The Face in the Shadow
1397 Words
The ranch was quiet for three weeks.
No threats. No messages. No attacks.
James almost convinced himself it was over.
Then the dreams returned.
Not nightmares. Something else. A voice in the darkness, familiar and wrong.
You've done well, James. But you're not done yet.
He woke up with a name on his lips.
"Rebecca."
Evelyn stirred. "What?"
"Nothing. Go back to sleep."
But James couldn't sleep. He walked to the nursery.
Rebecca was awake, staring at the ceiling with her blue eyes.
She smiled when she saw him.
"Dada."
James picked her up. Held her close.
"What are you trying to tell me, little one?"
She cooed.
He wished she could speak.
---
The next morning, Steven had news.
"I found something strange. A signal. Coming from inside the ranch."
"Inside? Where?"
"The basement. Behind the old furnace."
James grabbed a flashlight.
The basement was dark, dusty, full of cobwebs.
Behind the furnace, a loose brick.
He pulled it out.
Behind the brick, a small device. Transmitter. Battery-powered. Still active.
"How long has this been here?"
"Hard to say. Years, maybe. The battery is military-grade."
"Who put it here?"
"Someone who knew about the ranch before you did."
James crushed the device under his heel.
"We're not safe here."
"We've never been safe."
---
David swept the rest of the house.
Two more transmitters. One in the kitchen. One in the children's bedroom.
"Someone has been listening to everything," David said.
"Cross?"
"Cross is in custody. His memories are gone. He couldn't have planted these."
"Then who?"
David shook his head. "I don't know."
James gathered everyone in the main room.
"We're leaving. Tonight."
"Where?" Harper asked.
"Somewhere new. Somewhere clean."
"There's no such place."
"Then we make one."
---
They drove through the night.
The children slept in the back. Evelyn held Rebecca.
James watched the road.
The headlights cut through the darkness.
A figure stood in the middle of the highway.
James slammed the brakes.
The figure didn't move.
"Who is that?" Evelyn whispered.
James grabbed his rifle.
He stepped out of the car.
The figure turned.
A woman. Blonde. Blue eyes.
Rebecca. His first wife.
"James. It's been a long time."
"You're dead."
"I was. I'm not anymore."
The woman stepped closer.
"Morrison cloned me. Years ago. I've been waiting for the right moment to reveal myself."
"Why now?"
"Because the war is over. And I want my family back."
---
James stared at her.
"You're not Rebecca. You're a copy."
"I'm as real as any other person."
"You're not my wife."
"I could be."
The clone stepped closer.
"I know everything about you. Your hopes. Your fears. Your dreams."
"Because you were programmed."
"Because I was made for you."
James raised his rifle. "Stay back."
The clone stopped.
"You won't shoot me. I look like her."
"You're not her."
"But I could be. Let me try."
Evelyn stepped out of the car.
"James. Who is this?"
"The clone of my first wife."
Evelyn's face went pale.
"Rebecca."
"In the flesh."
Evelyn walked to James's side.
"She's not Rebecca. Rebecca died years ago."
"Her body died. Her memories live in me."
"Memories aren't enough."
The clone's expression flickered.
"You're right. But I'm willing to learn."
---
James lowered his rifle.
"What do you want?"
"A chance. To be part of this family."
"You can't be."
"Why not? You have clones of your other children. Chloe. Lily. Emma. Grace. Why not me?"
"Because you're different. You're an adult. You have your own memories. Your own identity."
"My identity is Rebecca."
"No. Your identity is whatever Morrison programmed."
The clone's eyes filled with tears.
"You're wrong. I have feelings. I have hopes. I want to be loved."
"Then find someone who isn't me."
The clone looked at Evelyn. At the children in the car.
"You're lucky. You have everything I want."
"I know."
The clone turned and walked into the darkness.
James watched her go.
"We need to follow her."
"Let her go, James. She's not our problem."
"She's someone's problem."
"Not ours."
---
They drove to a motel on the edge of a small town.
The children fell asleep immediately.
James sat on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Evelyn sat beside him.
"She's going to come back."
"Probably."
"What will you do?"
"Protect my family."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer I have."
---
The next morning, Steven had more news.
"The clone is moving east. Toward Washington, D.C."
"Why D.C.?"
"Maybe she's looking for Morrison's old contacts. Or maybe she's looking for you."
James packed his bag.
"I'm going after her."
"Alone?"
"Alone."
Evelyn grabbed his arm. "No."
"She's my responsibility."
"She's a stranger wearing your dead wife's face."
"Which is why I have to stop her before she hurts someone."
---
The drive to D.C. was long.
James tracked the clone through Steven's hacked feeds.
She was staying at a hotel in Georgetown. Expensive. Discreet.
James knocked on her door.
She opened it, unsurprised.
"James. I knew you'd come."
"We need to talk."
"Come in."
---
The room was elegant. Flowers on the table. Champagne in a bucket.
"Trying to seduce me?"
"Trying to understand you."
James sat on the couch.
"Why D.C.?"
"I wanted to see where Morrison's empire began. The Capitol. The hospitals. The laboratories."
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
"I found emptiness."
The clone sat across from him.
"I've been thinking about what you said. About identity. About memories."
"And?"
"I'm not Rebecca. I never will be. But I can be someone new."
"What kind of someone?"
"A helper. Someone who fights against the protocol. Someone who frees the clones."
James studied her.
"You want to join us."
"Yes."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because I have nowhere else to go."
---
James made a decision.
"Come back to the ranch. We'll find a place for you."
The clone smiled. "Thank you, James."
"Don't thank me yet. Trust is earned."
---
They drove back together.
Evelyn was waiting on the porch.
"You brought her here."
"She wants to help."
"She wants to replace me."
The clone stepped forward. "I don't want to replace you. I want to be part of this family. In whatever role you'll allow."
Evelyn looked at James. At the clone.
"One chance. If you betray us, I'll kill you myself."
"Understood."
---
The clone, who chose the name Sarah, settled into a small cabin on the edge of the property.
She helped with the children. Cooked meals. Told stories.
Chloe loved her.
"Sarah tells the best stories," Chloe said.
"Does she?"
"She knows about dragons and princesses and faraway lands."
James watched Sarah with his daughter.
She was gentle. Patient. Kind.
Maybe she could be trusted.
---
Weeks passed.
No threats. No messages. No attacks.
James began to relax.
Then the dreams returned.
The voice in the darkness.
You think you've won. But you've only delayed the inevitable.
He woke up screaming.
Evelyn held him.
"What is it?"
"Someone is still out there."
"Sarah?"
"No. Someone else. Someone who's been watching since the beginning."
---
James walked to Sarah's cabin.
She was awake, sitting on the porch.
"James. What's wrong?"
"Who else is out there? Who's controlling everything?"
Sarah's expression flickered.
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
Sarah stood up.
"I'm not lying. I'm protecting you."
"From what?"
"From the truth."
"Tell me."
Sarah looked at the stars.
"The real leader of the Network is someone you trust. Someone who's been with you from the beginning."
James felt cold.
"Who?"
"I can't say. If I do, she'll kill me."
"She?"
Sarah nodded.
"Evelyn."
---
James stared at her.
"That's impossible."
"Is it? She was created by Morrison. Programmed to be his perfect daughter. What if that programming never went away?"
"Evelyn turned against Morrison. She helped us."
"Maybe that was part of the plan. Maybe Morrison wanted you to trust her."
"No."
"Then why are you afraid?"
James was silent.
"Think about it, James. Every time you got close to the truth, Evelyn was there. Every time you had doubts, she reassured you. Every time you wanted to give up, she pushed you forward."
"She loves me."
"Does she? Or is she following orders?"
James walked back to the main house.
Evelyn was in the kitchen, making tea.
"James? You look pale."
"We need to talk."
"About what?"
"About you."
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