WHOIAM?

The Other Half

Jessica and Jacob stood frozen, their hearts racing as a mysterious man stepped into the room, his presence commanding and ominous. The air thickened with tension as he locked eyes with Jessica.

“Why do you insist on causing trouble in my domain?” he asked, his voice laced with authority.

Still reeling from the shocking events, Jessica exchanged a glance with Jacob, who appeared equally bewildered. Before Jacob could voice his inquiry, the man interrupted him. “Who sent you? Why are you searching for your family?”

He gestured for them to sit, his gaze steady on Jessica. “Why do you want to find your family, Jessica?”

Jessica took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. “I don’t want to, but circumstances force me to confront dangerous elements,” she replied, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides.

Jacob observed her, surprised by her newfound assertiveness. The man chuckled, a menacing sound that sent shivers down Jessica's spine. “They sent me to deal with you, but you’re more than just a target,” he said, a hint of intrigue in his tone.

His demeanor softened slightly as he continued, “You’re from my village, seeking answers you may not be prepared for.”

Just as abruptly as he appeared, the man prepared to leave, offering a cryptic farewell. “I hope you find your family, Jessica.”

As the door closed behind him, Jessica and Jacob shared a moment of relief and understanding, the weight of the encounter lingering in the air.

Frustration bubbled over in the lab as the main scientist smashed his phone against the table, his voice a blend of anger and desperation. “If she or Thomas find the project, this game will be over! I’ll be a loser after all these years of my life! Ahhhhh!”

Meanwhile, Jessica and Jacob left the room, the tension of their last encounter still fresh in their minds. Just then, Jacob’s phone rang, and he stepped away to answer it, leaving Jessica to her thoughts.

Alone, she noticed a note lying on the table. Curiosity piqued, she picked it up and read the words carefully. “Don’t trust Jacob, also known as Thomas? What does this mean?” Confusion washed over her as she pondered the implications of the note.

Shaking off her doubts, they headed to the railway station, determined to find more hints about Jessica's family. “Maybe we can find some hints here,” Jacob suggested, his tone hopeful.

Jacob turned to her, concern etched on his face. “Jessica, are you okay?”

Before she could respond, a man’s voice called out to Jacob, interrupting their moment. “Thomas!”

Startled, Jacob turned sharply, his expression shifting from surprise to dismay. “s**t,” he muttered under his breath, cursing himself for letting his past slip into the present.

“Thomas?” she echoed, her voice laced with disbelief. “I didn’t know you had another name—Thomas,” she remarked, her mind racing as she processed this new revelation.

The tangled web of identities and secrets was growing more complicated, and Jessica couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the brink of uncovering something monumental.

Jessica's heart raced as the train doors began to close. She cast a quick glance back at Jacob, his expression frozen in caution, a mixture of confusion and fear etched across his face. Ignoring the pang of regret, she sprinted forward, desperate to escape the unfolding chaos.

“Jessica!” Jacob’s voice called out behind her, but the sound faded into the background as she continued to run, tears streaming down her cheeks. The weight of the revelation hung heavily in the air, propelling her forward.

As she reached the platform, she hailed a taxi, breathless and frantic. “Take me here!” she instructed the driver, handing him the address Jacob had mentioned during the phone call. A flicker of hope ignited within her—could this be the clue to uncovering the truth behind Jacob’s deception? Why had he been helping her under a fake name?

The taxi pulled up to a sprawling mansion, imposing and strangely devoid of security. Jessica's heart raced as she stepped out, her instincts tingling with unease. She entered the mansion cautiously, the heavy door creaking open to reveal a lavish interior that felt both familiar and foreign.

Feeling a surge of urgency, Jessica moved closer to a large family photo hanging on the wall. The image, dated 1989, seemed to pulse with significance, and her heart raced as she carefully pulled a half-piece of a photograph from her pocket. With trembling hands, she placed it beside the larger frame.

To her horror, the torn photo revealed a younger version of herself holding hands with the same man who now stood before her—an older version, his features marred by time. “Honey, don’t you remember me?” the old man asked, his voice tinged with a familiarity that sent chills down her spine.

Beside them, the other half of the torn photo depicted a small boy sitting in the lap of an old woman, whose lifeless body now lay on the floor, a grim testament to their misfortune. The stark contrast of life and death struck Jessica like a dagger, her breath catching in her throat.

Her gaze returned to the family photo. Below the large frame was a more recent picture of Jacob—now known to her as Thomas—happily hugging the same old woman from the torn photo. A wave of realization washed over her, and memories flooded back, transporting her to moments filled with warmth and laughter. The love they had shared crashed over her like a tidal wave, intertwining joy and sorrow in a complex dance of nostalgia.

Her heart was racing. “What does this mean?” she demanded, her voice shaking. “Who are you to me?”

Did you miss me? Or did you forget me? His tone dripping with a twisted sense of nostalgia.

Before she could respond, a sudden blow to the back of her head sent her world spiraling into darkness.

THE END