Chapter 32 - The Memory He Buried
Daniel collapsed.
Anna caught him.
“No.”
The memory returned.
He was sixteen.
His father was being attacked.
Daniel had grabbed a weapon.
He had fought back.
A shot.
His father fell.
Daniel had believed someone else killed him.
But the truth was different.
The attacker had been wearing a Continuity insignia.
Daniel had fired.
His father died trying to protect him.
The memory had been altered to make Daniel believe he was responsible.
Anna held him.
“You were a child.”
Daniel shook.
“I killed him.”
“No.”
“He died because of me.”
“He died protecting you.”
Lily knelt beside him.
“Dad.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You didn't kill him.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I remember.”
She touched his hand.
“I saw the memory.”
Daniel stared.
The archive had awakened.
And with it, the truth.
His father had left one final message.
Daniel's voice played from the system.
“You will spend your life believing you are dangerous.”
A pause.
“You are not.”
“You are the man who survived.”
Daniel began to cry.
May you like
Lily embraced him.
For the first time, he believed it.
