Chapter 13 - The BabyThe crying continued.
Soft.
Weak.
Impossible.
Alexander turned toward the sound.
A small emergency light illuminated the far end of the bunker.
There was a cradle.
Nobody had placed it there.
Mia walked toward it.
Eva grabbed her arm.
“Don't.”
Mia stopped.
Inside the cradle lay a newborn baby.
A silver bracelet circled its wrist.
The Vale family crest was engraved on it.
Alexander approached slowly.
“What is this?”
Mia looked at the child.
“The last stage.”
Eva shook her head.
“No.”
Alexander touched the baby's hand.
The infant stopped crying.
Immediately.
The baby opened its eyes.
Gray.
Exactly like Alexander’s.
Mia whispered:
“It recognizes you.”
Alexander stepped backward.
“How?”
“Memory.”
The bunker speaker activated.
A woman's voice filled the room.
Evelyn.
“My son.”
Alexander froze.
“Mom?”
“I knew you would find the child.”
Alexander stared at the speaker.
“Where are you?”
“Watching.”
He clenched his jaw.
“You manipulated everything.”
“Yes.”
“You killed my father.”
“No.”
“You replaced my life.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
A pause.
“Because I had no choice.”
Alexander laughed bitterly.
“Everyone says that.”
His mother's voice trembled.
“You were never supposed to exist.”
“Then why make me?”
“To save Richard.”
Alexander stopped.
“What?”
“Your father became dangerous.”
“How?”
“He wanted to destroy Echo.”
“And you stopped him.”
“Yes.”
“By replacing me?”
“Yes.”
Alexander looked at the baby.
“What does the child have to do with it?”
“Everything.”
Evelyn continued:
“The original Alexander could access Echo.”
“But I can't.”
“Correct.”
“Why?”
“Because you were designed without the genetic key.”
Alexander stared.
“So who has it?”
Silence.
Then Evelyn answered:
“The child.”
Eva suddenly understood.
“No.”
Alexander looked at her.
“What?”
She backed away.
“That's why they wanted my pregnancy.”
“You're pregnant?”
She nodded.
“But I didn't tell anyone.”
Mia smiled.
“You didn't have to.”
The bunker doors exploded.
Armed men stormed in.
Gunfire erupted.
Alexander grabbed the baby.
Eva dragged Mia behind a concrete wall.
The soldier fired.
One attacker fell.
Then another.
Alexander ran toward the exit.
Suddenly a figure appeared.
A woman in a white coat.
Alexander recognized her face.
It was Elena.
The real Elena.
She was older than in the wedding photos.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Alexander.”
He stared.
“Which one are you?”
She smiled sadly.
“The first.”
She pointed toward the baby.
“That child belongs to me.”
Eva stared at her.
“No.”
Elena looked at her.
“You were created from me.”
“Yes.”
“You inherited my memories.”
“Yes.”
“But you never inherited my child.”
The baby began crying again.
Elena stepped closer.
Alexander tightened his grip.
“What do you want?”
Her face hardened.
“Not the baby.”
She looked at him.
“I want my life back.”
The soldier whispered:
“Sir…”
Alexander turned.
The bunker wall behind them was opening.
A hidden corridor appeared.
But the real Elena smiled.
Because she knew where it led.
“The hospital.”
Alexander's blood went cold.
“That’s where they kept the original me.”
May you like
Elena nodded.
“And he's awake.”
