Chapter 12 - Maya RemembersMaya had never called anyone “Other Mommy.”
Never.
Not once.
She began crying.
Not the normal crying of a tired child.
A terrified crying.
I pulled her close.
“Who is she?”
Maya pointed toward the speaker.
“White room.”
“What white room?”
“Baby room.”
Her words came between sobs.
“Mommy left.”
I felt sick.
“When?”
Maya looked at me.
“Before.”
“Before what?”
She whispered:
“Baby.”
Luca began crying.
Maya reached toward him.
“Brother.”
The room froze.
Alessandro looked at Isabella.
“Brother?”
Isabella shook her head.
“She was three when Luca was born.”
Maya nodded.
“Baby brother.”
Alessandro stared.
“How could she remember?”
The other Emma whispered:
“Because she wasn't three when the memory was erased.”
I looked at her.
“What are you saying?”
“Maya was exposed to the procedure.”
“What procedure?”
“Memory transfer.”
I laughed bitterly.
“That isn't real.”
The other Emma looked at me.
“Neither should any of this be.”
Then the intercom activated.
Dr. Vale said:
“Maya, can you remember the room?”
Maya began shaking.
I covered her ears.
“Stop talking to my daughter.”
The voice remained calm.
“You've already heard enough.”
“What do you want?”
“Both children.”
“No.”
“Then the hospital will burn.”
Alessandro stepped forward.
“You threaten a building full of patients?”
“No.”
A pause.
“I threaten the children inside.”
He froze.
The other Emma whispered:
“She's bluffing.”
Victor shook his head.
“She never bluffs.”
An explosion shook the lower level.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Maya screamed.
Luca screamed.
Alessandro grabbed me.
“We need to move.”
We ran.
Behind us, alarms changed tone.
The facility was being evacuated.
We found a service elevator.
The other Emma forced open the doors.
We crowded inside.
Victor stayed behind.
Alessandro grabbed him.
“You're coming.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Victor looked at Luca.
“Because she wants him.”
Alessandro stared.
Victor leaned close.
“Take your son.”
Then he whispered:
“Leave me here.”
The elevator doors closed.
I watched him disappear.
Then I heard Maya whisper.
“Mommy.”
“What?”
She pointed at me.
“Don't trust Daddy.”
I froze.
“My daddy?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
She looked toward Alessandro.
“Other Daddy.”
Alessandro's face changed.
The elevator lights flickered.
And then he said something that made every hair on my arms rise.
“Maya shouldn't remember that name.”
I stared at him.
“What name?”
He didn't answer.
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
May you like
A man was waiting.
My husband.
