Clone Two

by Patti Larsen

  I wish I had an answer for her. “When this is over,” I say, “we'll go back and make sure they are.”

  Duet nods, hugs me.

  “You can't do this, use the Sick again, not here.” I wish I could make her understand, but she just tips her head to the side and looks at me with an odd shaped frown slowly creasing the metal side of her face.

  “I saved her.” Duet whistles a short tune, sounding slightly echoey because of her metal lips. “Saved Poppy.”

  “You did,” I say. “But she wasn't really in danger.”

  “No.” Duet is suddenly hyper focused on me. “He attacked me. I attacked him. I saved her.”

  I sigh, knowing I'll simply have to keep an eye on her from now on. “Okay, Duet,” I say. “Let's get you something to eat.”

  “Yum.” She rubs her stomach. “No meat.”

  I shake my head. “No, no meat.”

  The stares are hard but tolerable, though the way the crew avoids me makes my heart ache. We've been through so much together, I was starting to trust them. I can't blame them for not trusting me.

  “I think we should move again.” Socrates eyes the others. “Just to be on the safe side.”

  Quietly, without speaking again, we gather our things and retire to the car where we started. Duet is the only one who isn't sunk in a dark melancholy for the next several hours and eventually I have to take her even further back. From the look on my friend's faces they are about to toss her overboard themselves if she doesn't stop whistling and smiling at them.

  Duet's excitement carries us all the way back to the caboose again. We sit on the edge, the rail holding us in, feet swinging over the end of the train as we watch the scenery run away from us.

  I don't know what to say to her so I stay quiet, letting her remain lost in her own little world. I wish things could be different and wrack my brain for ideas as to what to do next. If Chime does evict us, if Ande decides we're too big a risk, we still have far to go to get to New York.

  I turn to her at last as the sun starts to set, a chill in the air making me shiver.

  “We need to go back in,” I say.

  Duet just shrugs and climbs to her feet, pulling me up with her. She's definitely stronger than I am, probably due to her new blood and the cybernetics.

  All thoughts of her vanish as we turn to the glass door at the back of the caboose to see the woman's face looking back at us.

  “Mother.” Duet stretches her hand out, touches the wavering image.

  “Girls,” she smiles at us and for a moment I feel disoriented. The last time I saw her she was older, much older, but now she's young again, like I remember her. “Please, listen. You must reach Clone One. It's very important. Find her and you can stop this before it's too late.”

  Duet hums happily. “Okay, Mother.”

  “We can't remember.” I reach for her too. “Tell us what to do.”

  “Find her,” she says, already fading away. “Clone One has the answers to everything.”

  She's gone then, flickering out until we stand there staring at a darkening panel of glass.

  “We have to go.” Duet sounds the sanest I've heard her. “Together. Alone.” She turns to me. “Leave them behind. We have to hurry.”

  I shake my head. “This is the fastest way.”

  “No,” she says. “We can find a car. I can fix it, make it run. I've done it before.” Her face twists a moment and I see her slipping, leaving me, going back to the damaged clone I'd first met. “Trio.” She breathes my name as if knowing she's losing her battle. And just like our mother faded from us, Duet's mind wanders off and she smiles at me. “Poppy can come.”

  “No,” I repeat. “We'll stay on the train as long as we can. And if we're forced to leave, we go alone, just the two of us.”

  Duet grumbles something I don't quite catch, but by the time we're halfway to the next car she's giggling and humming again.

  I can only hope she holds it together long enough for us to reach our destination. After that, I have no idea what will happen, but am sure I can rely on the Duet inside, the one who used to be, to do what she needs to when the time comes.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty Five

  It's morning before the train starts to slow and my fear wakes, though I've not slept a wink. My friends are tense as Socrates goes forward to check in, only to have him come back with a look of relief and a handful of cans for breakfast.

  “There's a clump of trees growing around the track ahead,” he says. “They have to be cleared away before we can go on.”

  Duet hums over her can of preserved fruit, unaware we're all looking at her as if we've dodged some terrible fate. Perhaps we have.

  At least for now.

  When the train stops I'm the first one off, just needing distance and a moment away from everyone but, inevitably, when I find a fallen log to sit on out of sight of the train Duet appears to thump down beside me.

  “You're mad.” Her mouth turns down, voice vibrating. “I did bad.”

  “No,” I say. “You did what you knew to do.” I hug her with one arm. “It's okay, Duet.” How can I make her leave me alone when she's so broken?

  Poppy appears, her eyes meeting mine and I know somehow she's aware of what I need.

  “Hey, Duet,” Poppy says.

  “Hey, Poppy!” My sister grins and touches the girl's face.

  “Can you help me with the puppies?” Poppy's dark eyes slowly blink. She's brilliant, sweet, has the biggest heart. And I love her so much at that moment I want to hold her tight and never let her go.

  Duet is on her feet and moving without a backward glance, though Poppy offers me a little wave as she leads my sister off. I'll hug her later, thank her for her understanding. But for now I breathe the fresh air and try to gather my thoughts.

  The dog, my true shadow, groans at my feet and scratches his ear with one paw before closing his eyes again.

  When I hear the approaching sound of feet, I sigh. Poppy must not have been as much of a distraction as she hoped. Knowing I have to face the others eventually, ready or not, I rise to go to Duet.

  Only to find Brick standing there, watching me.

  I expect him to sneer, to make some snide remark, but he doesn't. In fact, he seems concerned. “I wanted to help,” he says. “When Chime went after Duet.”

  “So you told her about me.” I have no patience for him, ready to storm off and leave him there. “Wonderful way to help.”

  “I could have told her about you a long time ago,” he says. “I figured if she knew you could do it too, she'd go easier on Duet.” He shrugs. “Seeing as you've proven yourself. At least to the others.” He sits on the log I vacated. “As for her, you'll never convince her you’re anything but trouble.”

  “And you?” Like I trust him even for a moment. He was Cade's once, now Chime's.

  And yet. And yet he saved Poppy's life and I can't seem to let go of that.

  He looks up at me, face open for the first time since I've met him and I realize this is the only moment outside the night he told me about the Crawlers and Cade we've actually been alone together.

  “I'm just trying to survive, Trio.” Brick pats the log, an invitation I'm not ready to accept. “I've been honest with you all along, haven't I?”

  I shrug. “I suppose. Though I'd never count you a friend.”

  He nods. “I'm sorry. I chose the wrong side.” When he laughs it's light, soft. Almost regretful. “Had I known what she was really like I would have gone with my first choice.”

  What is that in his eyes? It makes me uncomfortable the way he's watching me. Again he pats the log, but I stay rooted. The memory of him holding Shade, of the cruelty in his gaze as he stared down at her, holding her just a little too hard, won't leave me either.

  “Maybe you should go back to her, then.” I just want him to go, to leave me alone.

  “I don't want to be with her,” he says. “Trio.”

  I know that expressi
on now, recognize it. Of course I do, I suppose I just didn't want to accept how he looks at me. Like Beckett looks at me when he's about to kiss me.

  “You're with Chime.” It comes out in a gasp as my body clenches with nerves. I don't feel this way with Beckett. Like something unpleasant crawls over my skin.

  “I've been watching you,” Brick says. “The others, they don't care about you, not like I do.”

  “You don't know what you're talking about,” I snap, backing away, the dog chuffing as he glares at Brick.

  “You're sure about that?” He shakes his head. “You put a lot of faith in people who judge you for what you are, Trio. For what your sister is.” Brick hesitates before going on. “Are you sure you're doing the right thing?”

  “What do you mean?” I'm being harsh and I don't care. He doesn't deserve any better.

  “This whole task thing.” Brick shrugs. “How do you know you're doing the right thing if you can't remember?”

  “I know.” I do, to the bottom of my soul.

  Don't I?

  “It's just,” Brick runs one hand through his dark hair, “what if the Crawlers aren't the bad guys you think they are? They dealt pretty fairly with Cade, when it was all said and done.”

  I want to shake him. “The same Crawlers who betray you over and over just to get what they want?”

  Brick nods, sighing. “You're right,” he says. “I guess I'm just looking for a way to make sure you get where you need to go and do what you think it is needs doing.” Brick rises to his feet, eyes locked on mine. “But you really do need to know what your friends think of you.”

  “I already do,” I say even though the look on his face seeds sudden doubts.

  “Then follow me,” he says. “And find out for yourself.”

  I don't want to go with him. I resist with every fiber of my being. But, in the end, my fear wins and I can't help myself, though I tell my heart it's only to prove him wrong.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty Six

  Brick's steps take us back to the train and forward, just beyond the peak of the locomotive where the large patch of trees growing around the tracks are being attacked by a group of unhappy crew. He bypasses them, circling around until he slows and gestures for me to be quiet.

  I join him, peering through the trees to see Chime, Ande and my friends, Poppy among them, in the middle of a meeting.

  “You know I'm right.” Chime's hand falls on Beckett's arm with a familiarity that makes my blood burn. “She's a liability at this point. They both are. If we turn around now, go back, tell the Crawlers where she is...”

  I'm sure he'll toss her hand off, tell her to go to hell, stand up for me. But he doesn't. Beckett hesitates. In that moment, my heart snaps in half and the calm once again descends.

  I step out so they all see me and watch Beckett's eyes widen. “I'm not giving myself up to the Crawlers,” I say. “I can't go back. But I can see now I've been mistaken in who I can trust.”

  Beckett flinches. “Trio—”

  I cut him off with a sharp motion. “You're all out here without me, talking about my fate, my sister's. Without me.” I want to scream, but the words are muffled by the calm and I wonder if that's more terrible for him, for my so-called friends.

  Duet shuffles forward from the tree line, arms full of wiggling puppies. “Poppy,” she says with delight. “Found them.” It takes her a moment, gaze traveling over all of us, before my damaged sister understands things aren’t as they are meant to be. She sets the puppies down, the pair running to sit at their father’s feet, ears low, tails tucked. Slow anger grows in the metal side of Duet’s face as her eyes meet mine at last. “Trio,” she says.

  I nod to her, hold out my hand. “You were right,” I say. “It's time we go it alone.”

  Poppy cries out, runs to my side, but I push her away, toward Beckett who looks at me with so much guilt I know I'm right about him.

  “Trio, don't,” he says. “You have it all wrong.”

  “Forget her.” Chime pulls him back as he tries to approach me. “Let her go.” She glares at me. “Time for you to move along so the rest of us will be safe. At least give us that much.”

  I nod sharply, the calm fading as my emotions build. “You'll have it,” I say, turning away while Duet hums happily beside me, Brick watching me go with a mix of emotions I'm not in a good state to read.

  Well, what did he think would happen?

  Brick chases after us, grabs my arm, pulls me around. “I'm coming with you.”

  The dog growls at him, Duet spinning with a hiss. Brick backs off while the others follow. I hear Chime's gasp, but don't care if he's hurt her. Screw her.

  Screw them all.

  “Leave me alone,” I say. “Don't touch me, don't talk to me. Unless you want to end up a puddle on the ground.”

  Brick backs off at last, scowling but silent.

  Good. I'm tired of him already.

  Duet leads the way to the train while I gasp for air and try to call the calm back.

  I don't think I'll survive leaving without it to protect me.

  It's a short trip back to the train, the distance covered in long, angry strides. I can hear Poppy crying as I leap on board, slam my way into the main car and beyond. I grab the backpack Genki gave me before heading forward again, cramming it full of food and water from the stacks lining the walls. How can it be only a short time ago I was given this pack, but feel like forever? I have no idea what I'm taking, cans, bottles of things, but when I'm done the pack is full and I'm ready to leave everything behind.

  At least, I tell myself I am.

  “We can take her.” Duet winks at me before turning to smile at the sobbing Poppy. “She's good.”

  I shake my head and grab my sister's hand, dragging her to the exit past my downcast friends. Socrates reaches for me, Vander too, but I shove past them, Duet a convenient shield I use to keep us apart.

  “Trio, don't go.” Vander's soft voice reaches me. “We never meant for you to think we wanted you to leave. It's not like that at all.”

  I'm weak, hesitate. But Duet is moving still and pulling me along with her so I force my sadness down and continue on.

  When my feet land on the ground, the dog hops down next to me. For a moment I consider him, my selfishness almost winning before I turn to him and shake my head.

  “No.”

  He barks at me, ears back.

  “I said no.” I point at the train. “I don't want you to come. You stay with the others.”

  Again he barks, this time baring his teeth, tail hanging low.

  “Stay,” I say. “Just stay.”

  He whines softly at last, head dropping as he paws the ground before him. I turn and walk away from him, hear the click of his paws on the exposed rail and turn once again.

  “No,” I whisper. “You have to protect Poppy and the puppies.”

  This time when he whines it's as if his heart is breaking, but I'm relentless, have to be. He can't come, just can't.

  And yet, I can't bear to lose him.

  We stand there a long moment, his dark eyes locked on mine. I see his brilliance, the thoughts in his mind as he struggles with his need to protect me and the same need to watch over his children and their keeper.

  “Please,” I say, knowing it's not fair, my heart sobbing for my own loss. “Please, you must.”

  He barks at me, a sharp, sad sound before turning slowly to pad back toward the train. I look up, see him come to stand next to Beckett who has stepped down to watch me go. The dog presses his body into Beckett's legs, back to me, as if he can't bear to watch me leave.

  Beckett opens his mouth to speak, but doesn't. Instead, he lifts one hand and waves.

  I don't bother waving back. I fear if I try I might run to his arms and never let him go.

  Instead, I turn away, find Duet waiting for me with a huge smile on her face. She hugs me, so hard it hurts though I'm happy for the different kind of pain before taking my ha
nd and leading me off down the track.

  The sound of the dog barking, calling for me to come back, almost drives me to my knees.

  ###

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  www.pattilarsen.com

  ***

  Now check out the first chapter of

  the final installment of The Clone Chronicles

  Clone One

  Chapter One

  The leather seat beneath me smells faintly of mildew, but I can't seem to bring myself to get up to escape it. A heavy, cloying lethargy has settled around me, from the moment I walked away from the train, from my friends.

  From Beckett.

  My clone sister, Duet, hums softly to herself, almost bouncing she's so happy as she toys with the engine of the SUV in which I now sit. My head will barely lift from the padded rest, eyes heavy, heartbeat slowed so much I can barely feel it.

  Is this real grief? Depression? It feels that way, as though a black cloak of apathy wraps itself around me, squeezing and squeezing until it's an effort to draw breath. But I am unable to cry. How odd that feels. Perhaps if I could, if the tears would flow, I'd break free of what holds me.

  But the tears won't come, refuse to rise, to well, to spill. I feel like my heart has abandoned me.

  Or, more aptly, I've abandoned it.

  It's still so hard to believe. We've left the others, abruptly, in a fit of passion-fed anger. Duet and I walked for only a mile or so further down the track, myself stomping with each step to hide the terrible grief rising inside me, she whistling and humming as though this was exactly the way things should be.

  I walked away from the train and the only people in this horrible, broken world I care about, besides my equally broken sister. And I'm wondering if I'll ever be able to forgive myself.

  The town appeared quickly, a squat and empty place barely registering on the horizon. Duet seemed immediately delighted by the gas station on the edge of civilization, jerking open the hood of the large black former luxury car where I now hide, the sound of rusted metal grinding as she hoisted the heavy panel carrying it for what seemed like miles.