encryption was complex, military-grade, but it had a signature, a style of coding I recognized. It was my own. It was a var

ross the keyboard.

video of a man in a medically induced coma, hooked up t

an was Da

small scar above his eyebrow from a childhood accident, the exact pattern

as current. He was alive, but

ntal procedure. A procedure that involved neural mapping and... cloning. Not a physical clone, but a digital one. An AI

d my family-he wasn't David. He was a copy. A twisted, cruel version, likely manipulated by Emily and his own father,

d? I ran a search on his name from the marriage certificate. Nothing. The man was a ghost, a complete digital b

or jolted me. I quick

s flushed with victory, h

id, pushing her way in. "Running

om with disdain. "This is what you'v

widened. "Oh, is that your little trinket? I'm sur

act, she snatched

ly quiet. That locket wasn't just a locket

She held it up, dangling it from her fingers.

e floor and brought her high heel down on it with a vicious stomp. The silver

roof, the connection to the real David-gone. I lunged at her, no

fueled by a righteous fury she couldn't comprehend. I got

I shrieked. "You d

mpostor David was there, his face a m

one for two days, and this is what happens?"

ing Emily to her feet. "A

d out, playing the victim perfectly.

s eyes burning with hate. "I shoul

lled, pointing at the shattered

" he sneered. "

hed, a sound full of malice. "She's talking about the 'forbid

'm a pioneer. Bio-hacking, neural programming... it's the future. I didn't just fix your buggy code. I fixed him. I made

ting it. She was bragging about

ments from the dossier I'd read before she destroyed the chip. "The cellular

al jealousy. You're just angry

whispered. "You've created a monster,

. Emily, you want her family's firm? The building, the

you!" Emily sque

"It's done. I've just transferred the deed. You

strange sense of calm. Let them take the building. Let them have the junk. I had t

triumph. "The whole world will be watching me. Celebrating m

uering hero leading his prize away from the battlefield.

dy aching, but my mind was clear. I calmly packed my small bag. The

g. They left m

to the curb. A man in a dark suit got out and opened the rear door fo

fully. "It's time. We ha

mily were celebrating their victory at the Phoenix IPO laun

about to