Episode 002
1028 Words
Chapter 002
CLARA'S POINT OF VIEW
Five years have passed. It's been five long years since I fled the life I knew and changed my name. I believed that moving to Victoria and starting over would bring me peace, but the past never truly dies, does it?
Despite my best efforts to forget, the twins' memory never goes away. I see their faces in the corners of my mind, in the shadows, every day. I can hear their laughter in my dreams, and I always get a heartache when I see a mother with her child.
At the clinic, I keep myself occupied by working night shifts, tending to patients who are near death, and living in the present. I can't afford to dwell on the past. I can't afford to dwell on my losses. However, my losses continue to haunt me.
I'm staying late at the clinic tonight, as I usually do. The machines hum and footsteps echo in the empty hallways. To see how Mrs. Daniels is doing in Room 3, I draw back the heavy hospital drapes. Her time is almost up, and she is breathing shallowly.
The phone then rings.
Without thinking, I pick it up.
The voice on the other end says, "Clara," in a familiar but urgent tone.
"Liam?"
It sounds like a warning in my brother's voice. "I've discovered something significant. It has to do with Project Helix.
I freeze, my heart palpating. Just the name makes me shiver.
"How about it?"
You must see this, Clara. We're using genetic testing. We are testing people and babies as if they were inconsequential. I am unable to explain it over the phone. Just come to me. Right now.
Before I can respond, the phone clicks.
For a moment, I stand there with my thoughts racing. Helix Project. The words don’t sit right with me, but I can’t ignore them. The coincidence is too significant to ignore. My brother is in possession of information that could cause him harm.
With my coat in hand, I venture out into the chilly night, where the freezing wind buffets my face. I don't even consider my destination; all I consider is that I must reach Liam to comprehend what he has discovered and how it relates to everything I believed I had left behind.
When I arrive at Liam's apartment, the door barely opens, causing my skin to tingle. My heartbeat quickens as I slowly push it open.
"Liam?" I enter in a whisper.
The air is heavy with something I can't quite identify, and the apartment is dark. It's eerily silent.
Then I hear it. I hear the faint yet distinct voice of a woman.
"Clara Monroe... Remember me?
I turn around, but nobody is there. The voice, sharp and genuine, suddenly appears out of nowhere.
A surge of fear engulfs me, causing my breath to become strained. I should’ve known better than to come back into this world. This world is drawing me back in.
I turn to see a woman standing in the window's shadow. I recognize the outline of her form, yet her face remains hidden. She makes me shiver for some reason, whether it's her presence or her posture.
"Who are you?" My voice quivers as I ask.
Her eyes meet mine as she moves forward toward the light. For a brief moment, I can't help but notice a hint of recognition in her eyes. She then averts her gaze, seemingly out of embarrassment.
"I apologize, Clara. I would rather not be the one to inform you. I'm not sure if it's regret or fear that causes her voice to c***k.
My breath comes in sharp gasps, and my heart is pounding. I want to get as far away as I can by running. However, I am unable to. I can't get enough of this woman.
I try to remain calm, but my voice shakes as I manage to say, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You do," she murmurs. "You've known all along."
I hear a loud crash coming from the hallway before I can ask her what she means. Turning around, I find the woman gone, my heart pounding in my chest.
For a moment, too stunned to move, I stand there. What was that? What was she trying to say? I'm not even sure if I can still believe what I'm thinking.
My mind is a jumble of fear and confusion as I leave Liam's apartment. Despite my lack of understanding, I sense a connection between everythingan, the way everything iand the way everything seems to be encircling me are all interconnected
As I move through Victoria's streets, the night seems darker, and the shadows grow longer, as if they might engulf me.
I pause on a park bench and take a deep breath. I close my eyes and let the cool air touch my skin, but it doesn't calm me.
I feel like my control is slipping.
The phone rings once more.
It's Liam.
"Clara," he says in a panicked tone. "I located it. I learned where the infants were taken. I am aware of their fate.
My heart stops.
"What are you saying? Where?
Liam, however, doesn't respond. The phone muffles the sound on the other end, and then nothing happens. The line stops working.
"Liam!" I yell into the phone, but nobody answers.
The words reverberate in my mind as I stand there trembling. I am aware of their fate.
What does that signify? What did he discover?
I don't wait any longer. I turn and bolt.
I don't know how long I've been running or where I'm going, but my legs are burning. I can't slow down, and my breath comes in ragged gasps.
I must locate Liam. I must know about the babies and what he has discovered.
I require answers.
I don't know how long it takes, but I'm outside ReidTech, the imposing biotech business that has been the subject of numerous rumors over the years.
I sense the truth is here. What is the truth? For me and my kids, what does it mean?
I inhale deeply before moving forward.
- Writer
