CHAPTER 13: THE SISTER NO ONE REMEMBERED
Ethan stared at the woman inside the glass chamber.
His mind refused to accept what Emma had just said.
“My sister?”
The woman smiled.
“Yes.”
Ethan shook his head.
“I don't have a sister.”
The woman slowly raised one hand against the glass.
“You did.”
Emma stepped backward.
“Ethan, don't listen to her.”
The woman looked at Emma.
“You still lie beautifully.”
Ethan turned toward Emma.
“What does she mean?”
Emma didn't answer.
“Emma.”
Silence.
“Tell me the truth.”
Emma's eyes filled with tears.
“She was born before you.”
Ethan's face changed.
“My sister?”
Emma nodded.
“Her name was Evelyn.”
Ethan stared at the woman.
“Why don't I remember her?”
“Because your father made sure you wouldn't.”
The woman smiled sadly.
“You were four years old.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
A memory flashed.
A little girl.
Red hair ribbons.
A birthday cake.
Someone holding his hand.
Then darkness.
He opened his eyes.
“I remember.”
Evelyn smiled.
“You used to call me Evie.”
Ethan's chest tightened.
“Why did they erase you?”
Evelyn looked toward Richard's camera.
“Because I knew too much.”
The speakers crackled.
Richard's voice filled the room.
“She was never supposed to survive.”
Ethan looked up.
“Why?”
“Because Evelyn was the first child to carry the complete genetic sequence.”
Everyone froze.
Ethan looked at Lily.
Then Claire.
Then Anna.
“The seven children…”
Richard continued:
“Were created to recreate her.”
Ethan's face went pale.
“What?”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“They couldn't duplicate me.”
“So they created seven children?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To rebuild what they lost.”
Ethan stepped closer to the chamber.
“What happened to you?”
Evelyn looked at him.
“I escaped.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I was captured again.”
“By Richard?”
“By your mother.”
Ethan's heart stopped.
“My mother?”
Evelyn nodded.
“She kept me alive.”
“Why?”
“Because I was useful.”
Ethan clenched his fists.
“Everyone in this family is insane.”
Evelyn smiled sadly.
“That's what happens when people believe power is more important than love.”
Suddenly, the laboratory doors opened.
Richard walked inside.
This time he was accompanied by armed guards.
Ethan stepped in front of the children.
“Stay back.”
Richard looked at Evelyn.
“It's time.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.”
“You don't have a choice.”
“I always have a choice.”
Richard looked at Ethan.
“You're making this harder than necessary.”
“You kidnapped my daughters.”
“I protected them.”
“You experimented on them.”
“I studied them.”
“They're children!”
Richard's expression remained calm.
“They're the key to saving millions.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“By destroying them?”
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“You don't understand the disease.”
“What disease?”
Richard looked toward the screens.
“Your family carries a genetic disorder.”
Ethan frowned.
“What?”
“Every generation.”
“That's impossible.”
“Your grandfather had it.”
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
“And me?”
Richard smiled.
“Yes.”
Ethan's face went pale.
“What happens?”
“You die young.”
Ethan stared.
“When?”
Richard shrugged.
“Soon.”
Emma stepped forward.
“Don't listen to him.”
Richard looked at her.
“She knows I'm telling the truth.”
Ethan turned toward Emma.
“Do I have it?”
Emma didn't answer.
“Do I?”
She whispered:
“Yes.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
The room seemed to disappear.
“How long?”
Emma's voice broke.
“They said you had five years.”
Ethan opened his eyes.
“What?”
“Three years have already passed.”
He looked at Lily.
Then Claire.
Then Anna.
“So that's why they created them.”
Emma nodded.
“They believed the genetic sequence could cure it.”
Richard stepped forward.
“Exactly.”
Ethan stared at him.
“You killed children for a cure.”
Richard shook his head.
“Not killed.”
“Then what happened to the thirty-five?”
“They couldn't survive the procedure.”
Ethan's expression hardened.
“That's murder.”
Richard didn't respond.
Evelyn suddenly spoke.
“They're lying.”
Everyone turned.
Evelyn looked at Ethan.
“The disease isn't real.”
Silence.
Richard's face changed.
Evelyn continued.
“Your father invented it.”
Ethan stared.
“Why?”
“To control you.”
Richard stepped forward.
“Don't.”
Evelyn laughed.
“You told him he was dying so he'd protect the children.”
Ethan looked at Richard.
“Is that true?”
Richard didn't answer.
“Is it?”
Richard's silence was enough.
Ethan's face became cold.
“You lied.”
Richard's expression hardened.
“I gave you purpose.”
“You stole my life.”
“You were useless without me.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“You don't know me.”
Richard smiled.
“I know you better than you know yourself.”
Then Richard raised his hand.
The guards immediately moved toward the children.
Ethan shouted:
“Don't touch them!”
Richard looked at him.
“Then give me the key.”
Ethan reached for the pendant.
His mother had given him the master key.
He held it tightly.
Richard extended his hand.
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“Then Evelyn dies.”
Ethan looked at the chamber.
Evelyn smiled.
“Don't.”
Richard nodded toward the controls.
A technician pressed a button.
Evelyn screamed.
Ethan dropped the pendant.
“Stop!”
The machine shut down.
Evelyn collapsed.
Ethan caught the pendant before it hit the floor.
Richard smiled.
“Good.”
Ethan looked at him.
“You wanted the key.”
“Yes.”
“You can have it.”
Richard's smile widened.
But Ethan suddenly threw the pendant across the laboratory.
Daniel caught it.
Richard's expression changed.
“Shoot him.”
The guards raised their weapons.
Daniel slammed the pendant against the floor.
The chip shattered.
Every screen in the laboratory went black.
Richard screamed:
“No!”
The machines shut down.
The glass chamber opened.
Evelyn collapsed into Ethan's arms.
“Go!”
Daniel fired toward the ceiling.
Smoke filled the room.
Emma grabbed Lily.
Vanessa grabbed Claire.
The doctor took Anna.
They ran.
Behind them, Richard shouted:
“You can't destroy the archive!”
Ethan looked back.
“Watch me.”
They reached the emergency exit.
But before Ethan could open it, a security alarm sounded.
The doctor stopped.
“What?”
A red light began flashing.
Daniel looked at the control panel.
“Someone activated the lockdown.”
Ethan stared at the door.
“Who?”
A camera above them turned.
The screen showed a live image.
A woman was standing inside the main control room.
Ethan's mother.
She was holding the master key.
But the pendant had been destroyed.
Ethan stared.
“That isn't possible.”
Emma's face went white.
“She has another one.”
The camera zoomed closer.
Ethan's mother looked directly into it.
Then she smiled.
“I never trusted Richard.”
Ethan stared.
His mother continued:
“But I never trusted you either.”
She pressed a button.
The emergency door locked.
And behind Ethan, a deep mechanical sound began.
Something massive was waking up beneath the facility.
Evelyn looked terrified.
“No…”
Ethan turned.
“What is it?”
She whispered:
“The archive isn't a computer.”
“What is it?”
Evelyn looked at Lily.
Then Claire.
Then Anna.
“The archive is a person.”
Ethan's blood ran cold.
“Who?”
Evelyn pointed toward the darkness.
“Subject Zero.”
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A huge steel door began opening.
And behind it, someone was standing in the darkness.
