The voices did not stop. The woman smiled.<\/p>\n A tear rolled down her cheek.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew you would come.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias couldn’t breathe.<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara looked past him.<\/p>\n Her eyes settled on Lily.<\/p>\n And the expression on her face changed.<\/p>\n Fear.<\/p>\n Real fear.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n Lily squeezed Elias’s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Mara shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t let her touch the glass.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias immediately moved between Mara and Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara’s voice trembled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t understand what she is.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily looked confused.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m just Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara closed her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is what they taught you to believe.\u201d<\/p>\n Suddenly\u2014<\/p>\n BANG!<\/strong><\/p>\n The massive steel door behind them slammed shut.<\/p>\n Everyone turned.<\/p>\n Michael ran toward it.<\/p>\n He tried the handle.<\/p>\n Locked.<\/p>\n Sarah looked at the ceiling.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s happening again.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias turned toward her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is happening?\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah didn’t answer.<\/p>\n \u201cSarah!\u201d<\/p>\n She finally looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cThe facility has recognized Subject Zero.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s face hardened.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m Subject Zero.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah slowly shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed toward Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cShe’s looking at you.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias turned.<\/p>\n Lily wasn’t looking at him.<\/p>\n She was staring at the floor.<\/p>\n Her eyes were unfocused.<\/p>\n Her lips were moving.<\/p>\n \u201cShe remembers.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara whispered from inside the chamber.<\/p>\n \u201cShe remembers everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily suddenly gasped.<\/p>\n Her body stiffened.<\/p>\n Elias caught her before she fell.<\/p>\n \u201cLily!\u201d<\/p>\n She grabbed his shirt.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI’m here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can hear them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe children.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked around.<\/p>\n The voices had stopped.<\/p>\n The underground city became completely silent.<\/p>\n Then Lily whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThey’re afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael lowered his weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cHow does she know that?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily pointed toward the far end of the chamber.<\/p>\n \u201cThere.\u201d<\/p>\n A massive steel door stood there.<\/p>\n It had no handle.<\/p>\n No keypad.<\/p>\n No lock.<\/p>\n Only a symbol.<\/p>\n A circle.<\/p>\n Inside the circle was a small black mark.<\/p>\n The same mark that had appeared on Lily’s bracelet.<\/p>\n Elias walked toward it.<\/p>\n Mara shouted from the chamber.<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t!\u201d<\/p>\n He stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is behind that door?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cThe beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah swallowed.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the end.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at both women.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara’s expression became painfully sad.<\/p>\n \u201cIt means everything you’ve been searching for is behind that door.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stepped closer.<\/p>\n \u201cThen open it.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara didn’t move.<\/p>\n \u201cI can’t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause only Lily can.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone looked at Lily.<\/p>\n Lily slowly stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t have to do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n But Lily was already walking.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She looked back at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m not scared.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou taught me not to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Then she placed her palm against the symbol.<\/p>\n The entire facility shook.<\/p>\n Lights exploded across the ceiling.<\/p>\n One after another.<\/p>\n The steel door began to open.<\/p>\n Slowly.<\/p>\n Painfully.<\/p>\n Like something on the other side was resisting.<\/p>\n A deep mechanical voice filled the chamber.<\/p>\n \u201cIDENTITY CONFIRMED.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone froze.<\/p>\n \u201cSUBJECT ZERO.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Elias looked at Lily.<\/p>\n The voice continued.<\/p>\n \u201cGENETIC MEMORY CARRIER.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Lily’s eyes widened.<\/p>\n Then\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cORIGINAL CHILD.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Elias felt cold.<\/p>\n Original child?<\/p>\n The door opened completely.<\/p>\n Beyond it was not another room.<\/p>\n It was a corridor.<\/p>\n A very old corridor.<\/p>\n Its walls were covered with photographs.<\/p>\n Hundreds of them.<\/p>\n Children.<\/p>\n Families.<\/p>\n Scientists.<\/p>\n Soldiers.<\/p>\n Doctors.<\/p>\n Politicians.<\/p>\n And in the center of every photograph\u2026<\/p>\n was Lily.<\/p>\n At different ages.<\/p>\n Different locations.<\/p>\n Different years.<\/p>\n Elias stared in disbelief.<\/p>\n \u201cThat can’t be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael walked toward one photograph.<\/p>\n He touched the glass.<\/p>\n \u201cThis picture is twenty-four years old.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah stepped beside him.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Lily wasn’t born twenty-four years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily suddenly whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cI remember this place.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias turned.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve never been here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I have.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily stared into the corridor.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was little.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were never here.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t mean this body.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias froze.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed at her own head.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember being here before I was born.\u201d<\/p>\n They walked deeper into the corridor.<\/p>\n Every step activated another photograph.<\/p>\n Every photograph displayed a different memory.<\/p>\n Elias saw Lily standing beside Mara.<\/p>\n Then Lily standing beside Amelia.<\/p>\n Then Lily standing beside Sarah.<\/p>\n Then Lily sitting beside a younger version of himself.<\/p>\n But the dates were impossible.<\/p>\n Some photographs were taken before Lily’s birth.<\/p>\n Others were taken before Elias had even met Amelia.<\/p>\n Michael noticed it too.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn’t surveillance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMemory reconstruction.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThey recorded memories before the events happened.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cThat doesn’t make sense.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cNot to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stopped.<\/p>\n At the end of the corridor was a giant circular room.<\/p>\n In the middle stood a black table.<\/p>\n Seven chairs surrounded it.<\/p>\n Six were empty.<\/p>\n One was occupied.<\/p>\n By a little girl.<\/p>\n Elias stopped breathing.<\/p>\n The child slowly lifted her head.<\/p>\n She looked about eight years old.<\/p>\n The same age Lily had been when Elias first returned from the army.<\/p>\n The same dark eyes.<\/p>\n The same face.<\/p>\n The same small scar above her eyebrow.<\/p>\n Lily stared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s me.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n The little girl smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias moved in front of Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n The girl looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cMy name is Lena.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cImpossible.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou remember me.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah’s face went pale.<\/p>\n \u201cYou died.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were killed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI saw the report.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena stood.<\/p>\n \u201cYou saw what they wanted you to see.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at Sarah.<\/p>\n \u201cYou knew her?\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah couldn’t answer.<\/p>\n Lena walked toward them.<\/p>\n \u201cYou all knew me.\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed at Michael.<\/p>\n \u201cYou protected me.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve never seen you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed at Mara.<\/p>\n \u201cYou erased yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara closed her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Lena looked at Elias.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were the first.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s voice dropped.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst what?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena smiled sadly.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first person they taught to forget.\u201d<\/p>\n The room suddenly came alive.<\/p>\n A projector activated above the table.<\/p>\n Seven names appeared.<\/p>\n Then a final name appeared.<\/p>\n Elias stared at the screen.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara spoke softly.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias turned toward her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou told me Lily was the key.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou told me I was Subject Zero.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why is Lily Subject Seven?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara looked at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Subject Zero wasn’t the number.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara continued.<\/p>\n \u201cSubject Zero was the role.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael slowly understood.<\/p>\n \u201cThe carrier.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThe person capable of carrying memories across generations.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cBut why me?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara looked away.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you were the first successful carrier.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s voice became quieter.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you carry?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara didn’t answer.<\/p>\n Lena did.<\/p>\n \u201cThe memories of everyone they killed.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n Elias stared at the girl.<\/p>\n Lena continued.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery witness they eliminated\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed toward the walls.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026was transferred into you.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s face went pale.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t remember because they removed the memories.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThe people who built this place.\u201d<\/p>\n Suddenly the lights went out.<\/p>\n A single red light appeared above them.<\/p>\n Then another.<\/p>\n And another.<\/p>\n A warning siren began.<\/p>\n WEE-OOO.<\/strong><\/p>\n Michael raised his weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have company.\u201d<\/p>\n A voice came over the speakers.<\/p>\n A man’s voice.<\/p>\n Calm.<\/p>\n Old.<\/p>\n Familiar.<\/p>\n \u201cElias.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias froze.<\/p>\n He knew that voice.<\/p>\n His father.<\/p>\n \u201cLeave the facility.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked toward Mara.<\/p>\n She whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t listen.\u201d<\/p>\n The voice continued.<\/p>\n \u201cYour daughter is in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily stepped closer to Elias.<\/p>\n The voice said:<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want her alive, bring her to the central chamber.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a trap.\u201d<\/p>\n The voice laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou always were suspicious, Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s face changed.<\/p>\n Elias looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cHow does he know your name?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael slowly lowered his weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cHe shouldn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n The voice continued.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Michael Hale died twelve years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stared at the speaker.<\/p>\n Then the voice said:<\/p>\n \u201cBut you didn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n A door opened behind them.<\/p>\n Footsteps echoed.<\/p>\n Slow.<\/p>\n Heavy.<\/p>\n Deliberate.<\/p>\n Everyone turned.<\/p>\n A man stepped from the darkness.<\/p>\n Elias recognized him immediately.<\/p>\n His father.<\/p>\n Alive.<\/p>\n Again.<\/p>\n But this time there was something different.<\/p>\n He wasn’t frightened.<\/p>\n He wasn’t hiding.<\/p>\n He wasn’t running.<\/p>\n He was smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, son.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias raised his gun.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re not my father.\u201d<\/p>\n The man smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve said that before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n The man looked at Mara.<\/p>\n Then Lily.<\/p>\n Then Sarah.<\/p>\n Then Michael.<\/p>\n \u201cI am the reason all of you are still alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara shouted:<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t believe him!\u201d<\/p>\n The man laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou still lie to him after all these years?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara’s eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n \u201cI was trying to protect him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were trying to control him.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cEnough.\u201d<\/p>\n The man looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want the truth?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen ask your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias turned toward Mara.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara said nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me!\u201d<\/p>\n Mara finally whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cI didn’t give birth to you.\u201d<\/p>\n The room went silent.<\/p>\n Elias stared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd neither did Amelia.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily’s eyes widened.<\/p>\n Elias looked at Mara.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara’s voice broke.<\/p>\n \u201cYou and Lily are connected.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara looked at the seven chairs.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Lily is the child who came after you.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s face tightened.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were the first carrier.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Lily?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe first natural carrier.\u201d<\/p>\n The man behind them laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cNow you’re finally telling him.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara glared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t get to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n He stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve been waiting twenty-five years to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias raised his weapon higher.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n The man smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYour father.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve said that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n The man pointed toward Mara.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m not the man who raised you.\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed toward himself.<\/p>\n \u201cI am the man who created the bloodline.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cAdrian\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Elias turned.<\/p>\n \u201cAdrian?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cAdrian Thorne.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s grandfather.<\/p>\n The man everyone had said was dead.<\/p>\n The man from the photographs.<\/p>\n The man who had been hiding behind every revelation.<\/p>\n He stepped fully into the light.<\/p>\n \u201cI never died.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian walked toward the table.<\/p>\n The seven chairs activated.<\/p>\n One after another.<\/p>\n A holographic family tree appeared above them.<\/p>\n But this wasn’t the family tree Elias had seen before.<\/p>\n It went back centuries.<\/p>\n Names appeared.<\/p>\n Then disappeared.<\/p>\n Generations.<\/p>\n Wars.<\/p>\n Births.<\/p>\n Deaths.<\/p>\n Secrets.<\/p>\n Finally, one name appeared in the center.<\/p>\n Adrian pointed toward it.<\/p>\n \u201cShe began the archive.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know it’s true.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI built it to save the children.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou built it because you knew the Founders would come.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd they did.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked between them.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are the Founders?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian’s smile disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201cThe people who own the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThey aren’t politicians.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael added:<\/p>\n \u201cThey aren’t governments.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara finished:<\/p>\n \u201cThey are the people who control both.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at the holographic family tree.<\/p>\n \u201cHow did my family become involved?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian answered:<\/p>\n \u201cBecause your family was never the owner.\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed toward Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the container.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily stepped backward.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy?\u201d<\/p>\n Elias immediately moved beside her.<\/p>\n Adrian’s expression softened.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t have to be afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember you.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian froze.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI remember you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve never met me.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I have.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian’s face changed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily closed her eyes.<\/p>\n Then she spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were crying.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian didn’t move.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were holding a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara gasped.<\/p>\n Lily continued.<\/p>\n \u201cYou told Amelia\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She paused.<\/p>\n \u201cYou told her to hide the baby.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian’s face went pale.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you said\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Lily opened her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Elias remembers who his father really is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She looked directly at Adrian.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026he will kill us all.\u201d<\/p>\n Nobody moved.<\/p>\n Elias stared at his grandfather.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat father?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian said nothing.<\/p>\n Elias stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat father?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian finally looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYour biological father.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s voice became dangerously quiet.<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian pointed toward the man standing behind him.<\/p>\n Elias turned.<\/p>\n The man smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cNow we’re getting somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n The man stepped into the light.<\/p>\n He removed his coat.<\/p>\n Then his gloves.<\/p>\n Finally, he removed the small metal pendant around his neck.<\/p>\n Elias recognized it.<\/p>\n It was identical to the pendant his father had worn in every childhood photograph.<\/p>\n But the man wasn’t Elias’s father.<\/p>\n At least\u2026<\/p>\n not the father Elias remembered.<\/p>\n The man looked at Mara.<\/p>\n \u201cYou never told him.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was protecting him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were protecting yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian interrupted.<\/p>\n \u201cEnough.\u201d<\/p>\n The man looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve hidden long enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Then he looked at Elias.<\/p>\n \u201cYour biological father was not Elias Thorne.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s breathing stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The lights suddenly flashed.<\/p>\n A screen appeared.<\/p>\n A DNA sequence filled it.<\/p>\n Then two names.<\/p>\n The system displayed:<\/p>\n PATERNITY: NEGATIVE<\/strong><\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n Another name appeared.<\/p>\n MATERNITY: NEGATIVE<\/strong><\/p>\n Then another.<\/p>\n MATERNITY: NEGATIVE<\/strong><\/p>\n Elias whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThen who am I?\u201d<\/p>\n The system remained silent.<\/p>\n Lily suddenly grabbed Elias’s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKnow what?\u201d<\/p>\n She looked toward the screen.<\/p>\n \u201cYour real name.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cNot Elias.\u201d<\/p>\n The entire facility went dark.<\/p>\n Then one final message appeared.<\/p>\n White letters against black.<\/p>\n A second message appeared.<\/p>\n Elias stared at the screen.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cIt means\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She looked toward the deepest part of the underground city.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026there was someone before you.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias felt his blood turn cold.<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena pointed toward a sealed door.<\/p>\n A door they hadn’t noticed before.<\/p>\n It slowly opened.<\/p>\n Behind it was a chamber filled with photographs.<\/p>\n One photograph sat alone on a table.<\/p>\n Elias walked toward it.<\/p>\n He picked it up.<\/p>\n And froze.<\/p>\n The photograph showed a young woman.<\/p>\n Mara.<\/p>\n Beside her stood Amelia.<\/p>\n And between them\u2026<\/p>\n was a newborn baby.<\/p>\n But the baby wasn’t Lily.<\/p>\n It wasn’t Elias.<\/p>\n It was another child.<\/p>\n A boy.<\/p>\n On the back of the photograph were four words.<\/p>\n Elias slowly turned around.<\/p>\n The old underground city was silent.<\/p>\n Then, from somewhere deep beneath the facility\u2026<\/p>\n a child’s voice whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Lily looked terrified.<\/p>\n \u201cThat isn’t me.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is it?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n The voice came again.<\/p>\n Closer this time.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy\u2026 I’ve been waiting for you.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Adrian stepped backward.<\/p>\n For the first time, the old man looked genuinely terrified.<\/p>\n Elias raised his weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is down there?\u201d<\/p>\n Adrian whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThe first child.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara’s face went white.<\/p>\n \u201cElias\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cIf that child is alive\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She swallowed.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026then everything we’ve been told is a lie.\u201d<\/p>\n A loud metallic sound echoed from beneath them.<\/p>\n CLANG.<\/strong><\/p>\n Then another.<\/p>\n CLANG.<\/strong><\/p>\n Something was climbing the stairs.<\/p>\n Slowly.<\/p>\n One step at a time.<\/p>\n Elias tightened his grip on Lily’s hand.<\/p>\n Sarah raised her weapon.<\/p>\n Michael stood beside them.<\/p>\n Adrian backed toward the wall.<\/p>\n Mara pressed both hands against the glass.<\/p>\n And then\u2014<\/p>\n a small hand appeared around the corner.<\/p>\n A child’s hand.<\/p>\n Pale.<\/p>\n Tiny.<\/p>\n Covered in dried blood.<\/p>\n Lily stared at it.<\/p>\n Her eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember him.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou do?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was holding me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn the room where they took my memories.\u201d<\/p>\n The child stepped into view.<\/p>\n A boy.<\/p>\n About ten years old.<\/p>\n His face looked strangely familiar.<\/p>\n Elias stared at him.<\/p>\n The boy stared back.<\/p>\n Then the boy smiled.<\/p>\n Not like a stranger.<\/p>\n Like someone returning home.<\/p>\n He whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Elias.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n The boy continued:<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve been waiting for my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThey came from everywhere.
\nFrom the walls.
\nFrom the ceiling.
\nFrom the darkness beneath Elias’s feet.
\nThousands of children’s voices whispered the same words again and again.
\n\u201cWELCOME HOME.\u201d
\n<\/strong>Elias stood completely still.
\nLily’s hand was locked inside his.
\nSarah was breathing heavily behind them.
\nMichael Hale had his gun raised, searching the enormous underground chamber for movement.
\nAmelia stared at the glass chamber in front of them.
\nAnd inside that chamber\u2026
\nstood Mara.
\nThe woman Elias had spent most of his life believing was dead.
\nHis mother.
\nHis enemy.
\nHis protector.
\nHis greatest unanswered question.
\nShe looked exactly as she had in the oldest photograph.
\nNot older.
\nNot younger.
\nExactly the same.
\nHer dark hair rested against her shoulders.
\nHer eyes were tired.
\nBut alive.
\nShe slowly placed her palm against the glass.
\n\u201cElias.\u201d
\nHis heart stopped.
\nNobody had called his name that way in decades.
\nNot with that voice.
\nNot with that mixture of love and sorrow.
\nHe took one step forward.
\n\u201cMara?\u201d<\/p>\n
\nTHE FIRST MEMORY<\/h2>\n
\nTHE ROOM OF NAMES<\/h1>\n
\nTHE SEVEN CHAIRS<\/h1>\n
SUBJECT ZERO \u2014 ELIAS<\/h3>\n
SUBJECT ONE \u2014 LENA<\/h3>\n
SUBJECT TWO \u2014 MAYA<\/h3>\n
SUBJECT THREE \u2014 ROSE<\/h3>\n
SUBJECT FOUR \u2014 ANNA<\/h3>\n
SUBJECT FIVE \u2014 GRACE<\/h3>\n
SUBJECT SIX \u2014 EMMA<\/h3>\n
SUBJECT SEVEN \u2014 LILY<\/h3>\n
\nTHE MAN WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD<\/h1>\n
\nTHE REAL THORNE<\/h1>\n
MARA THORNE<\/h3>\n
\nTHE LAST LIE<\/h1>\n
ELIAS THORNE<\/h3>\n
SUBJECT UNKNOWN<\/h3>\n
MARA THORNE<\/h3>\n
ELENA VALE<\/h3>\n
SUBJECT ZERO HAS BEEN MISIDENTIFIED FOR 25 YEARS.<\/h3>\n
THE ORIGINAL CHILD IS NOT LILY.<\/h3>\n
THE ORIGINAL CHILD IS ELIAS.<\/h3>\n
BUT ELIAS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL PERSON.<\/h3>\n
HE IS STILL ALIVE.<\/strong><\/h3>\n