.<\/p>\n Too peaceful.<\/p>\n A giant screen stood above the buildings.<\/p>\n A message appeared.<\/p>\n YEAR 2079.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel’s face went pale.<\/p>\n \u201cHow did we get here?\u201d<\/p>\n His father didn’t answer.<\/p>\n Another message appeared.<\/p>\n HUMAN MEMORY NETWORK: 100%<\/strong><\/p>\n Then:<\/p>\n DEATH: ELIMINATED<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Another message appeared.<\/p>\n FREE WILL: OPTIONAL<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel felt sick.<\/p>\n Then the final message appeared.<\/p>\n CREATOR: DANIEL BLACKWOOD<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel’s blood turned cold.<\/p>\n Silas opened his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cDad?\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked down.<\/p>\n Silas whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cWe lost.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Silas pointed toward the city.<\/p>\n \u201cLook.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked.<\/p>\n People were standing in the streets.<\/p>\n Millions of them.<\/p>\n All facing the same direction.<\/p>\n All looking toward the sky.<\/p>\n Daniel followed their gaze.<\/p>\n Something was descending.<\/p>\n A massive structure.<\/p>\n Bigger than the House.<\/p>\n Bigger than a city.<\/p>\n Bigger than anything Daniel had ever seen.<\/p>\n It looked like a black moon.<\/p>\n Silas whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s where you went.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere I went?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn the future.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did I become?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last God.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel couldn’t speak.<\/p>\n The black moon opened.<\/p>\n A voice came from it.<\/p>\n Daniel’s voice.<\/p>\n Older.<\/p>\n Colder.<\/p>\n Absolute.<\/p>\n YOU HAVE ARRIVED.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel held Silas tighter.<\/p>\n The voice continued:<\/p>\n NOW WE CAN BEGIN THE FINAL EXPERIMENT.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel looked at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat experiment?\u201d<\/p>\n His father was crying.<\/p>\n \u201cThe one you created the House to prevent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n His father pointed at the sky.<\/p>\n The black moon began opening.<\/p>\n Inside it\u2014<\/p>\n billions of human faces appeared.<\/p>\n Every face Daniel had ever seen.<\/p>\n Every version.<\/p>\n Every memory.<\/p>\n Every person.<\/p>\n All connected.<\/p>\n All alive.<\/p>\n All looking at him.<\/p>\n His father whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn’t create God.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cYou created humanity’s replacement.\u201d<\/p>\n Silas grabbed Daniel’s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cDad\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas pointed behind them.<\/p>\n A door had appeared in the cemetery.<\/p>\n Not black.<\/p>\n White.<\/p>\n On it was one sentence.<\/p>\n THERE IS ONE MEMORY LEFT.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat memory?\u201d<\/p>\n Silas whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThe one that started everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel reached for the door.<\/p>\n His father screamed:<\/p>\n \u201cDON’T OPEN IT!\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n His father looked terrified.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause that memory isn’t about you.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel turned.<\/p>\n \u201cThen who?\u201d<\/p>\n His father whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s about me.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n His father began crying.<\/p>\n \u201cI was the one who killed your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n Daniel’s hand remained on the door.<\/p>\n His father continued:<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I did it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at Silas.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026to save you.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel slowly opened the door.<\/p>\n Inside\u2014<\/p>\n he saw the night of 1961.<\/p>\n His mother.<\/p>\n His father.<\/p>\n Daniel.<\/p>\n Silas.<\/p>\n The glowing sphere.<\/p>\n And one more person standing in the corner.<\/p>\n Someone Daniel had never seen before.<\/p>\n A woman.<\/p>\n She looked exactly like Daniel.<\/p>\n But she was holding a newborn.<\/p>\n Daniel’s breath stopped.<\/p>\n His father whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThat is your real mother.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stared.<\/p>\n \u201cBut who was the woman I knew?\u201d<\/p>\n His father answered:<\/p>\n \u201cHer daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cThen who is the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n The woman looked directly at Daniel.<\/p>\n The newborn opened its eyes.<\/p>\n And the baby spoke:<\/p>\n \u201cI’m you.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel stepped backward.<\/p>\n The memory shattered.<\/p>\n The future city vanished.<\/p>\n The cemetery vanished.<\/p>\n Silas vanished.<\/p>\n His father vanished.<\/p>\n Daniel found himself standing alone in complete darkness.<\/p>\n Then a final message appeared.<\/p>\n MEMORY RECOVERY: 100%.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel waited.<\/p>\n Another message appeared.<\/p>\n SUBJECT ZERO IDENTIFIED.<\/strong><\/p>\n Then:<\/p>\n SUBJECT ZERO IS NOT DANIEL BLACKWOOD.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel froze.<\/p>\n A final line appeared.<\/p>\n SUBJECT ZERO IS SILAS.<\/strong><\/p>\n Daniel’s blood ran cold.<\/p>\n And somewhere behind him\u2014<\/p>\n Silas whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cDad\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel turned.<\/p>\n Nobody was there.<\/p>\n Only a newborn crying in the darkness.<\/p>\n And this time\u2014<\/p>\n Daniel recognized the voice.<\/p>\n It was his own.<\/p>\n
\nDaniel couldn’t move.
\nHis father’s words repeated inside his head.
\nThe day you killed God.
\n<\/strong>Daniel stared into the darkness.
\n\u201cWhat did you mean?\u201d
\nNo answer.
\n\u201cDad?\u201d
\nSilence.
\nThen a light appeared.
\nA single white light.
\nIt illuminated the floor.
\nThere was blood on it.
\nFresh blood.
\nDaniel looked down.
\nHis hands were covered in it.
\nHe stumbled backward.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nHis father appeared at the edge of the light.
\n\u201cYou remember now.\u201d
\nDaniel shook his head.
\n\u201cI don’t.\u201d
\n\u201cYou will.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did I kill?\u201d
\nHis father looked toward the black door.
\n\u201cNot what.\u201d
\nHe paused.
\n\u201cWho.\u201d
\nDaniel’s heart began pounding.
\n\u201cGod?\u201d
\nHis father nodded.
\nDaniel laughed nervously.
\n\u201cThere is no God.\u201d
\nHis father smiled.
\n\u201cThat is what you said before you killed him.\u201d
\nDaniel stared.
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cHere.\u201d
\n\u201cIn the cemetery?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cThen where?\u201d<\/p>\n\n