Chapter 20 - The Reunion
Daniel couldn't move.
Eight years disappeared in one second.
Anna crossed the room.
He reached for her.
Then stopped.
“Are you real?”
Anna's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
Daniel touched her face.
Warm.
Alive.
He pulled her into his arms.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then Daniel stepped back.
“Why?”
Anna knew what he meant.
“Because if I came home, they would have killed Lily.”
“You could have told me.”
“I tried.”
“You let me bury you.”
“I know.”
“I mourned you.”
“I know.”
Daniel's voice broke.
“I hated myself for surviving you.”
Anna began crying.
“I watched you every year.”
“Where?”
“From a distance.”
“Why didn't you come home?”
“Because Claire found me every time.”
Claire remained silent.
Daniel looked at her.
“You helped her?”
Claire nodded.
“I did.”
Anna looked at Claire.
“You also betrayed us.”
Claire's expression changed.
“I protected you.”
“You protected Continuity.”
“No.”
Claire's voice cracked.
“I protected Lily.”
Anna stepped forward.
“You experimented on her.”
“I was trying to understand why she couldn't be conditioned.”
Daniel looked between them.
“Enough.”
He demanded the truth.
Claire finally confessed.
Lily was not merely resistant to conditioning.
May you like
She was capable of reversing it.
And Continuity wanted that ability.
