Chapter 14 - The recording continued.“I know your mother told you I was dead.”
Daniel stared at the speakers.
“She lied.”
Emily looked down.
Adrian's voice grew colder.
“But so did I.”
Daniel listened.
“I created Project Dove because I believed memory was the weakness that made people controllable.”
Michael clenched his fists.
“I was wrong.”
Daniel whispered:
“Then why did you do it?”
The recording answered.
“Because the first subject wasn't a child.”
Silence.
“He was me.”
Daniel's heart stopped.
Adrian continued.
“I altered my own memories.”
“I erased my crimes.”
“I erased my family.”
“And I created children who would eventually inherit the things I could no longer remember.”
Daniel looked at Emily.
“What does that mean?”
She whispered:
“Your father was dying.”
Adrian's recording continued.
“So I built a system that could preserve knowledge through others.”
Noah stepped forward.
“Through us.”
“Yes.”
“Your memories became fragments of mine.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Then what's inside me?”
Adrian answered:
“Everything.”
The room went silent.
Every memory.
Every secret.
Every murder.
Every transaction.
Every name.
Inside Daniel's mind.
That was the real reason everyone wanted him.
Victor.
Richard.
Dr. Ward.
All of them.
Daniel carried the archive.
Adrian continued:
“They will tell you you are a monster.”
Daniel's breathing slowed.
“You are not.”
“They will tell you you are innocent.”
“You are not.”
“You are both.”
Daniel's hands trembled.
“Why?”
The recording answered:
“Because I made you human enough to choose.”
The tape clicked.
Then another voice appeared.
Lily.
As a child.
“Daddy?”
Daniel froze.
Adrian answered:
“Yes?”
“Which one is my brother?”
Adrian laughed softly.
“All of them.”
Daniel stared.
The recording ended.
Suddenly the lights returned.
Victor stood at the doorway.
Richard beside him.
Dr. Ward behind them.
Three enemies.
Or three survivors.
Victor raised his gun.
“It ends tonight.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“How?”
Victor pointed at him.
“Your memories.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Victor fired.
Michael moved.
The bullet hit him.
He collapsed.
Daniel screamed.
“MICHAEL!”
Victor lowered the gun.
“Now remember.”
Daniel dropped beside Michael.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Michael smiled weakly.
“I remember.”
“What?”
Michael whispered:
“You didn't kill me.”
Daniel froze.
“I know.”
“No.”
Michael grabbed his hand.
“You didn't kill me then.”
He coughed.
“But you might now.”
Daniel stared.
“What does that mean?”
Michael's eyes closed.
Lily stepped toward them.
“His heart stopped.”
Daniel panicked.
“Help him!”
Dr. Ward rushed forward.
She pressed two fingers against Michael's neck.
Nothing.
Daniel looked at her.
“Save him.”
She shook her head.
“He's gone.”
Daniel's world shattered.
Then Michael's eyes opened.
He whispered:
“Got you.”
Daniel stared.
Michael smiled.
“Fake blood.”
Victor's face turned white.
Michael sat up.
The entire room erupted.
Richard shouted:
“HOW?”
Michael pulled a small device from his shirt.
“The bullet never touched me.”
Daniel looked at Dr. Ward.
She smiled.
“You were testing them.”
“Of course.”
Victor backed away.
Noah moved toward him.
Victor raised his weapon.
Noah was faster.
The gun hit the floor.
Richard tried to flee.
Emily blocked him.
For the first time in twenty-six years, the entire family stood together.
But then Victor laughed.
“You think you've won?”
Daniel stared.
Victor looked at Lily.
“She hasn't told you everything.”
Lily looked down.
Daniel turned toward her.
“What?”
Victor smiled.
“She isn't Emma.”
“I know.”
“She isn't Lily.”
Daniel frowned.
Victor whispered:
“She is Adrian's daughter.”
Daniel froze.
Lily looked at him.
Then nodded.
“And I'm not the only one.”
A second voice came from the hallway.
A woman.
“Hello, Alexander.”
Daniel turned.
The woman stepped into the room.
She looked exactly like Emily.
But younger.
Sharper.
Colder.
Daniel stared.
“Who are you?”
May you like
She smiled.
“Your sister.”
