Chapter 13 - THE SECOND CHILDHis name was Samuel Hart.
Marlo's father.
Dead for twelve years.
Except he wasn't.
He sat across from Marlo in the old archive room.
Poppy slept upstairs.
Elias stood near the door.
Marlo could barely speak.
“You took the baby.”
Samuel nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To save him.”
“From who?”
“The hospital.”
“The program?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you save Poppy?”
“I tried.”
“That's not an answer.”
Samuel looked at her.
“Poppy was hidden.”
“By who?”
“Your mother.”
Marlo's breathing slowed.
“Why?”
“Because she knew Victor had found the program.”
“And the second baby?”
“He was different.”
“How?”
Samuel looked at Elias.
“His genetic profile was unstable.”
Elias frowned.
“Meaning?”
“He carried a mutation they wanted.”
Marlo whispered,
“What mutation?”
Samuel didn't answer.
“Why?”
“Because that mutation was connected to the first experimental procedure.”
Marlo suddenly understood.
“Poppy wasn't Number 615.”
Samuel shook his head.
“No.”
“She was Number 1.”
Silence.
“What?”
“The first successful child.”
Marlo stared at him.
“Successful at what?”
“Regeneration.”
Elias looked horrified.
Samuel continued.
“Her cells could repair damaged tissue.”
“That's impossible.”
“It was supposed to be.”
Marlo looked upstairs.
“My daughter.”
“Yes.”
“What did they do to her?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Your mother protected her.”
“Then why was she still sick?”
Samuel looked down.
“Because healing has a price.”
“What price?”
“The body eventually burns itself out.”
Marlo felt cold.
“What does that mean?”
“She has years.”
“Years?”
“Maybe.”
“How many?”
Samuel looked at her.
“We don't know.”
Marlo's eyes filled with tears.
“You knew she could die?”
“Yes.”
“And you left?”
“I left to keep her alive.”
Marlo slapped the table.
“You left me!”
Samuel lowered his head.
“I know.”
“You let me bury you!”
“I know.”
“You let me believe my daughter was sick for no reason!”
“I know.”
She cried.
“I hate you.”
“I deserve that.”
Elias stepped forward.
“What about the other child?”
Samuel looked at him.
“He's alive.”
“Where?”
“In Victor Vale's custody.”
Marlo froze.
“The twin?”
Samuel nodded.
“Victor has him.”
“What is his name?”
Samuel answered softly.
“Jonah.”
Marlo stared.
“Jonah Hart.”
Then a phone rang.
Samuel answered.
His face changed.
“She's been taken.”
“Who?”
“Poppy.”
Marlo stood so quickly the chair fell.
“What?”
Samuel looked at her.
“Victor has her.”
“How?”
“Someone betrayed us.”
Elias grabbed his weapon.
“Who?”
Samuel looked at Marlo.
And slowly said,
“Your mother.”
Marlo's heart broke.
“No.”
Samuel showed her the phone.
A live photograph.
Poppy sat in a chair.
Victor stood behind her.
And beside Victor...
Margaret.
Marlo whispered,
“Mom.”
Victor looked into the camera.
“Come alone.”
Then the image changed.
Margaret was crying.
Her lips formed two words.
May you like
RUN, MARLO.
The screen went black.
