Chapter 9: The Memory He Stole
The photograph fell to the floor.
Nobody moved.
Marcus stared at the image.
A younger version of himself stood beside a hospital bed.
His arms held newborn Zoe.
He was smiling.
Happy.
Proud.
Behind him stood Victor Cole.
One hand rested on Marcus's shoulder.
The other held a syringe.
Marcus felt the hallway disappear.
The lights.
The voices.
The people around him.
Everything blurred.
“No.””
His voice came out barely above a whisper.
“That didn't happen.””
Dr. Hale said nothing.
Marcus looked up.
“You were there.””
The doctor lowered his eyes.
“Yes.””
“You watched.””
“Yes.””
“You helped him.””
A long silence.
Then:
“Yes.””
The answer hit harder than any excuse could have.
Marcus stepped forward.
“You drugged me.””
Dr. Hale looked exhausted.
“I followed instructions.””
“My father wasn't a doctor.””
“No.””
“But you were.””
The doctor nodded.
“I was.””
“Then you knew.””
“Yes.””
Marcus's hands curled into fists.
“You knew he was hurting his own family.””
Dr. Hale looked away.
“I knew he was desperate.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“No.””
The doctor looked at him.
“It isn't.””
Marcus picked up the photograph.
His fingers trembled.
“What did he erase?””
Dr. Hale didn't respond.
“What did my father make me forget?””
The doctor looked at Vanessa.
Then at Marcus's mother.
Finally, he spoke.
“The night Zoe and Lena were born.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I was there.””
“Yes.””
“I remember.””
“Do you?””
The question stopped him.
A strange pressure built behind his eyes.
He remembered arriving at the hospital.
He remembered Vanessa crying.
He remembered holding Zoe.
But there were gaps.
Small gaps.
Moments he had never questioned.
A hallway.
A conversation.
A woman screaming.
He touched his temple.
“What happened?””
Dr. Hale sighed.
“Your father discovered the twins were born.””
Marcus looked confused.
“So?””
“He had spent months trying to control every outcome.””
“Because of the genetic marker.””
“Yes.””
“He wanted to know which child carried it.””
“Yes.””
“And when he couldn't?””
“He made a decision.””
Marcus waited.
Dr. Hale said quietly:
“He decided neither child should know the truth.””
Marcus looked at Lena.
“And he took her.””
“Yes.””
“Then why erase my memory?””
Dr. Hale looked at him.
“Because you tried to stop him.””
The words landed.
Marcus froze.
“I did?””
“Yes.””
His mother began crying.
“You were the only one who fought him.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You never told me.””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“Many times.””
“And?””
“Victor always found a way to stop me.””
Marcus looked back at Dr. Hale.
“What did I do?””
The doctor spoke slowly.
“You found out he had moved Lena.””
Marcus felt a sharp pain behind his eyes.
A flash.
A hospital room.
A baby crying.
His own voice.
*Where is my daughter?*
He grabbed the wall.
Another flash.
Victor standing in the hallway.
Angry.
“You don't understand what you're doing.””
Marcus heard his younger voice.
*She's my child.*
Then darkness.
He opened his eyes.
Everyone was watching him.
“I remember.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“What?””
Marcus breathed heavily.
“I remember the hallway.””
His mother covered her mouth.
“I remember asking where Lena was.””
Dr. Hale nodded.
“Yes.””
“I remember my father saying she was dead.””
“Yes.””
“He lied.””
“Yes.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“You knew.””
She started crying.
“I knew part of it.””
“Part?””
“I knew he had taken Lena.””
“And you stayed.””
Vanessa looked destroyed.
“I was trapped.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I know.””
The words surprised her.
“I know you were afraid.””
She looked up.
“But that doesn't erase what happened.””
Vanessa nodded.
“I know.””
For once, she didn't defend herself.
She didn't explain.
She simply accepted it.
Marcus looked at Lena.
She had been silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
He walked toward her.
“I’m sorry.””
Lena blinked.
“For what?””
“For every year you spent wondering why nobody came.””
Her eyes filled.
“You didn't know.””
“I should have.””
“No.””
Her voice broke.
“You were lied to too.””
Marcus stopped.
She wiped her tears.
“I was angry at you.””
“I know.””
“I hated you.””
He nodded.
“I understand.””
“But I don't anymore.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because I saw your face when you found out.””
She looked at Zoe.
“You love her.””
Marcus glanced at his younger daughter.
“Yes.””
Lena smiled sadly.
“I always wondered if you would love me the same way.””
Marcus answered immediately.
“Yes.””
She looked at him.
“You don't even know me.””
He shook his head.
“That doesn't matter.””
“It should.””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“You're my daughter.””
Lena looked away, crying.
Behind them, Zoe stepped closer.
Marcus turned.
“Hey.””
Zoe looked at Lena.
“She looks like me.””
Marcus smiled sadly.
“Yes.””
Zoe tilted her head.
“Is she my sister?””
Lena looked at her.
“Yes.””
Zoe walked closer.
“Do you like rabbits?””
Lena blinked.
“What?””
Zoe held up her stuffed rabbit.
“I have one.””
Lena smiled faintly.
“I used to have one too.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
The realization hit all of them.
The same childhood.
The same loss.
Two girls separated by one man's decision.
A noise interrupted them.
A phone ringing.
Everyone looked at Dr. Hale.
His face changed.
He reached into his coat.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Slowly.””
The doctor pulled out an old phone.
Not a smartphone.
A small device.
He looked at the screen.
His face went pale.
“What?””
Marcus grabbed it.
A message was displayed.
*You failed.*
No number.
No name.
Dr. Hale whispered:
“He's still watching.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Who?””
The doctor didn't answer.
Then the phone rang again.
This time, Marcus saw the caller ID.
*VICTOR COLE*
Nobody breathed.
“That’s impossible,” Vanessa whispered.
Marcus stared at the screen.
His father had been dead for two years.
The phone continued ringing.
Finally, Marcus answered.
“Hello?””
Static.
Then a voice.
A voice he recognized.
A voice he had heard in nightmares he couldn't remember.
“Hello, son.””
Marcus froze.
His mother covered her mouth.
Vanessa stepped backward.
Lena grabbed Marcus's arm.
“Dad?””
Marcus couldn't speak.
“Father?””
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
“You finally found the truth.””
Marcus's voice shook.
“You're dead.””
“Yes.””
“Then how are you calling me?””
A pause.
Then:
“Because I planned for this.””
Marcus looked around.
The hospital hallway suddenly felt like a trap.
“You recorded messages.””
“Among other things.””
“You manipulated everyone.””
“Yes.””
The honesty was terrifying.
Marcus tightened his grip.
“Why?””
Victor's voice became softer.
“Because you were always too emotional.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
His father's words.
Always the same.
“You cared too much.””
Victor continued.
“You cared about Vanessa. You cared about Zoe. You cared about people who could destroy everything I built.””
Marcus looked at Lena.
“You stole my daughter.””
“No.””
Victor corrected him.
“I protected the family.””
Marcus almost laughed.
“By destroying it?””
“You don't understand.””
“No.””
His voice hardened.
“I finally do.””
Victor ignored him.
“There is one thing you still haven't discovered.””
Marcus felt cold.
“What?””
A pause.
Then Victor said:
“The child you raised…”
Marcus looked at Zoe.
“…was never the one I feared.””
Silence.
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Victor continued.
“Ask Dr. Hale about the final test.””
Everyone turned toward the doctor.
Dr. Hale looked terrified.
Marcus whispered:
“What final test?””
Victor laughed quietly.
“The test that proves which daughter inherited my secret.””
Marcus looked at Zoe.
Then Lena.
“No.””
Victor's voice dropped.
“One of them is carrying something that could destroy this family.””
Marcus stared.
“You're lying.””
“Am I?””
The call ended.
The hallway was silent.
Everyone looked at Dr. Hale.
Marcus walked toward him.
“What final test?””
The doctor didn't answer.
“Dr. Hale.””
Slowly, the doctor opened the folder.
Inside was one final document.
His hands shook.
Marcus took it.
At the top was a title.
*FINAL GENETIC EVALUATION — ZOE & LENA COLE*
He read the first line.
Then the second.
His face changed.
Lena noticed.
“What is it?””
Marcus looked up.
He couldn't speak.
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Marcus?””
He finally whispered:
“The test results.””
Everyone waited.
He looked at his two daughters.
Then said the words that changed everything.
“They tested both of you.””
A pause.
“And only one of you has the marker.””
Zoe looked frightened.
Lena looked confused.
Marcus stared at the report.
Because beneath the results was a handwritten note.
Not from Dr. Hale.
Not from Victor.
From someone else.
May you like
Three words.
*Choose the right daughter.*
