Chapter 7 - David couldn't breathe.The real Sarah stood on his left.
The other Sarah stood inside the nursery.
Same face.
Same height.
Same scar.
The woman beside Leo slowly smiled.
“Daddy.”
David backed away.
The detective grabbed him.
“Don't let her touch the child.”
The woman tilted her head.
“You still don't understand.”
She lifted Leo from the crib.
Tank charged.
The woman froze.
Tank stopped inches away.
He didn't attack.
Instead he whined.
The strange Sarah whispered:
“You remember him, don't you?”
Tank lowered his head.
David stared.
“What are you talking about?”
She looked at the dog.
“Tell him.”
David's mind raced.
“Tell me what?”
The woman smiled.
“Tank wasn't adopted.”
David froze.
“What?”
“He was assigned.”
The detective whispered:
“No.”
The woman continued.
“He was trained to recognize the signal.”
David stared at Tank.
“What signal?”
She pointed at Leo.
“When his body enters danger.”
David shook his head.
“That's impossible.”
The woman laughed.
“Then why did he know about the crib?”
David couldn't answer.
The woman set Leo down.
He walked toward her willingly.
Sarah screamed:
“Leo!”
She reached for him.
The woman stepped back.
“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“Then remember.”
The woman slapped her own face.
Once.
Twice.
Blood appeared at her nose.
Sarah gasped.
The woman's face changed.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
For a moment, she looked terrified.
“I was five.”
Sarah stared.
“I was locked in a room.”
“I know.”
“There was a baby.”
Sarah's eyes widened.
“Emma.”
The woman nodded.
“They said I wasn't supposed to care.”
David looked at the detective.
“What are they?”
The detective said nothing.
The woman smiled again.
“They are already here.”
She pressed a button.
The walls came alive.
Panels opened.
Hidden speakers crackled.
Dozens of voices whispered.
“Subject A-18 confirmed.”
“Parents compromised.”
“Retrieve child.”
“Neutralize dog.”
David looked at Tank.
The dog immediately growled.
The house was surrounded.
Outside, headlights appeared.
One.
Then another.
Then another.
Sarah grabbed Leo.
The woman disappeared through a hidden doorway.
David ran after her.
He opened the panel.
A tunnel stretched into darkness.
Tank followed.
The detective stayed behind.
David shouted:
“Come on!”
They ran.
The tunnel ended beneath the old barn behind the property.
David burst outside.
No cars.
No people.
Only fog.
Then he heard an engine.
A black SUV accelerated toward them.
Sarah screamed.
David pushed Leo aside.
The SUV swerved.
Tank jumped.
The vehicle struck him.
David screamed.
“Tank!”
The dog rolled across the gravel.
The SUV stopped.
The driver's door opened.
A man stepped out.
David recognized him immediately.
He had been in their wedding photograph.
Their family doctor.
Dr. Michael Reed.
The man smiled.
“I'm sorry, David.”
David grabbed a tire iron.
“You've been in my house.”
Reed nodded.
“For two years.”
David's blood ran cold.
“Why?”
Reed looked at Leo.
“Because his mother was never Sarah.”
Sarah froze.
“What?”
Reed pointed at her.
“Ask her what happened in the hospital the night Leo was born.”
Sarah began trembling.
David looked at his wife.
“Sarah?”
She whispered:
“I didn't give birth to him.”
Everything went silent.
Then the wounded Tank lifted his head.
He looked directly at David.
And barked once.
May you like
As if telling him:
Run.
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