The Mistake

Chapter 7: Memory

On the road, through the tiny earpiece, I listened in disbelief as Ava began to explain who Daniel Hayes was.

“Daniel Hayes is a wanted criminal with an incredible ability to evade detection. He’s dangerous—extremely violent, and trained in combat. He’s killed thirty-four innocent people, all without any real reason. The police have been after him for a long time.”

My heart skipped a beat as I took in Jason’s words. “He’s been toying with the authorities, mocking them at every turn. After a week-long manhunt, they finally caught him in the mountains... and put him down.”

I felt numb, her mind struggling to process the information. This was the monster Jason had warned her about, the one who had haunted her thoughts.

Later that evening, the orange glow of the sunset painted Lakeview City’s skyline as I walked into "Morning Brew," a quiet café near the city center. Despite the shop being close to closing time, one figure still sat by the window—Daniel Hayes. He was waiting for her.

The moment the eyes met, he smiled faintly.

“Nice pendant,” he said casually, his voice steady.

I froze, a chill running down her spine. Through the earpiece, Ava Williams' panicked voice came through, “It’s really him, Emma! Be careful, we’re almost there!”

My pulse quickened. I forced meyself to stay calm. “Thanks. It was a gift from a friend,” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant, hoping it would lower his guard.

But Daniel’s smile remained, unsettlingly knowing.

“Take the device out of your ear,” he said softly, “and I’ll tell you something.”

I hesitated. My mind raced. But I had no choice. Slowly, I removed the earpiece, knowing it was the only option. Without it, I could still record his face, but not his words. The silence that followed was heavy.

Daniel's smile widened, though his gaze was unrelenting. “I’m not Daniel Hayes. I’m Oliver Hayes.”

I felt my breath catch. I stared at him, unsure whether to believe him. But his next words only confused me further.

“Daniel Hayes was my twin brother. He’s dead now. And dead men don’t come back to life.”

My world tilted. “Then... why are you pretending to be him?”

Daniel's expression softened. “Because it was his dying wish.”

I could barely speak. “His... dying wish?”

“To protect you.”

I blinked, trying to make sense of the words. “Protect me? But I don’t even know your brother. Why would he want you to protect me?”

Daniel shook his head slowly. “You do know him. You’ve just forgotten.”

My mind was spinning. My heart pounded in the chest. Daniel’s eyes shifted to the pendant I wore around the neck.

“That pendant,” he said softly, “was my brother’s gift to you.”

And with that, something inside my clicked. The memories that had been locked away for so long began to flood back. My mind exploded with images, like a dam breaking.

A man—humble, unassuming—emerged from the fog. His face was blurry at first, but gradually it came into focus. It was Daniel Hayes. But in my memories, he was someone else—someone named Leo Martinez.

He had once been a poor, struggling man who had shown up on a stormy night, desperate for medicine. With no money, he had been mocked by the pharmacy workers, beaten down without any remorse. Yet, he had endured it all, hoping for a small act of kindness.

I couldn’t stand watching him suffer. I had bought the medicine for him, and in doing so, had unknowingly started a bond that would grow into something deeper. Over time, Leo had confessed his love for me.