Double Life: Fool

A/N: oh my!! I think there´s only like two more posts for this one to end T_T besides the epilogue thingy that I still need to type into Word but ...with my record that might take years...

anyway! double post!! n as always tons of mistakes there...well, Im a bad writer, you know that already

ah, this part was one that I wanted to change but this one character was stubborn, he didnt care to explain his reasons, he doesnt care if he´s the second most hated character, he kinda likes that...

*******

"Where are you going?" Camille sat up on the bed, her hair messed from being on her pillow, she´d woken up when Nichole sat on the bed to tie her sneakers

"Mii, did I wake you up?"

"No -she said with a pout- but you´re leaving"

"But I´ll be back"

"Really?" the little girl said with incredulity

"Yes -she smiled- and now that you´re up you´re having breakfast with me" she touched the tip of her little sister´s nose with the tip of her index finger

"Are you really coming back?" the little girl asked as Nichole, Natasha, Ashley, Jess and their mom left

"Yes, Mii, I told you, I´m staying the two weeks here with you, if you stay in here, of course"

"I´ll stay" the little girl said decisively

"Camille, it´s getting late, let us go" Camille´s mom said in an exasperated tone "be a good girl with Celia. No candies, ok?"

 "Yes mom" the girl looked down

"Bye, baby" Nic bent to say on Mii´s ear and put a tiny lollipop in her little hand, the kid giggled

*********

Nichole, this is Mr. Galvin, Karl´s lawyer" Nat introduced a middle aged man in an expensive suit to Nichole

"She´s Nichole Cristales" Nat motioned to Nic; there was recognition in the man´s eyes

"Mrs. Cristales. Good to meet you" he said, Nic nodded, "Ash, Jess, Ms. Duchene" he greeted the others, they kissed his cheek in greeting

"Hello, Tom -Ms. Duchene said- it´s so sad to see you in such a tragic moment"

"yes, my condolences to all of you -he smiled politely- Karl left a video for all of you to see, so, we´re watching that first and then we´ll take it from there" he said and pushed a button in the remote control in his hand, a projector show Karl´s office in Crystals house with him in his des, in the video there was silence for a moment. Ash, Jess and their mom started to sob

I never wished for any of you to see this video so soon -Karl started- but perhaps- he turned over a cup of coffee in his desk- it´s for the best. I lament that I´m not going to see my daughters grow -his wife sobbed more- I´ll miss my baby a lot. I have left another video that my lawyer will provide for when she´s older -he tapped his fingers on his desk and then leaned back on his chair, subtly his demeanor changed his yes changed, both Nichole and Nat knew that face- down to business -he said then, in that voice filled with authority that he had- To Ashley and Jessica Perry, my wife´s daughters, I leave your education, all the rest of your school and five years of college will be given to you, if you girls don’t go to college, well... -he shrugged- you wasted what I had left for you. Besides that, only the car that you share is yours, don’t expect any vacations, allowances, money for parties or shopping trips from me, not anymore" he said, the girls immediately gasped, stopped sobbing and looked at each other and then at their mother that with gesture asked them to remain calm

"Natasha -he continued- you´ve been with me and Miriam since the beginning and you´re a master mind but you´ll have nothing from me -he said and Nat chuckled shaking her head- you´ve received enough as if it -of course, Nat mouthed- but -he said and his eyes seemed to soften- I do ask that you take care, keep an eyes on my girls, will you?"

"Of course" Nat said to the video

"Wife -he said and his demeanor went back to that in business state- we had a great time together, didn’t we? -his wife nodded as she sobbed some more- You made Camille possible -he smiled- and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heard and because of that I want you to have a comfortable living, you get to keep the first apartment I bought for you, your car, no driver, and one hundred thousand dollars a year" he paused, she gasped and stood up

"That is outrageous! -She exclaimed looking at tom- I was his wife! I´m entitled to all that he had!"

"I´m sure that you won’t like it -the video continued- don’t make a scene, we had a pre-nup, it clearly stated that you had to remain faithful something you haven’t done. Tom will hand you an envelope with pictures of you and at least two other men. Did you think I didn’t know?"

The lawyer pushed a yellow envelope to her; she only looked at it with a place face and sat. Nat covered her mouth to stifle a laugh

"I´m no longer paying for your lover´s vacations darling -the video continued- they´ll have to work- the man exhaled and relaxed in his chair, a tiny smile on his face- Camille -his smile was completely visible now- my baby gets half of everything I own except Crystals house, her tutor is to manage it all until she turns twenty"

Ms. Duchene lifted her head, color returning to her

"Her tutor and guardian is my eldest daughter -he cleared his throat, three gasps from the women were heard- my niece, Nichole Cristales who is to inherit the other half of my belongings, investments and properties as well as Crystals house. -H e pause for a long moment- Nichole, I know I have no right of asking anything but I ask you to take care of Camille, I want you to keep her safe and happy I want you to give her everything that I won’t be able to give her, I want you to be there for her like what I didn’t do for you. I won’t ask you to do it for me, I don’t deserve it but I ask you to do it for your little sister and for your mother. You’re smart, I know you won’t let them down" he smiled.

Ms. Duchene had stood up, her face red

"My will is final. I am 100% sure of what I´ve said and that is all I have to say. Nichole, my lawyer will give you an account of all that is yours and Camille´s minus my widow and her children´s gifts, to you and only you he can disclose information unless you decide otherwise. You and only you Nicky, as always are the only one that I can trust. You and only you, have my all" in the video he stared at the camera and then it went black.

"You are not getting my daughter!" Ms. Duchene shouted at Nichole "and you are not getting what belongs to me! I´ll fight this will. Tom! She isn’t eve Karl’s daughter and Camille´s mine, he can’t decide, dead or not who can have my kid!"

"Ms. Duchene -the lawyer said trying to calm her down- you gave up your parental rights, remember, legally, Karl Duchene had all parental rights over Camille and now he has the right to leave her custody to his heiress"

"But that's not possible! I had the child!"

"Yes, but you also gave her up"

"Well, I change my mind, there´s something I can"

"No, I´m sorry, your signature can’t be removed now"

"Shut up! You´re my lawyer, you´re supposed to help me not give her ideas!"

"I´m sorry but now I´m Mrs. Cristales lawyer, that´s how Karl arranged it"

"Then, I´m calling Marylyn!"

"Sherry -Nat said- all of them are with Nichole now... I doubt t you could afford them now, you know they´re..."

"You too, Natty? -She gasped -You- she pointed an accusing finger to Nichole who remained in her seat motionless and in silence- what did you do to him? You´ve always been meddling in my life and..."

"I have a deal for you" Nichole interrupted Sherry

"I want no deal with you!" she shouted

"Be quiet and listen now!" Nichole commanded the wife sat, she heard his husband´s words and felt his presence in the girl and that made her stunned enough for Nic to continue “I don’t want to take Camille from you, you’re her mother no matter who you are and she loves you. She already lost a parent, she won’t lose the other, so she´s staying with you, you can choose any house you want to live in, I will see that you have your precious lifestyle as long as Camille is safe and happy. I agree with father though, your lovers should work if they want to have luxury vacations with you. I won’t tell you to stay alone for her but under no circumstance she should see a parade of men in her home or bad influences, that´s one of my conditions, the other is that I´ll get to see her, and spend time with her whenever I want" Nic finished

"She´s mine and what he left to you should be Camille´s only" Sherry said but it was less forceful

"Ashley and Jessica can keep their lifestyle too and I´ll see that they get their money wither they go to college or not, they can dilapidate it immediately if they want" Nic bargained

"Really?" the two girls said with interest, Nic nodded "our vacations abroad too?"

"Yes, and your allowance, shopping trips too... under a budget of course"

"How much?" Ashley asked

"Whatever you spent on your last trip once every month"

"I´m satisfied" Jess said when Ash looked at her

"I´m happy with that mom- Ash said- It´s a good deal"

"Girls! -the woman scolded but satisfaction was written in her eyes too- this is not how it is supposed to be but I don’t want Mii to be seeing family fights after Karl´s death, so I´ll agree to it for her"

"One more thing -Nic added- someone will be around to make sure all of you are keeping the deal, that you are keeping Mii from bad influences, from sadness and danger"

"You´ll live with us?" Jess asked wrinkling her nose

"NO, Natasha will be checking that you keep the deal, she´ll also provide the money to you. Do we have a deal?"

"Mrs. Cristales, I advise you make a legal document of your deal" the lawyer interjected

"Yes, I think it’s a good idea" she agreed

"Ok, then, in two days, -he said to the wife- you come down here to sign it"

"Can you take it home, Tom" Sherri asked

"Miss?” he looked at Nic, who nodded

"Sure, Sherry, we´ll take it to you. It was nice to see you" he smiled, she scoffed

"Nat, where´s the car?" she said once she took her purse. Nat roller her eyes but replied

"It´s waiting for you to take you back to Crystals house"

"I need to go to our home in the city to get some clothes... for Camille" she added

"The driver will take you

"Good" she left the room with their daughters behind her

"She thinks you made me their maid!" Nat complained "I´ll wait for you outside" she said to Nic after a moment of silence. Once she was out Tom, the lawyer started to give Nichole a detailed account of everything that Karl owned. He talked of house and businesses and taxes paid. Nichole asked questions about it all. They talked for a couple of house and then she got out of the office and the building, Nat had followed her

"Weren’t you going to wait for me?"

"Drive"

*****************

"If I could get rid of you, I would" Nic said, she´d instructed Nat to stop near a park "buy you’re the only loose end of this story... what would you do to a loose end like that?"

"Get rid of it -Nat said in a whisper- but you’re not me, you’re better"

"I don’t know about that but I do know that Karl trusted you and so far it seemed you never gave him motives to get rid of you or he would´ve done it. I´ve learned from you in this whole mess that you should keep certain people close..."

"The enemy -Nat murmured- Nicky I´m not your enemy"

"We´ll see about that. I might be a fool but you´re the only one that knows about Camille being like me and you did keep Karl´s dirty and clean business going. NO more dirty business but I am not old enough to handle any business or people and I don’t want to either. You claim that you’re loyal to me; this is when you prove it. You keep my sister safe and happy and comfortable and with her money intact and prove your loyalty ... but you know I´ll pay you too... so..."

"You don’t need to. I want to do this for you...."

"You´ll get your check but I want to know everything and not like you did with Karl, everything because if I even suspect..."

"I know, I know, you´ll know everything, you sound so much like Karl sometimes -she said, Nic sighed closing her eyes- I´ll report everything to you weekly or monthly or even daily if you want"

"Weekly but I want to know immediately if anything big happens"

"You will"

"You better"

"Thank you"

"I´m a fool" Nic murmured as they left the park

Double Life: Remember

A/N: I hope it makes sense... there´s some flashback thing in there and at the end the pov of  the two main characters,kinda like what was happening with them at the exact same time...

ah, also... the tittle sucks... couldn´t think of anything that fit this one, suggestions?

**********

"Josh -the boy heard a whisper to his right, he ignored it- Josh- an elbow hit him softly, he inclined his head towards his twin- isn’t that Nichole carrying a kid?" Aaron nodded to the other side of the church. Josh nodded, he´d seen the girl as soon as he´d entered, he hadn’t wanted to go and see Karl´s funeral or Natasha but he couldn’t justify his distaste not even after his grandpa´s funeral, his father and family were suffering more, he was angry at Alexander, he not only had heard what he’d said but had a whole journal of someone that had met an Alexander he didn’t even know existed. Nichole had added proof to it. Nichole, her presence in the church had been like a magnet, he didn’t know what to think of do, she probably hated him. He stole glances at her.

"Was she related to Dad´s business partner?" Aaron asked in a whisper. Josh nodded before he could stop himself "you knew?!" Aaron said in a surprised whisper. Josh thought he saw her head starting to move towards them, as if she´d heard them but she kept her eyes on the priest "You knew?" Aaron prompted

"Later" Josh whispered back and he clearly saw that the girl´s jaw clenched.

Nichole left as soon as the priest finished, she left through on of the side doors with her little sister, Josh didn’t see her again in the graveyard or in the gathering Karl´s wife held, he saw Mrs. Strasberg on the background, she was always away from them but always watching. They, his family, left as soon as they paid their respects, right after talking a little, something he didn’t listen, to Karl´s wife and the two step daughters, the two other daughters were nowhere to be seen.

"Correct me if I´m wrong -Maggie started as they were in the car on their way back home- but your friend, Nichole, was in the church" Maggie turned her head to glance the twins in the backseat. Josh closed his eyes

"Yeah, I think it was her" Aaron replied "she must´ve known Mr. Duchene or his daughters" he supplied, Josh felt thankful for what he´d said. The rest of their ride home was quiet, everyone deep in thought, their hearts were heavy with the loss of one that had been a constant presence in their lives, Josh´s felt twice as bad.

***

"Josh, dinner´s about to be served" Maggie called out to him as he started to climb up the stairs, the maid had dinner ready for them

"I´m not hungry"

"You have to eat, you barely ate at lunch" she said with concern, he shook his head, showing a half smile

"I´m fine, just not hungry" he climbed two steps before he heard Erick´s voice

"Joshua, dinner´s served" his father said, his father was always calmed and hardly lever forceful but sometimes, his voice was filled with an edge of authority that was almost impossible to disobey. The boy went to the dining room

"I´ll just grab a toast" he informed his father “I can’t stomach food right now" he quickly supplied before Erick could say anything else, the man sighed and nodded. Both his mother and bother eyed him with worry. Josh hated it; he knew they were trying to be supportive for him, he knew his dad was being considerate and that the entire family was worried. He´d been the one that had found Alexander Arlington and Karl Duchene lying on the floor with gunshots in their bodies.

He threw himself in his bed without turning the lights on, he tossed the toast on his night stand and curled himself under a blanket, he closed his eyes and immediately opened them, a stream of the terrible events in his life passed before his eyes, he turned around and closed his eyes again

"Who are you calling?" Mrs. Strasberg asked, pointing her gun to him, he took a step back, his back touched the bookshelf

"Y-you... someone will have to know that you killed me" he said punching 911 and waiting from what seemed inevitable "My grandpa and another man has been murdered" he had said in a broken voice all the while staring at Nat and her silver gun. He had provided the address quickly as Nat went to him and took his phone, she ended the call

"Are you a fast reader?" the woman had asked with a strange smile plastered on her face, she made him go to another room, his room and dialed on her phone "make it happen" she ordered never stopping to stare at him and point her gun to his face

"You better start reading that little gift my girl left you -she said taking a seat and finally lowering her gun- you only have two hours before the ambulance and police officers get here. There´s traffic, the roads are blocked -she had shrugged as if she knew he was thinking that it wouldn’t take them that long. He had looked towards the door and then the windows trying to figure out a way to escape. He was alone. Nat chuckled

"The place is filled with my people, you couldn’t get far and as you saw I have a good aim" she lifted the silver gun a little "so you better start reading"

He had wondered why she wanted him to read something Nichole had given him, he wondered why Nic had given it to him, he had wondered where she was and why Nat had left her go.

As he had started to read he had realized it as something written for Nichole. The woman in front of him kept prompting him to hurry, at a given point in the journal he had to hurry, it spoke of his grandpa, Nichole and his accident, He knew his eyes had been huge when he read about Nic´s abilities and what she could do and how she came to be, he hadn’t believe his grandpa having to do anything with it but then there was the mention of his accident and a picture , a picture nearly identical to his nightmare and the little girl, a picture similar to the painting Nic had done

"Nic knew" he exclaimed as the journal and the picture fell from his grasp

"No, she didn’t -Nat replied once she saw the picture- she only found out sometimes after she left Burgeoys"

"Did..."

"keep reading" Nat interrupted his question, he picked up the journal and the picture as well as some others, one called his attention, he’d seen it, it was his aunt Angela in a ballet tutu he turned it over, there was a name and a date in his grandpa´s handwriting, it was not Angela´s name, it said "Nicky" it was dated twelve years before, it couldn’t be Angela with her 30´s the girl in the pix wasn’t older than eight.

He read and read for what felt hours, his eyes filled with tears when the author prompted Nichole to kill all his family, when he saw how that person had known all their personal information and then a list of name of people that apparently Nichole had murdered. He looked up at Natasha, he´d been on that book, maybe now, it was his turn

"That was the real Alexander Arlington -she said in a somewhat angry voice- he made Nicky a monster, you made her a monster -she accused- I want you to join your grandfather, you deserve it but I don’t think you want that, so instead you´ll help me... “She smiled a happy smile but her eyes were all evil

She had made him learn the story she had invented: he´d come to visit, that was the only truth, when he got there the front door was opened, the place a mess, he´d called for his grandpa and had ran up the stairs, had found the door of his office ajar and there the body of his father´s business partner and his grandpa and then called 911 and had gone to his room to wait for the police

He wondered, for the millionth time in the past two days why he´d done like Nat had said and then he heard Nat´s clear voice in his head

"You do this and you live, you do this and your family lives... but trust me, if you dig in his files you´ll be more convinced of the good deed I did to humanity" He knew his opinion on his grandfather had waivered with that journal and then at Karl´s funeral when he saw Camille he thought of the little girl, she was just like her and he´d always thought Camille was just like Nichole. He wanted to stop thinking, to stop remembering, to stop being aware of the journal that belonged to his grandpa´s friend on the back of his clothes in his closet where it was hidden.

Josh heard the door of his room opened, he didn’t turned over to see who it was, when the lights weren’t turned on and the door was closed he realized it was his twin. A moment later he felt the bed dip down under Aaron´s weight, he´d lay down next to him, his shoulder touching his back

"We´ll get through this" Aaron said running his hand on Josh´s arm one time Josh sighed.

When he opened his eyes later that night, it was raining hard and he was facing Aaron´s back, they both had turned over in their sleep, he listened to see if he´d woken Aaron up with his gasp. He´d had a nightmare, the same old one but it changed, the little girl was Nicole the one that he knew and then, they were in the wall where he´d almost fallen, he was hanging and she as the little girl was pulling him up, she wasn’t strong enough but just as he was about to fall he was the one on top holding Nichole but instead of pulling her up he´d deliberately let her go, that´s where he´d woken up with a loud gasp

"The rain" he murmured and sat up rubbing at his eyes, he carefully stood up and went to his window, it was dark out there.

*****

"It´s raining, you should go inside" Natasha said to Nichole as she stood in front of her mother´s grave. the girl didn’t say a word "Nichole, it´s the middle of the night, you should be out here, we have an early day tomorrow, we´re going to the lawyer´s to know your father´s will" Nat reached to grab Nic´s arm

"Don’t touch me" she hissed the woman sighed

"Nichole, you need to rest" she said, the girl laughed humorlessly

"When have you cared if I rest or stay awake?"

"I ´will try to be better, I´ve started, did you see I spared the boy´s life?"

"Shut up and leave me alone"

"Nichole -the woman sighed- Celia woke me up because Camille woke her up and she was awake because you were no longer with her... let´s go inside" the woman finished Nic looked to the black sky, the cold drops of water hitting her face. She turned and went back inside. Natasha was right behind her

Tired

It´s been fifteen days.
Day in and day out, it´s all the same.
I´m dying.
I´ve been dying for so long.
Slowly whitering wihout fading away.
If it´d only be a way to match my inside with my outside
The shell of caring hands, loving thoughts keep the dust of my life in shape,
As if I lived, as I breath without breathing
I wanna cry my life and exhale my blood,
For it to go back above, for it to go back to the ground

Double Life: Pieces

The phone vibrated for the fourth time, it had been two days since Karl and Alexander had passed away. Nichole didn’t even know where she was, she only calculated it was early in the morning, the sun wouldn’t be coming out for at least another hour. Out of habit she hadn’t thrown way the phone, out of the meaning of memory either, at that, she got angry.

"I told you never to call me again!" she growled instead of hearing Natasha´s voice as she expected she heard a little sob followed by an "I´m sorry"

"Camille?" Nichole looked at the caller´s Id "Baby, why are you up?" all the anger in Nic melted away, she banged her head against the wall she was leaning on, it was obvious why the little girl was up, she´d lost her father and her oldest sister was supposedly lost. She heard the little girl sob some more

"Nat says daddy won’t come home anymore" she said between sobs

"Ah, sweetheart, I´m sorry.... where´s your mom, Mii?"

"I don’t know"

"Where are you?"

"Home -she cried some more- where are you?"

"In a small room"

"Won’t you come to say good bye to daddy? Nat says we´ll say goodbye tomorrow" she sobbed

"I..." Nichole started but didn’t know what to say, she didn’t want to go back, it was painful but the little girl was suffering too, she knew what it was like to become an orphan like that

"I´m scared" the little girl said in a small voice, Nichole closed her eyes and sighed

"I´ll go to you, baby"

"Really?" the little girl hiccupped

"mh, I promise, now, put Nat on the phone, please"

"Hello, baby"

"Don’t call me that!"

"I´m sorry, I couldn’t help it -the woman said with a satisfied tone- mii wouldn’t stop crying she wanted you"

"Where´s her mother?"

"Sleeping"

"What? How can that jerk sleep when her kid´s feeling bad? Why are you even there? Why is Mii with you?"

"I´m taking care of the funeral, your father´s will and right now I´m babysitting your little sister, her mother´s not doing well"

"In which house is Camille?

"Crystal´s house, we´re all here"

"Send someone to pick me up" Nichole said and hung up

*********************

"You have to go" Natasha said

"No, I don’t. I don’t have to go anywhere"

"It’s your father"

"I killed him"

"He did that to himself, not you"

"He never wanted me to be seen"

"He was just protecting you" Nat said, Nic laughed humorlessly

"I was never introduced, always thrown away, that´s why I went to Burgeoys, that´s why I never was in the parties; I was never to be known. I don’t have to go"

"NO, babies..."

"Don’t call me that!" Nic hissed

"it´s not that, he was protecting you -Nic started to shake her head- wait, tell me something, who knows Camille? Tell me if she´s even been introduced to anybody? Tell me if she´s ever been allowed to be at the parties or meetings?"

"I..."

"No, you and Camille have always been away or at least separated from everybody else, he didn’t hate you..."

"Why was he there?" Nic wanted to think of something else

"He wanted to be there"

"He wanted to? How did he even know? You and I went there for proof, he... ah..., you had a plan didn´t you? -Nat nodded- this is the last time I ever ask you to tell me the truth... I won’t be seeing you again anymore, after this, I will kill you if I have to" Nic threatened, Nat sighed

"I know I have always told you half trues, I´m sorry, it´s not that I have wanted to use you, it´s that it has been the only way that I´ve known to..."

"Get to the point or shut up"

"See, you just don’t want to hear me out, how could I have explained anything"

"Don’t make it like it´s my fault; you use so many words to hide the real purpose, your real intentions"

“I just want to make things clear"

"Cut to the chase, I hate your voice" Nichole said, Nat´s face contorted for a second, she exhaled heavily

"It’s justified that you hate me, I know many things I did were not the best but my heart has always been in the right place " she said as Nichole opened and close her hand in a talking gesture. Nat sighed again and closed her eyes

"He wanted; Karl wanted to be there to witness Alexander´s death. To make that possible I need a plan I needed the target alone. It was all in schedule, his maids were going home; I just had to make the replacement late and keep him home. I made him sick..."

"You made him sick? Are you god now?"

"NO, but I did make him sick -Nat sighed- Influenza on a letter that we slipped on his mail three days before we went"

"I was lost three days before we went"

“I know, I certainly didn’t need you to kill him, I could do that myself"

"Why did you bring me back then?"

"I thought that if you had found out he was the target I know you hacked into my pc, I just didn’t know what you saw, I thought that because he was an Arlington you might have tried to protect him, my belief on that grew once Karl told me you´d spent New Year´s there..."

"Father was the one that told you... How did he know?"

"He didn’t tell me, it´s true, you know your father, he just says what he wants and nothing more"

"That's why you kidnapped Josh?"

"Yeah, I thought you´d come for him; I didn’t expect you to know who he really was, though"

"Despite the letter that you knew I had from Ibsen?"

"You never showed any indication you knew, I was very worried about that but you hit it well

"I didn’t know about him until after I left" Nic confessed

"But you had the journal... "

"I was scared of what I could find out -Nic thought to herself- I had it" she said instead

"when you came back and you asked about Alexander and Ibsen you changed it all, I had to work quick, to change, no, to alter the plan, I ... you were giving me the chance to tell you things I´ve wanted to tell you since I had to give you up..."

"What was the original plan?"

"You´ve changed it a few times, dear, it´s been hard to keep up with you" Nat smiled as if proud, Nic raised an eyebrow

"The twins in Burgeoys, their unknown aunt and uncle, their parents and their grandparents, that´s the order in which the plan was going to be executed, but then you became friends with him...."

"It was to be an accident then"

"Yeah... I didn’t think Ibsen would tell you anything, there was no reason..."

 "She too, hated Arlington"

"How did you know? They were friends their whole lives"

"You've been my nurse, my doctor, my care-taker my whole life and look how that was..."

"Ok, ok, nothing´s what it seems"

"The plan changed, how?" Nichole prompted

"Yeah, I had to prove you are mine, it would explain why I did it all -she said in a pleading voice, Nic shook her head -I..."

"To the point" Nic interrupted, Nat sighed

"Arlington knew, his records showed it, I only had to detain your father"

"How can you even control that?"

"Traffic, accidents..."

"You´re awful"

"I´ve been desperate"

"Did you plan for father to die there?" Nichole narrowed her eyes

"No! I knew Camille would suffer and that´d hurt you more than anything but I hadn’t expected you to stand still there! I thought..."

"Why was Joshua there?" Nichole interrupted her again "Don’t say you don’t know" she warned before Nat said anything "you don’t seem to leave anything to fate"

"I don’t like him" the woman closed her eyes

"He was to be the one of the casualties" Nic quoted Alexander "Your plan was to make Alexander watch his grandson die again"

"Yes"

"Is he...?" the girls started but stopped

"I still don’t like him but if you don’t want me to..."

"We don’t decide on people´s fate, no matter who they are. Don’t ever ask me those things" Nic raised her voice

"The plan has changed" Nat said after a while. Nic didn’t make a sound, she was looking out the window from Karl´s office at Crystals house "Because Karl was Erick Arlington´s business partner and he was to die, all of it, their hospitals, were to be Karl’s or yours"

"I don’t want money from killings"

"This is not a dirty deal, it´s all authentic, everything that you now have is"

"Right, because bad people just let you walk away after you´ve made deals with them... I knew you guys were dealing with criminals, you sent me to kill some of them, and I just pretended I didn’t see... I guess..."

"Hey, hey, no, they don’t exist. Neither you nor Camille nor I ever existed so we´re free"

"Free? Did I kill them all?" Nic said above a whisper

"It was all my doing, Karl´s doing" Nat replied

"Through me"

"You´re innocent" Nat said, Nic looked away

"You´re now the Arlington´s business partner... AT your father´s funeral you´ll be known as Karl´s niece and soon as his heiress"

"Another reason not to go"

"You have to take care of Camille; you won’t leave her on the streets"

"I don’t want to see the Arlington"

"You have to"

"You do it, you deal with it. Karl obviously trusted you with is life, with his secrets and his dirty deals, you were loyal to him and you clearly are a good politician -she scoffed- just stop killing people" Nic said with a tone as if it was hard for her to say

"You said you didn’t want to see me again"

"Right -Nic snorted- as if you´d easily let me go"

"Should I stay then?"

"I still don’t want to see you -Nic said sternly, Nat opened her mouth- but I want to see them even less, but if you so much as try to backstab me, you´ll die slowly, I´ll plot too..."

"I wasn’t loyal to Karl; I was loyal to you, even if you don’t believe me"

"Do you blame me for that?"

"NO" Nat mouthed. They stayed in silence for a long time

"When father... Karl... said that I was to take care of Mii... that she was... -Nic shook her head - her mom would probably take her away"

"She can’t"

"She´s her mother"

"Yes, but she gave up on her parental rights when Camille was born"

"What are you talking about? Why don’t you ever speak clearly?" Nic said with exasperation

"Karl had the full custody of Camille, she was only his and now that he´s gone, she´s yours"

"She´s her mother´s"

"I guess, but really, she´s as much Camille´s mother´s as I am yours"

"What?"

"Camille, well Miriam and Karl´s embryos were one of the things I took with me when I left from Red Wood Larch hospital"

"What?! -Nichole stood up and faced Nat- My little sister is another experiment??!" she shouted

"She was part of it, yes, she should´ve been your age... I think Karl wanted her because he missed you and Miriam badly..."

"Is Camille like me?" Nic´s face contorted

"Yes" Nat replied, Nic covered her eyes with one of her gloved hands, she breathed in deep breaths, she thought she´d cry

"Your touch, your hands, that wasn’t in you originally, it is not in Camille" Nat said softly taking a tentative step towards Nichole who quickly composed and glared at her

"But is it true that she hears and sees and ... like me?"

"Yes, but it´s all potential, not as much as you, she´s never been trained as you were since before you were born, her abilities have never been developed"

"And they´ll never be"

"Someone has to be with her though, who else better than you"

"Her mother will fight it"

"Money persuaded her to give up her parental rights, you still have a lot of that, you´ll have more after you see Karl´s will. She won’t like it though"

"I´m still your puppet, aren’t I?" Nic said in a defeated tone

"No, Nicky, you just have to do what´s best for the ones you love. Now, please go get some breakfast, your dress is on your closet, you have to get ready and help me get Camille ready for the funeral"

"I´m not going"

Oubliette

No one buy you ever gave me all their hours
My time was yours
I knew I had you whenever I needed you
You never turned your face my way
Only you treated me as the most important
You were my one
Where are you now?
You shattered my heart
I miss you, I need you
I just barely put my soul back together
Come back to me
I am still here
Your color is bleached and your sweatness diluted
No longer my all belongs to you
Peace of mind and warmth, you gave me that
You lost it
I still love you
The same way you always did, true in words, only words, no essence, no proof
My heart was honest
I believe you, as always
Do I still have you?
Never again my soul
Your time, your strength, your sweetnes?
My hand, a comfort, a small smile
You rarely show your face to me nowadays
Memory´s still alive
We should go back
Time never turns back, scars forever stay
I was blind to my doings
I wished one day you opened your eyes
My eyes are wide open
I couldn´t allow you to hurt me forever
You are my only shelter
You left me out in the rain, I froze
Let us put each other back together
I tore you off my heart
I´m no longer in your heart...
Like a memory, like a picture
You could be my all
You turned your back to me
Come back to me
I´m still here
You´re not mine
Just like you never were...

Double Life: monsters hide in shadows

The old man grumbled when he heard the door bell, his maid had gone home for the weekend and her replacement wouldn’t come until the evening "I should´ve let Maggie come" he said under his breath as he went down the stairs

"Good afternoon, Mr. Arlington" a bright smile greeted

"Afternoon..." he said with furrowed eyebrows

"I´m Nichole, I´m friends with Josh..."

"Ah,  -he touched his forehead- you spend New Year´s with us"

"Yes"

"Come in -he opened the door- how can I help you?" he coughed

"You´re sick, are you alright?"

"Don´t worry, I´ll be fine, it´s just a cold" he said, she smiled, he took her to the living room and motioned for her to sit

"I´m sorry to come unannounced but I need your help -she started, Alexander watched her with a friendly expression- you see -she looked down- I´m doing something for the twin´s birthday, I know it´s still some time away but... mmm  I need some of their pictures, maybe you´d like to help me"

The man chuckled "You came all the way here for some pictures?"

"Yes, and perhaps a message from you, for Josh, for them?" she showed him a video camera

"Young people" he chuckled again "come, the pictures are on my studio" he took her upstairs

On his studio, he went to the bookshelf and took out a book and from his desk drawer he took another one and placed them over his massive desk "pick your pictures from there" he smiled opening the albums. Nichole standing in front of his desk started to look at the pages and took out a few from both albums

"Ah -the man sighed- I remember this one" he took a picture and stared at it. In it there was little Josh with a pale face, thin but with a smile, he was carried by his father, Maggie was next to them with Aaron by the hand

"He´d just got out of the hospital, right?" she commented in a soft voice

"He´s told you about that?" surprise laced in his voice

"Yes, he showed me this picture at his home -she explained, the man nodded as Nick took the picture and observed it- I was wondering... if you had any pictures of Josh and the little girl"

"What little girl?" the man relaxed on his chair, putting his arms over his stomach

"He speaks of a little girl, she sounds important" she explained, the man laughed quietly

"I thought he didn’t speak of his dreams anymore"

"Aren’t they repressed memories?" she tilted her head to a side

"Look, I appreciate that you believe my grandson, but those were just dreams, something he had to hold on to when he was alone in his room at the hospital, please don’t support him with that, it´ll make him no good"

"He was not alone and those are not just dreams...-she said above a whisper- and you know it" she threw a copy of one of the pictures that Mary Ann had left, in it both Josh and Nichole were together, both in hospital beds, a flicker of recognition crossed Alexander´s face but he quickly composed himself and raised an eyebrow

"Did you do this for him? I thought you didn’t do photography, you are good" he sat straight

"I´m good at some other things too, but you already know that" she walked towards his shelf and took a picture, the picture she´d seen in some of the other houses of the crew

"I never knew why my mom gave you guys this unfocused picture" she stared straight to his eyes "Do you have any pictures of me as a child? I don’t have any" she pouted a little

"Nicky!" he breathed finally accepted that the person in front of him was in fact who he knew she was

"Don´t call me that, I hate it" she frowned, he stared

"This is not possible -he breathed- you´re..."

"Dead? Yeah, twice and Josh is too" she smiled

"What did you do?" he quickly stood up, anger in his face

"I did nothing, what did you do to him?"

"I don’t know what you´re talking about"

"I´ve been told that you´ve given me many advantages -she started to take off her black gloves- I thought I had been born with certain ability -she caressed the leaf of a beautiful bonsai that was on the man´s desk, it withered away in a moment -this, is no advantage -she pursed her lips- but I thought I had been born that way, I thought I had been born that way and not that someone had messed around with me before I even existed"

"Girl, I don’t know what you´re talking about, I think you need help" he moved his hand under his desk

"There´s a button there, right? An alarm, you just pushed it, I heard that you did, don’t worry, about it, it doesn’t work

"You really need help"

"I know -Nic chuckled- you´re to help me, I want proof that you messed with me and my family, I want proof that you made me who I am" she said a calm voice, the man laughed

"You´re accusing me of something and you want me to support your ridiculous theory? I thought you were smarter"

"I am her proof" Nat came in the room, Alexander´s eyes widen marginally but he went back to being calm quickly

"The dead are coming back to life today, huh?"

"Did she put you up to this -the old man asked Nichole- she´s just someone I fired from my hospital, someone very incompetent"

"Actually, she did..."

"You should be smarter, Nicky, but,I guess it is to be expected that you take something out of your mother" He motioned to Nat, Nichole widen her eyes and gasped

"What?" she looked between Nat and Alexander, Nat widened her eyes and opened her mouth but didn’t talk, Alexander chuckled, it was startling how his laugher was pretty much the same as the twins´

"You didn’t tell her?" Alexander said with humor

"Tell me what?" Nic looked at Nat

"This woman is your mother" he motioned to Nat with an evil quiet laugh

"You’re lying. My mother´s name was Miriam and she -the girl pointed to Nat- is not her"

"No, Nicky, sadly, Miriam´s girl didn’t make it, we had to take you from Natalia to give you to Miriam"

"I don’t believe you" Nic whispered

"I´ll show you" he produced a key an unlocked one of the drawers of his desk

"why?" Nichole said in a broken voice

"Why what?"

"Why everything? Why would you do that to me?" her eyes were glassy, he stared for a moment

"Simple, because I could, but don’t worry, it´s nothing personal, I wasn’t doing anything to you, sadly only you survived but see, it wasn’t to you, it was me, I am a scientist, I live to learn, to discover, to experiment"

"You´ve ruined my life"

"Ah, don’t be such a teenager, I made you better than that, if you see it objectively, I gave you strength, speed, a better brain, you don’t get sick, anything that you´d like to try would be easier, you have more chances to succeed, that´s what I gave you, success" He said as he opened the bottom drawer of his desk

"You made me kill my mother, you made me kill my best friend, you made me kill my boyfriend, you made it so easy for others to use me like you used me"

"That´s what you call casualties" he said

"My wife was not a casualty -Karl said entering the room- you are responsible for her death. You destroyed my family"

"Mh, I see Mary Ann was right, stupid of me for not digging there... oh, well, Karl, it´s not unlike what you do with your girl, here, murdering people, young people, innocent people, calculating everything, making money, because you make money don’t you? Your girl’s school is expensive, Nati´s clothes are and yours too. See, Nicky, he is the one you should..."

"Shut up!" Nic interrupted "just shut up!"

"Now you don’t want me to talk? -he said in laughter- does it affect your sensibility that I say you´re a murderer?"

"You´re the murdered -Karl said- you´re a monster"

"No, you are the monster" Alexander replied

"Perhaps... and as such I will kill you now, I wanted you to see how your family was vanished as you vanished mine but be sure that once you are gone they´re next -Karl said with hatred- you know your boy wouldn’t resist if my girl... “ he trailed off, Nichole watched him, astonishment in her face that she quickly covered. She closed her eyes and leaned her head towards the door that Nat had left ajar. Alexander started to shake his head

"I won’t let you kill my boy, I sacrificed my project, the work of my life to protect Joshua, you won’t come here and take him away from me! -his voice carried authority- I should´ve taken care of her a long time ago when Mary Ann let me know but you hid her well, congratulations, but your gold mine and my mistake ends here" he took out a black gun and as Nichole heard the sound she opened her eyes, it all seemed like slow motion, she saw the man was quick despite his age, she saw he had a great aim, right on her chest, she heard Natasha and Karl urging her to move away, she heard the familiar steps rushing in…

"Nicky!" Karl shouted. Nichole eyes watching green eyes right in front of her, she saw him move quickly to his left, aiming to Nat but instead he fell as she heard Nat firing her own gun.

"Grandpa!" the familiar steps had finally reached their place

Karl fell on her arms with a loud gasp. She fell under his weight and rolled him over, off of her

"Father?! -she gasped- why?"

"My little girl -he touched her face- I need your help, help me, make me go, touch me"

"No"

"Yes, yes, this is not a fatal wound but I can’t feel my legs or any pain, do you know what that means?"

"Paralysis"

"My wife can’t take over everything. You, you, if i die, you are to take it all"

"I don’t want anything"

"Camille, you have to take care of Camille"

"She´s got you and her mom"

"No, no, Miriam, she´s Miriam´s take care of your sister"

"NO, you´re... that´s impossible, let me go"

"Nat, she´ll tell you all, trust her, she knows. Now do as I say. I know you´re angry and that´s ok, you should but darling, help me" Nichole saw in his eyes the father she´d had when she was a little girl, the father that drove her to her ballet lessons, the father that was in the pictures next to her mother with a tiny baby in her arms, the father she hadn´t had for over half of her life

"You´re the worst father but I´m not killing both my parents"

"I am sorry for what I´ve done to you" he said and taking advantage of her astonishment he took her hands, hard. The familiar quick pace of her own heart as his did the same came, he was gone in a second.

“Father!” she gasped, not really making a sound. Once again the world had turned way too fast leaving her with a new reality, one that she didn’t know, however, she did know where she was, her mind was fast with thoughts, Alexander had fallen, Nat with a gun and josh, Joshua was there,  Nat had a gun. Nichole stood up, looked at Natasha who was pointing to the frozen in place boy in the door way

"Drop that!" she snarled and walked towards the door. Josh moved to a side, his back to the long shelf.

"You finally saw who I really am -for a second her eyes were glassy- My promise to you" she tossed a small rectangular package to him and shot a glance to Nat who showed her hands in a surrender motion. Nichole left the room.

****

A/N: this scene was the first one of the ending that I saw, it changed a lot as the parts in between came to my mind. The first time it had been in the hospital, then also, Karl surprised me with that he did, the first time I didnt see that, so DL was going to finish in a different way but then he decided to do what he did and DL changed... A lot changed but I think I like how things happened in here

Double Life: my truth

A/N: I hope this one makes sense... I think it has some mitakes, I guess I wont say sorry about that becuase if I really was I would´ve done something abbout it... anyway, new post, some light to some mysteries... I thought that whenever I posted this one I was going to feel excited or anxious or something but I feel nothing, well, this is how the story goes, you decide if it´s good or not

******

“Where are you?” Nat said almost hysterical as she turned on the lights of the dark room

“Here” Nic’s quiet voice replied as she came out of behind the door and locked it. She stood still there.

“It was so sweet of you to come to his rescue, you really like him” Nat smiled

“I didn’t come for him”

“Ah, don’t lie, you even give him a present”

“That was not a present, it was a dagger”

“The dagger that you refused to change for a better one… you´re a romantic, Nicky”

“Was this the talk you wanted to have with me?” Nic asked dryly. Nat chuckled

“Of course not, you know all about the bees and the flowers and what would happen if you were to let any bee …”

“If that´s what you have to say, I’m leaving” the girl interrupted with a glare

“Alright, I want to know why you ran away, then –Nichole didn’t answer. Nat sighed- but most importantly, I want you to come back home” she sat on the edge of the desk

“You want me to keep killing people? I refuse”

“Nichole, you don’t understand, we´ve gone over this, they´re all bad people… I showed what that guy did… only you can bring justice”

“You and Karl are not justice’s hand and I am not the weapon at your service… I’m just another murderer”

“Baby, you’re not that! Never say that” Nat had a pained expression on her face, Nic laughed

“You would´ve been a great actress but don’t lie to me, I’m not in the mood for your little dramas”

“I’m not lying, they´re all bad” the woman said with conviction, Nichole knew she wouldn’t get anywhere if she didn’t let Nat know that she knew something

“Tell me something, who was next? Maggie? Or Erick?”

“Who? What are you saying Nicky?” Nat raised an eyebrow

“I hate it when you play dumb, but for now, I´ll follow your game. So, which Arlington was I to kill next? Erick or his wife Margaret or maybe even josh, is that why you brought him here?” she raised her voice in the end, Nat struggled for words

“What are you saying?” she finally chocked out. In an instance Nichole was on her face, very close.

“Don’t lie to me” Nichole emphasized each word “you better talk, you better give me answers this time or I swear you´ll be the next in my murders list, you´ll be the first that I´ll enjoy killing” the girl said through gritted teeth. Natasha stared at her. Nic´s eyes were full of hate and anger, her face pale and hard, her stance confirmed the truth behind her words, it was one of the few times she´d ever felt scared of the girl, it was probably the one time she actually feared for her life. The girl had found out somehow, maybe it was more to the letter than she had anticipated

“The twin” Natasha said barely above a whisper. A hard slap landed on her right cheek

“How did you find out?” tears were stinging Nat´s eyes

“How were you going to make me do it?”

“You didn’t answer me”

“I am the one getting answers tonight!” Nic pointed her finger almost to Nat´s face

“Nichole! Calm down…” Nat started but was interrupted by another slap

“Shut up!” a shout

“You are not to treat me this way, Nichole!” Natasha said angrily, Nichole scoffed

“Would you rather have me killing you instead? If I can’t get answers from you, you are useless to me”

“You don’t want to kill me”

“Oh, I do, very much, why wouldn’t I want to kill the woman who stabbed me when I was a child? Or the woman who convinced my parents to keep bringing me to a place where I was a lab rat? Why wouldn’t I want to kill the woman behind me becoming a murderer? Believe me, I want to kill you very much” the girl said in a cold tone

“How did you know that?” Nat’s voice broke. Nichole´s face distorted

“Ok, I see, this is the same as always… I´ll get nothing from you” the girl took a step back and pulled off her gloves throwing them to a side, she wasn’t wearing the bandage under them

“No! –Natasha put a hand on a stop motion- you don’t want to kill your mother!” she tried to put distance between the girl and herself. Nic advanced, hatred in her features

“I already killed my mother”

“You are my daughter” she cried. Nic laughed derisively

“The more reason to kill you then, a mother doesn’t treat her child like you´ve treated me”

“You don’t understand” Nat walked backwards as Nic advanced

“I have given you enough chances to explain, you´ve only given me lies and now you give me one that is so damn pitiful, low even for you”

“I have a scar that proves it” she touched her lower stomach

“I have some scars too, you gave them to me, that proves nothing” Nic advanced quickly

“I can prove it to you. I can prove it to you” tears came out of Nat´s eyes

“How?” Nic was right in front of Nat, a smile on her ace, an unnatural and cold one

“A video, I have a video” she breathed out. Nichole looked at her straight to her eyes; after a second she started to shake her head and slowly lifted one of her hands to Nat´s face

“If you do this, you will really become a murderer” Nat´s tears came out freely

“I already am one”

“No –Nat whispered- you´re just mine and Miriam’s innocent child. Please let me prove it to you”

“You really don’t want to die, do you?” Nichole´s hand stopped just centimeters away from Nat´s face. She tilted her head. She sighed. “ I hate you and want you dead but you´re the fastest way to get answers… that and only that is what will give you some time… for now” Nichole dropped her hand, Nat took in a deep breath. Her knees gave in, she clamped down to the wooden floor

“How were you going to make me kill Aaron Arlington?” Nichole asked

“I knew you wouldn’t do it, he was no longer a target for you… Margaret and Erick weren’t either”

“Why were they even a target? They’re not bad people”

“They´re with one” Nat´s words laced with hate

“Who?”

“Alexander Arlington” Nat said as Nichole started to lift her hand again. Nic felt a pang in her chest; this confirmed Ibsen´s words… but not necessarily means it was true

“What has he done to you? The man loves his family, I´ve seen him, he´s a nice man” Nichole said remembering the new year´s she spent at the man´s house

“If I had known you´d spent your vacation in there I wouldn’t have let you” she looked up to Nichole “yes, Nicky, I know some things too”

“Why didn’t you stop me then?”

“Karl didn’t want you to be stopped”

“Father knew?” NIc asked surprised

“Yes”

“Why he didn’t stop me, why didn’t he let you stop me?”

“I don’t know, maybe he thought that it´d complete the plan”

“The plan?”

“Yeah”

“What plan?”

“Aaron was your original target; you had so many chances…”

“You never put him as a mission” Nic furrowed her eyebrows

“We took him to Burgeoys”

“He went there because…” the girl started but stopped, realization hitting her, she sat down in front of Natasha “the fight, the expelling, the kid paralyzed after they fought him, you did that, you ruined an innocent boy´s life” her face distorted, Nat´s mouth upturned

“We needed him there…”

“That was no guarantee that he´d become my victim”

“I was counting on Aaron´s reputation to bring him closer to you, you´re beautiful, I didn’t count on Joshua taking an interest in you but in the long run it was somehow better” she said in a small voice

“Still no guarantee, even less then”

“An accident…” Nat started

“You wanted me to have an accident like with Kate or Ashley! –Nic gasped, Nat nodded once- it was you who made him almost fall to the river! Who did you put to do that?”

“Val”

“But you told him to get away from me”

“So that he got closer to you”

“What else did you do?”

“Not much”

“What else?!” the girl growled

“The thieves” she said and felt another slap on her cheek, she looked up to the girl, she had one of her gloves on

“you´re worse than what I thought…you wanted him close to me so that I killed him by accident” tears filled the girl´s eyes as she remembered what it was like when something like that had happened, she called the monster to take her tears away

“No, I didn’t think you´d get that close”

“You saw we did, that was just better for you, wasn’t it?” Nat only looked away “seems like you hate me too” Nic said softly

“No, no, no, I don’t, you just don’t know who he is”

“He’s just a boy” Nic forced herself to say

“He´s not, not at all, he´s as bad as his grandfather”

“As bad as we are, Nat?”

“If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be who we are”

“And why is that?” the girl asked as if she was merely wondering about the weather

“Alexander is a mad man, he loves to play god…”

“We do that too”

“No, we just make the ones who followed him go; we make the bad people go”

“And what do they pay for?”

“They have to pay for what they did to you and to your parents and to me” Nat clenched the fabric of her blouse right over her heart

“Ah, so it´s about you…” Nic started, Nat was about to interrupt when she continued “what did josh did to you?”

“His grandfather started it, his grandfather before him….” She said, Nic made a motion for her to continue

“What did they do to you? What did Alexander did to you?”

“I was only a year older than you –Nat sighed- I had just graduated from high school. I wanted to be a doctor but I was an orphan, a no body, with no longer a home or money to get into college. I applied for many scholarships, nothing happened. I was unlucky, even when I thought I was lucky I was really unlucky. After a few month of trying I was called from one place, there I met Dr. Sarah Deus, she interviewed me, got me in the scholarship and even offered me a ob. I was to be her assistant in this project she her colleagues had. They were studying the human genome; she told me their goal was to make healthier babies. I never knew. I was just the coffee bringer. Two years went by, Sarah said I was smart, good with computers, they all, the crew, Arlington who was the boss, said I was good” Natasha closed her eyes and sighed

“Bad luck struck to my life again, I was notified that my scholarship was no longer mine, financial crisis and stuff. I was devastated, my job as an assistant wasn’t enough to pay for med school and then Arlington appeared to save me, he offered me another job, I was going to be another type of assistant and that job would secure my stay in school –she sobbed- a few years after I left them I found out he had been the one that had cut my scholarship”

“What was the job?” Nichole asked, her voice distant

“I was to sell…they wanted my cells, my eggs”

“Doesn’t sound so bad”

“It wasn’t except it was when they announced my genes were no good. I was desperate but benevolent –Nat scoffed at her own words- Alexander offered a solution, I was to carry a child, one of their modified kids. I had seen the pregnant women in there; I had seen them lose their kids. They were fewer and fewer since I started there. I agreed because I was desperate, I was young and I needed it –the woman brought her legs close to her shoulder- around that time I met Miriam, she was expecting too, I had seen her before, I had helped her to go to the examining rooms or filled her papers but then we became closer, our appointments were always together and I was still the regular type of assistant so I got to talk to her more. She thought I was too young to be having a child. I explained I was just a surrogate but she was right. I wasn’t just that, after a while, both she and I lost the babies, mine died first, she was having twins, one died first then the other, if anything that brought us closer…”

“What about the other women?”

“What about them?”

“What happened to them?”

“You’re wondering if there are others like you? No, you´re one of a kind, the other children had the same fate as my first child”

“I could´ve had older siblings…” Nichole voice her thoughts

“Yeah…”

“I don’t see that Alexander Arlington has anything to pay besides your scholarship, for the rest… you agreed to participate in that”

“They left me no choice but you´re right, so far they were ok, this is not why I hate them”

“Why then?” Nichole forced herself to talk, this story kept confirming Ibsen´s

“A year after that first child, I was coaxed to carry another child. I didn’t want to; they said I could keep him or her. I said I couldn’t take care of him, they said that if I did carry it, and let them study my pregnancy again they´d pay for the kid´s education, my entire school, they told me I´d have my job secured, a promotion…”

“You sold yourself and your child”

“no –Nat whispered, tears started to flow again- I told you I was an orphan, I had been abandoned when I was only days old, the first pregnancy had shown me a connection and love that I had never had before, I wanted that, I wanted someone to live like that, I wanted a family and with what they offered me my baby would be safe or so I thought… that´s why I agreed.

I was two month pregnant; she was also on the program, again… Your father, your dad had gotten them in there because she wanted a child” Nat sobbed hugging her legs to her chest

“It was all great, my baby was born, and it was great even if I had to get a C-section, my baby was gorgeous, she was born on December 7^th, and she had big brown eyes, pink mouth and dark black hair –Nat smiled as if remembering-. On the 10^th a few days later, Miriam’s baby was born but one of the nurses tripped as the baby was being brought back to Miriam who hadn’t even seen the baby, the baby died smothered by the nurse´s weight –Nat´s voice broke, Nichole´s heart pounded- Mary Ann, the woman who wrote you that letter and Alexander came in my room as I fed my girl, they said they needed my girl, they said they were giving her to Miriam, I tried to stop them, I reminded them of their promises, of my rights but they threaten me with firing me, I didn’t care, with school and I didn’t care and then I found out I had been carrying Miriam and Karl´s baby, because Miriam’s genes were better they said, they also said they´d accuse me of stealing the baby who after all had Miriam’s DNA so I had no way to prove she was mine. I threaten to tell her but then Alexander said that if I did that I would never get to see my girl again. We need a baby to give to Miriam, Mary Ann said and she took the baby from my hold” Natasha´s head hung on her chest now, she kept sobbing. Nichole´s breath was caught on her throat, it had struck her as odd the choice of words "a baby to give to Miriam" Nat didn’t notice, she was crying with her eyes closed

"I cried two days and then I got up and went to Miriam´s room, Alexander always looming around. Miriam was worried, asked what had happened to me, I looked horrible. I lost my baby girl, I said, tears coming out of my eyes, she said she was sorry, she asked if there was anything she could do, I asked her to let me take you in my arms, I asked her to name you after my dead baby, I asked her to give you your real name. What´s your girl´s name, she asked, Nichole, I replied. My kid´s name´s Sarah, she said but I think Sarah Nichole sounds pretty, don´t you think, Karl? She asked, your father nodded, he always gave her what she wanted"

"I don’t believe you" Nichole said coldly " if I am your dead child why would you let me kill people, why would you point a gun to me, why would you want me to accidentally kill the boy you think I care for, why would you let Karl treat me like he does, why would you let Tilly hurt me, why would you let Vincent hurt me? Why would you hurt me and stab me when others told you to?"

"I haven´t stabbed you!"

"Either you or Mary Ann are lying about this"

"Mary Ann told you" Nat gasped "When...? Why...?"

"She said it was you who discovered how to make me sick and you stabbed me every time they needed me to be sick"

"No" Nat cried, covered her face and shook her head "It was not like that..."

"So far Ibsen hasn’t lie one but you have, so many times over the years"

"Did she tell you that you are mine?"

"No"

"That´s why you don’t believe me, she made it seem like I was the bad one"

"Well, now´s your time to tell your side of the story..."

"I was made to do it, they said that if I didn’t it´d be worse, and it was, Mary Ann made you suffer, I tried not to..."

"You could´ve said no, I was a child"

"I didn´t want to lose you again"

"You should´ve have let them go on with their experiments... I was... since before being born ....a monster"

"No, you were not"

"I didn’t know what they had done. I only knew with my promotion, when you were already born, I couldn’t do a thing because you were my kid Miriam´s too despite your origins so I just tried to learn more of you but it was fine, you were just a bitter kid... -Nat trailed off and then she looked at Nichole that was sat in front of her, silence stretched between them for a moment- Mary Ann told you about the boy, didn´t she? -She stared at Nic who had an unreadable expression- Yes, yes, she did, that´s why you wouldn’t talk to him until he spoke to you, that´s why you saw him like you did. You know who he is, don’t you?"

"Was it true?" Nic said just above a whisper

"Yes"

"That´s why he was to die like Ash?"

"Yes"

"Why don't I have the scar on my chest where Mary Ann said..."

"Your hearts were one... you don’t have them because Alexander and his crew also experimented with stem cells, they had yours stored, from when you were born, his as well, they used that so that neither of you had scars, that´s why you have no scars from that time"

"You were with Arlington and Ibsen, they owned you; how you got to my father?" Nic inquired after a moment of silence

"After Miriam died your father moved you out and removed you from the program, he took shelter in Woodhills, it was hard to find him, I helped the crew on that but I started to lead them away because I overheard they were going to take you away from him, especially since your new ability, they saw you as a weapon now, something to be exploited..."

"You decided to exploit me instead"

"No, Nicky, it´s not like that"

"How did you tell my father, why did he ally with you?"

"He was devastated, he was smart, he suspected but to him you were what had taken his wife life, he..."

"He couldn´t stand the sight of me, I remember"

"No, Nicky, it´s..."

"Go on, how...?"

"I found him and offered him to take care of you"

"He accepted"

"No, he didn’t, he didn’t trust me, I had to explain what I knew, how everything happened. I had to show him proof"

"Did you have proof?"

"Yes, I stole some documents; I knew he wouldn’t listen to me, I had to make sure He´d let me stay close to my baby. I showed him everything, I showed him data and pictures and journals, Sarah and Mary Ann´s, the ones I got to steal..."

"What you said about you and me?" Nic started... Nat shook her head

"He doesn’t know of that, I don’t know what he´d done if he knew. I had to keep that to myself to protect you"

"You did a poor job on that"

"We had to get rid of the ones that knew of you"

"It was revenge"

"For him, yes..."

"You made it as if I was dead, you made me take my cousin´s place, did you her too?"

"Nichole´s death..."

"No! No! Don’t tell me, I don’t want to know, that would´ve been enough"

"No, it wouldn’t. You can never be safe with them around"

"You two have made me kill their families, not just them and I doubt all the people I´ve killed were related to that. They were not, were they?" Nic asked, Nat stayed silent "Answer me!" she shouted

"No" Nat barely said

"Who were they?"

"Bad people"

"I don’t believe that"

"I promise"

"I believe it even less. That was how you founded your research, right?, how father got rich, how you must´ve finished med school, wasn´t it?"

"I swear they were all bad"

"They were money"

"I´m sorry"

"You don’t get to say that. I won’t forgive you. I wouldn’t believe you, even if you were my mother I would deny you"

"I never meant to hurt you. All I wanted to do was to protect you"

"I don’t believe you"

"Why do you believe Mary Ann?"

"She left pictures, I´ve seen pictures on some of the dead people´s houses, with my mom´s signature; she left documents for me to read..."

"All that could´ve been made up"

"All that you´ve said could´ve been made up too"

"I can prove it to you"

"Show me the papers you showed Karl"

"I can’t" Nat said with a pained expression

"Why not?"

"Karl burnt it all, he thought it´d keep you safer" Nat explained, Nic laughed humorlessly

"So you can’t prove it, how convenient for you"

"I´ll show you the video"

"I´m not doubting that you had a child, I doubt that it was me"

"If you just let me prove it to you..."

"And why would I do that"

"So that you see they have to pay"

"I don’t know who to believe Natasha, but I don’t even know if that or Natalia is your real name" she laughed again

"Natalia was my name. Let me prove this to you, please"

"You don’t move me to compassion. I´m leaving, this is your revenge, not mine"

"If you let me prove this, I promise I´ll deal with everything, I promise I´ll help you go or if you don’t want that I promise I won’t look for you or let Karl look for you. You´ll be free to do as you please without any of us or our revenge. Just let me prove it..."

"I don’t believe you"

"I know but this proof will also support that my promise is true"

"Father –she said the word almost with disdain- will never let you let me go"

"He will if he knows I had you and not Miriam"