Chapter 14: The Last Hidden Identity
Nobody moved.
Two men.
The same face.
The same name.
Two impossible truths standing in front of them.
Daniel looked between them.
His mind struggled to accept what his eyes were seeing.
“Elijah…”
The man who had been beside them stepped forward.
“I know.””
Daniel looked at the newcomer.
“Then who is he?””
The second man smiled.
“I think you already know.””
Arthur stared.
His breathing became uneven.
“Marcus.””
The man looked at him.
“Close.””
Arthur shook his head.
“No.””
The man walked closer.
“I was your brother’s replacement.””
Nia immediately raised her weapon.
“Stay where you are.””
The man stopped.
“I’m not here to fight.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You’ve spent years hiding people’s identities.””
The man looked at him.
“And you’ve spent years searching for answers.””
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Because you took them.””
The man looked at Arthur.
“No.””
He pointed at the old man.
“Because he asked us to.””
Arthur froze.
“What?””
Daniel looked confused.
“My father asked you?””
The man nodded.
“After he discovered the truth.””
Elijah stepped forward.
“Don’t listen to him.””
The newcomer smiled.
“Still protecting him, Elijah?””
Nia looked between them.
“Someone needs to explain.””
The newcomer sighed.
“Fine.””
He looked at Arthur.
“Your real identity was the key.””
Arthur shook his head.
“I am Arthur Carter.””
“Yes.””
The man nodded.
“You are.””
A pause.
“But you were also something else.””
Daniel waited.
The man continued:
“You were the architect.””
Nia understood.
“The system.””
“Yes.””
The man smiled.
“The system that could find anyone.””
Arthur looked horrified.
“And people used it to erase people.””
“Yes.””
Daniel looked at Elijah.
“Then why protect him?””
Elijah answered.
“Because he tried to destroy it.””
The newcomer laughed.
“Too late.””
He looked at Daniel.
“Your father created a weapon.””
Arthur shook his head.
“I created protection.””
“And people turned it into control.””
Silence.
The statement hit harder because everyone knew it was true.
The newcomer pulled out a small drive.
“This is what everyone has been fighting over.””
Nia stared.
“What is it?””
“The original database.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“You have it?””
The man nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then why reveal yourself?””
The man looked at Rex.
“Because Rex found the one person who could unlock it.””
Everyone looked at Arthur.
Arthur whispered:
“No.””
The dog stepped toward him.
The man smiled.
“Your father didn’t just create the system.””
He looked at Daniel.
“He created the final key.””
Daniel stared.
“My father?””
The man nodded.
“His memories.””
Arthur touched his head.
“The memory loss…”
“Was protection.””
Nia looked at Elijah.
“You knew?””
Elijah nodded.
“I helped hide him.””
Arthur looked betrayed.
“You helped erase me.””
“I helped save you.””
The argument ended when the alarms became louder.
Red lights flashed across the facility.
Nia checked the security panel.
“Someone is forcing entry.””
Daniel looked at the newcomer.
“Your people?””
The man shook his head.
“No.””
“Then who?””
The man looked at Elijah.
“Him.””
Everyone turned.
Elijah looked confused.
“What?””
The newcomer smiled.
“The real problem was never the people trying to expose the truth.””
He looked at Daniel.
“It was the person protecting the lie.””
Nia stepped back.
“Are you saying Elijah is responsible?””
Daniel looked at Elijah.
The room became silent.
Elijah didn’t deny it.
That was the answer.
Arthur’s face fell.
“No.””
Elijah looked at him.
“I had to.””
Daniel’s voice became cold.
“You let me think I was dead.””
“I protected you.””
“You destroyed my life.””
“I saved your life.””
The two men stared at each other.
Father.
Son.
Soldier.
Traitor.
Then Rex moved.
The dog walked toward Elijah.
Everyone watched.
Daniel whispered:
“Rex…”
The dog stopped in front of him.
Then lowered his head.
Not in fear.
In sadness.
Elijah closed his eyes.
“He remembers.””
Nia looked at him.
“Remembers what?””
Elijah opened his eyes.
“The night Daniel disappeared.””
A pause.
“He remembers who gave the order.””
Daniel froze.
“Who?””
Rex looked at the newcomer.
Then at Elijah.
Then barked once.
A single warning.
The newcomer whispered:
“Now you know.””
Daniel stared.
“Who gave the order?””
Elijah looked at Arthur.
Then at Daniel.
May you like
And finally answered:
“Your father.””
