The lights went out.
\nFor three seconds, there was nothing.
\nNo sound.
\nNo movement.
\nNo voices.
\nOnly darkness.
\nThen Lily screamed.
\n\u201cDADDY!\u201d
\nElias reached for her immediately.
\n\u201cI\u2019m here!\u201d
\nBut his hand closed around empty air.
\n\u201cLily?\u201d
\nNo answer.
\n\u201cLILY!\u201d
\nA child’s voice whispered from somewhere nearby.
\n\u201cDon’t move.\u201d
\nElias froze.
\nIt was Lily’s voice.
\nBut Lily was no longer beside him.
\n\u201cWhere are you?\u201d
\n\u201cDaddy\u2026\u201d
\nHer voice sounded frightened.
\n\u201cI can’t see you.\u201d
\nElias pulled out his flashlight.
\nThe beam cut through the darkness.
\nSarah was there.
\nMichael was there.
\nNoah was there.
\nAdrian was there.
\nMara was still trapped inside the glass chamber.
\nBut Lily\u2026
\nwas gone.<\/p>\n
And standing beside the chamber door was the other girl.<\/p>\n
The girl who looked exactly like Lily.<\/p>\n
She was staring directly at Elias.<\/p>\n
Smiling.<\/p>\n
Elias raised his gun.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is my daughter?\u201d<\/p>\n
The girl tilted her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe isn’t your daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elias’s finger tightened around the trigger.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon’t say that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe isn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is she?\u201d<\/p>\n
The girl pointed toward the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cBelow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suddenly\u2014<\/p>\n
BANG!<\/strong><\/p>\n The floor beneath Elias collapsed.<\/p>\n He fell.<\/p>\n Elias hit the ground hard.<\/p>\n His flashlight rolled away.<\/p>\n Dust filled the air.<\/p>\n He tried to breathe.<\/p>\n \u201cLily!\u201d<\/p>\n A small hand grabbed his.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy!\u201d<\/p>\n Elias pulled her toward him.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n He held her tightly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere were you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked around.<\/p>\n They were in a narrow underground tunnel.<\/p>\n The walls were covered with old writing.<\/p>\n Some of it looked like handwriting.<\/p>\n Some of it looked like children’s drawings.<\/p>\n And one phrase had been written again and again:<\/p>\n Lily stared at it.<\/p>\n \u201cI know this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve seen it before?\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was little.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think so.\u201d<\/p>\n A faint sound came from behind them.<\/p>\n Footsteps.<\/p>\n Elias raised his gun.<\/p>\n \u201cWho’s there?\u201d<\/p>\n No answer.<\/p>\n The footsteps continued.<\/p>\n Closer.<\/p>\n Lily whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t shoot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause it’s Noah.\u201d<\/p>\n A boy stepped from the darkness.<\/p>\n Noah.<\/p>\n But something was wrong.<\/p>\n He looked frightened.<\/p>\n \u201cLily.\u201d<\/p>\n She ran toward him.<\/p>\n Noah caught her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened to you?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah looked behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cThey found me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Founders.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah pointed toward the tunnel.<\/p>\n \u201cThey’re coming.\u201d<\/p>\n They began running.<\/p>\n The tunnel seemed endless.<\/p>\n Behind them, metal doors slammed open one after another.<\/p>\n Men shouted.<\/p>\n Boots thundered.<\/p>\n Michael’s voice echoed from far above.<\/p>\n \u201cELIAS!\u201d<\/p>\n Elias shouted back.<\/p>\n \u201cWE’RE UNDERGROUND!\u201d<\/p>\n No answer.<\/p>\n The tunnel split into three directions.<\/p>\n Noah stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cLeft.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI remember.\u201d<\/p>\n They ran left.<\/p>\n A few seconds later, they reached a circular chamber.<\/p>\n In the center stood an old machine.<\/p>\n It looked nothing like the technology upstairs.<\/p>\n It was primitive.<\/p>\n Metal.<\/p>\n Glass.<\/p>\n Wires.<\/p>\n A chair.<\/p>\n And above the chair was a single photograph.<\/p>\n Elias walked toward it.<\/p>\n He stopped.<\/p>\n The photograph showed three children.<\/p>\n Noah.<\/p>\n Lily.<\/p>\n And the third girl.<\/p>\n But they weren’t standing together.<\/p>\n They were separated by thick glass walls.<\/p>\n A woman stood behind them.<\/p>\n Mara.<\/p>\n And beside Mara stood Elias.<\/p>\n Except Elias wasn’t a child.<\/p>\n He was an adult.<\/p>\n Elias stared at the photograph.<\/p>\n \u201cThat isn’t possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Noah looked away.<\/p>\n \u201cIt happened.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBefore you remember.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias touched the photograph.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was I doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah answered:<\/p>\n \u201cChoosing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChoosing what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich child would carry the memories.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at Lily.<\/p>\n She was staring at the machine.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias turned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cYou chose me.\u201d<\/p>\n Noah shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t remember everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI remember enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stepped toward them.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily looked at the machine.<\/p>\n \u201cThey told you one child would survive.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s stomach tightened.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou refused to choose.\u201d<\/p>\n Noah continued:<\/p>\n \u201cSo they chose for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah looked toward the ceiling.<\/p>\n \u201cThe man you called Father.\u201d<\/p>\n A door opened.<\/p>\n Everyone turned.<\/p>\n A man entered the chamber.<\/p>\n Black coat.<\/p>\n Black gloves.<\/p>\n Silver mask.<\/p>\n Elias recognized the mask.<\/p>\n It was the same mask worn by the intruder who had attacked Thorne Manor years ago.<\/p>\n The man removed it.<\/p>\n Elias stopped breathing.<\/p>\n It was his father.<\/p>\n But not the father who had appeared in the underground facility.<\/p>\n This man was older.<\/p>\n Scarred.<\/p>\n His face was damaged along the left side.<\/p>\n He looked at Elias.<\/p>\n \u201cYou finally found them.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias raised his gun.<\/p>\n \u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n The man nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is Mara?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is Sarah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho was the man pretending to be you?\u201d<\/p>\n The man smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cMy brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s blood ran cold.<\/p>\n \u201cRichard?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe man who supposedly died?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias lowered the gun slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n His father answered:<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Richard was always better at lying than I was.\u201d<\/p>\n Noah stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cYou said you’d never come back.\u201d<\/p>\n His father looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI had to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou abandoned us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI saved you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou erased me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hid you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou let them hurt Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n His father’s expression changed.<\/p>\n \u201cI never knew.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou knew.\u201d<\/p>\n The man looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou remember.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked terrified.<\/p>\n \u201cYou shouldn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily took one step forward.<\/p>\n \u201cYou told me to forget.\u201d<\/p>\n The man whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cI was protecting you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou always say that.\u201d<\/p>\n He closed his eyes.<\/p>\n Then Lily asked the question nobody else had dared to ask.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy did you choose me?\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n Her father looked at Elias.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause she was the only one who could survive it.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cSurvive what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe archive.\u201d<\/p>\n The man walked toward the machine.<\/p>\n He placed his hand against the metal.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was never designed to store memories.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael appeared at the entrance.<\/p>\n \u201cThen what was it designed for?\u201d<\/p>\n The man answered:<\/p>\n \u201cTo transfer them.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stared.<\/p>\n \u201cInto whom?\u201d<\/p>\n The man looked at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cHer.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stepped in front of Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n His father continued.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was born with something none of us understood.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHer brain could retain memories that weren’t hers.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThat isn’t possible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn’t supposed to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Noah spoke quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was the first.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Noah nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why does the system call me Subject Zero?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you were the first adult carrier.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Noah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe first child carrier.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd she?\u201d<\/p>\n His father whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThe final carrier.\u201d<\/p>\n The machine suddenly activated.<\/p>\n Lights flashed.<\/p>\n A low hum filled the chamber.<\/p>\n Then a message appeared.<\/p>\n Elias stepped backward.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is happening?\u201d<\/p>\n His father looked horrified.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone activated the final sequence.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Nobody answered.<\/p>\n Then the machine spoke.<\/p>\n Lily screamed.<\/p>\n Elias grabbed her.<\/p>\n \u201cTURN IT OFF!\u201d<\/p>\n Her father rushed toward the machine.<\/p>\n \u201cI can’t!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen destroy it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf I destroy it now, the memories will be released!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n Lily collapsed.<\/p>\n Elias caught her.<\/p>\n Her eyes rolled backward.<\/p>\n Then she whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cI see them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily’s body became completely still.<\/p>\n Then she began speaking.<\/p>\n But the voice wasn’t hers.<\/p>\n A man’s voice came from her mouth.<\/p>\n \u201c1991.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias froze.<\/p>\n Then another voice.<\/p>\n \u201c1997.\u201d<\/p>\n Another.<\/p>\n \u201c2003.\u201d<\/p>\n Another.<\/p>\n \u201c2008.\u201d<\/p>\n Hundreds of voices.<\/p>\n Thousands.<\/p>\n All speaking through Lily.<\/p>\n Names.<\/p>\n Dates.<\/p>\n Locations.<\/p>\n Deaths.<\/p>\n Secrets.<\/p>\n Confessions.<\/p>\n Elias realized what he was hearing.<\/p>\n The archive.<\/p>\n Every memory.<\/p>\n Every witness.<\/p>\n Every victim.<\/p>\n Every person who had ever been connected to the organization.<\/p>\n Lily was carrying all of them.<\/p>\n Then one voice became clear.<\/p>\n A woman’s voice.<\/p>\n Mara.<\/p>\n \u201cI was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily’s eyes opened.<\/p>\n \u201cMama?\u201d<\/p>\n The voice continued through Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I could control them.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked toward Mara’s chamber through the distant security monitor.<\/p>\n Mara was crying.<\/p>\n \u201cLily\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Lily’s head turned toward the monitor.<\/p>\n \u201cMama?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara pressed her hand against the glass.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy did you leave me?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara broke down.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was taken.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou gave me to them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily’s expression changed.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n Lily answered:<\/p>\n \u201cEverything.\u201d<\/p>\n The lights flickered.<\/p>\n And suddenly Elias saw it.<\/p>\n Not through a screen.<\/p>\n Not through a photograph.<\/p>\n Through his own mind.<\/p>\n He was there.<\/p>\n Twenty-five years earlier.<\/p>\n A storm outside.<\/p>\n A secret facility underground.<\/p>\n Three children.<\/p>\n Noah.<\/p>\n Lily.<\/p>\n And the third girl.<\/p>\n Mara stood in front of them.<\/p>\n Elias was beside her.<\/p>\n But he wasn’t the adult Elias.<\/p>\n He was younger.<\/p>\n Maybe eighteen.<\/p>\n His father stood behind him.<\/p>\n Richard stood beside him.<\/p>\n Adrian was there too.<\/p>\n All four men were arguing.<\/p>\n Adrian shouted:<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot keep doing this!\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s father answered:<\/p>\n \u201cThey’ll find them.\u201d<\/p>\n Richard said:<\/p>\n \u201cThen give them one.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara turned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Richard pointed toward the three children.<\/p>\n \u201cOne child.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara’s face went pale.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want to sacrifice one?\u201d<\/p>\n Richard nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s how this ends.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias remembered himself shouting:<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone turned.<\/p>\n Young Elias stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cI won’t let you.\u201d<\/p>\n His father grabbed him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand enough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ll destroy the family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t care.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara looked at Elias.<\/p>\n \u201cThen you choose.\u201d<\/p>\n Young Elias stared at the three children.<\/p>\n Noah was crying.<\/p>\n Lily was silent.<\/p>\n The third girl was asleep.<\/p>\n Elias shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI can’t.\u201d<\/p>\n His father whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChoose.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChoose!\u201d<\/p>\n Elias screamed:<\/p>\n \u201cNO!\u201d<\/p>\n Then\u2014<\/p>\n Richard pulled out a gun.<\/p>\n He aimed at Noah.<\/p>\n Mara screamed.<\/p>\n Young Elias moved.<\/p>\n The gun fired.<\/p>\n But Noah didn’t fall.<\/p>\n Someone else did.<\/p>\n Mara.<\/p>\n She stepped between them.<\/p>\n Blood spread across her chest.<\/p>\n Elias screamed.<\/p>\n \u201cMAMA!\u201d<\/p>\n She fell.<\/p>\n The memory shattered.<\/p>\n Elias opened his eyes.<\/p>\n He was back in the chamber.<\/p>\n Mara was still behind the glass.<\/p>\n He stared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were shot.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI survived.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut everyone told me you died.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey needed you to believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara looked at Richard.<\/p>\n \u201cYour uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias turned.<\/p>\n Richard stood behind the machine.<\/p>\n His expression was empty.<\/p>\n \u201cYou killed her?\u201d<\/p>\n Richard shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI saved her.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara shouted:<\/p>\n \u201cYou abandoned me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou left me in their hands.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI kept you alive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou kept yourself alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Richard looked at Elias.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t understand what Mara did.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cThen explain.\u201d<\/p>\n Richard smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cShe didn’t create the archive.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara’s face hardened.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Richard continued.<\/p>\n \u201cLily did.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at Lily.<\/p>\n Richard pointed toward her.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was the original source.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI built the system around her.\u201d<\/p>\n Richard smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias suddenly understood.<\/p>\n \u201cMara created the archive\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026but Lily was the reason it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was the source.\u201d<\/p>\n Noah added:<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I was the first child who could carry part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at himself.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara answered:<\/p>\n \u201cYou were the bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara’s voice softened.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were the only one who could transfer memories between people.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias remembered the white room.<\/p>\n The crying children.<\/p>\n His hands against their heads.<\/p>\n The machine.<\/p>\n The commands.<\/p>\n He suddenly understood why he had forgotten.<\/p>\n He hadn’t been the victim.<\/p>\n He had been used.<\/p>\n But not as an experiment.<\/p>\n As a weapon.<\/p>\n His father stepped closer.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Founders wanted to use you to erase every witness.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many?\u201d<\/p>\n His father didn’t answer.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many memories did I erase?\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThousands.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias staggered.<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n His father continued:<\/p>\n \u201cBut you fought back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause we erased your memory too.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd she?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe brought them back.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily slowly opened her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn’t bring them back.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone turned.<\/p>\n Lily looked toward the machine.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were never gone.\u201d<\/p>\n The third girl suddenly appeared on the monitor.<\/p>\n She was standing alone in a white room.<\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is she?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cHer name is Eva.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe doesn’t have a name.\u201d<\/p>\n The girl on the screen smiled.<\/p>\n Then she spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cMy name is Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias felt cold.<\/p>\n The girl continued:<\/p>\n \u201cShe is Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed toward the real Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd she is Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n Then she pointed toward herself.<\/p>\n \u201cI am Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared in disbelief.<\/p>\n \u201cThree versions?\u201d<\/p>\n The girl smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cOne memory.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThe Founders split Lily’s memory into three hosts.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias finally understood.<\/p>\n \u201cThe three children\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWere never three different children.\u201d<\/p>\n Noah looked at Lily.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were fragments.\u201d<\/p>\n Mara nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThree fragments of the same original memory.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at the girl on the screen.<\/p>\n \u201cThen why does she look exactly like Lily?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause she is Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich one is real?\u201d<\/p>\n Mara answered:<\/p>\n \u201cAll three.\u201d<\/p>\n The machine began screaming.<\/p>\n The three children began screaming simultaneously.<\/p>\n Lily grabbed Elias.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy!\u201d<\/p>\n Elias held her.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m here!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t want to become someone else!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou won’t.\u201d<\/p>\n The girl on the screen screamed.<\/p>\n Noah collapsed.<\/p>\n And suddenly every screen in the underground city displayed one sentence:<\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n A second sentence appeared.<\/p>\n Mara whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The third sentence appeared.<\/p>\n Elias looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n The screens went black.<\/p>\n Then one final image appeared.<\/p>\n A photograph.<\/p>\n A woman.<\/p>\n A child.<\/p>\n And a man standing behind them.<\/p>\n The man was young.<\/p>\n Elias recognized him.<\/p>\n It was himself.<\/p>\n But the woman beside him was someone he had never seen.<\/p>\n The child in her arms was newborn.<\/p>\n And on the back of the photograph were five words:<\/p>\n Elias stared.<\/p>\n His father slowly stepped backward.<\/p>\n Mara began crying.<\/p>\n Adrian lowered his head.<\/p>\n Sarah whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cOh God\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Elias turned toward them.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is that woman?\u201d<\/p>\n Nobody answered.<\/p>\n \u201cWHO IS SHE?\u201d<\/p>\n His father finally spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cShe is the woman who gave birth to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias’s voice shook.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I thought Mara\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe wasn’t your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMara said she didn’t give birth to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe didn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias looked at the photograph.<\/p>\n \u201cThen who?\u201d<\/p>\n His father stared at the woman.<\/p>\n \u201cHer name was Elena.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias froze.<\/p>\n \u201cElena?\u201d<\/p>\n The same Elena who had raised him.<\/p>\n The same Elena everyone had said was dead.<\/p>\n The same woman whose DNA had tested negative.<\/p>\n His father whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cThat wasn’t her real name.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias felt his entire world shift.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was her real name?\u201d<\/p>\n Before the man could answer\u2014<\/p>\n the facility doors exploded.<\/p>\n BOOM!<\/strong><\/p>\n Armed soldiers flooded the corridor.<\/p>\n Michael opened fire.<\/p>\n Sarah dragged Adrian behind cover.<\/p>\n Noah pulled Lily down.<\/p>\n Mara screamed:<\/p>\n \u201cRUN!\u201d<\/p>\n Elias grabbed Lily.<\/p>\n But then a soldier stepped into the chamber.<\/p>\n He removed his helmet.<\/p>\n Elias froze.<\/p>\n It was an older version of himself.<\/p>\n Same eyes.<\/p>\n Same face.<\/p>\n Same scar.<\/p>\n Same voice.<\/p>\n The man smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve been looking for the wrong family, Elias.\u201d<\/p>\n Elias couldn’t move.<\/p>\n The man raised his weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cI am the original.\u201d<\/p>\n The room went silent.<\/p>\n Then Lily whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Elias stared at the stranger.<\/p>\n The stranger smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you’re the copy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nTHE FALL<\/h1>\n
WE WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER.<\/h3>\n
\nTHE THIRD CHILD<\/h1>\n
\nTHE MAN BEHIND THE MASK<\/h1>\n
\nTHE ARCHIVE WAS NEVER A MACHINE<\/h1>\n
ARCHIVE TRANSFER READY<\/h3>\n
TRANSFER SUBJECT: LILY THORNE<\/h3>\n
DESTINATION: UNKNOWN<\/h3>\n
MEMORY LOAD: 100%<\/h3>\n
WARNING \u2014 HOST CAPACITY EXCEEDED<\/h3>\n
\nTHE MILLION MEMORIES<\/h1>\n
\nTHE NIGHT OF THE THREE CHILDREN<\/h1>\n
\nTHE TRUTH ABOUT MARA’S \u201cDEATH\u201d<\/h1>\n
\nTHE BRIDGE<\/h1>\n
\nTHE GIRL WHO WAS NEVER BORN<\/h1>\n
MEMORY SYSTEM FAILURE<\/h3>\n
HOSTS MERGING<\/h3>\n
WARNING<\/h3>\n
ORIGINAL MEMORY RESTORING<\/h3>\n
THE ORIGINAL MEMORY IS NOT A MEMORY.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
IT IS A PERSON.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
THE ORIGINAL PERSON IS STILL ALIVE.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
THIS WAS YOUR REAL FAMILY.<\/strong><\/h3>\n