CHAPTER 10 — THE WOMAN WHO FORGOT
“I swear…”
Elena's voice trembled.
“I don't remember.”
Alexander stared at the screen.
Neither did anyone else.
The words remained illuminated above them.
EDEN — ORIGINAL CREATOR: ELENA CARTER
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Even Jonathan had stopped smiling.
Daniel stared at the screen with terrified eyes.
Sophie slowly released Elena's hand.
Lily looked from one adult to another.
“Daddy?”
Alexander didn't answer.
His eyes remained fixed on Elena.
Not with hatred.
Not yet.
With confusion.
A terrible, unbearable confusion.
Because every truth he had uncovered during the past few days had led back to one person.
Elena.
The woman he had loved.
The woman who had protected his children.
The woman who had apparently spent years hiding secrets.
And now the system was calling her the creator of Eden.
Alexander finally spoke.
“Elena.”
She looked at him.
“I don't remember.”
“You said that already.”
“I know.”
“Then tell me something you do remember.”
She swallowed.
“You.”
Alexander's expression didn't change.
“I remember meeting you.”
“When?”
“At university.”
“Before or after Daniel?”
“After.”
“Before Eden?”
“I don't know.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“Do you remember your father?”
“Yes.”
“Your mother?”
“Yes.”
“Jonathan?”
She froze.
“I…”
“You know him.”
“I don't know.”
“You just reacted.”
Elena looked toward Jonathan.
He was watching her carefully.
She whispered:
“Why does he look familiar?”
Jonathan smiled.
“Because you made me.”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I never saw you.”
“You saw me every day.”
“Stop.”
Jonathan stepped closer.
“You don't remember because I made sure you wouldn't.”
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
“What did you do to her?”
Jonathan looked at him.
“Nothing she didn't ask for.”
Elena stared at him.
“I never asked you for anything.”
“You begged.”
“For what?”
“To forget.”
Elena's face went pale.
Alexander turned toward Jonathan.
“Explain.”
Jonathan walked to one of the screens.
“Your mother told you the truth.”
He touched the controls.
A video appeared.
A younger Elena sat in a laboratory.
She looked terrified.
Her hair was shorter.
She wore a white medical gown.
Across from her stood a younger Jonathan.
And behind him...
Alexander's father.
Elena stared at the screen.
“No.”
The video began.
Young Elena was crying.
“I can't do this anymore.”
Jonathan's younger voice answered:
“You already agreed.”
“I didn't understand what it would do.”
“You understood enough.”
“I want out.”
Jonathan leaned toward her.
“You can't leave.”
Young Elena shook her head.
“Then erase me.”
Alexander's eyes widened.
The video stopped.
Elena covered her mouth.
“No…”
Alexander turned toward her.
“You asked them to erase your memories?”
Elena was crying.
“I don't remember.”
Jonathan nodded.
“Exactly.”
Alexander stared at him.
“Why?”
Jonathan looked toward the chamber.
“Because Elena discovered what Eden was really doing.”
“What?”
“Not preserving memories.”
Jonathan's expression became cold.
“Manufacturing them.”
Alexander frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Jonathan pressed another button.
A second video appeared.
Children sat in a room.
Each child wore a small silver bracelet.
000
001
002
003
Names appeared beneath them.
Some Alexander recognized.
Some he didn't.
Then the footage changed.
A child was shown a photograph.
A woman.
The child was told:
“That's your mother.”
The child shook his head.
“No.”
The scientist repeated:
“That's your mother.”
Again.
“No.”
The scientist injected something.
The screen went black.
When it returned...
the child stared at the photograph.
“Mom.”
Alexander felt sick.
“They were creating false memories.”
Jonathan nodded.
“Exactly.”
“For what?”
“To control people.”
Alexander stared.
“Why?”
Jonathan looked at him.
“Imagine convincing someone that you are their father.”
Alexander's face hardened.
“Or their husband.”
“Yes.”
“Or their child.”
“Yes.”
“You could replace anyone.”
Jonathan smiled.
“Now you understand.”
Alexander looked at Elena.
“Why did she create it?”
Jonathan shook his head.
“She didn't create the original system.”
“But the file says—”
“She improved it.”
Alexander stopped.
“What did she change?”
Jonathan's expression became serious.
“She discovered how to reverse it.”
Alexander looked at Elena.
“You learned how to undo implanted memories.”
“Yes.”
Jonathan nodded.
“And that's why they erased her.”
Elena whispered:
“I was trying to save the children.”
“I know.”
“You used me.”
“Yes.”
“You made me forget.”
“Yes.”
“You stole my life.”
Jonathan looked at her.
“No.”
He pointed toward Alexander.
“You stole your own life.”
Elena stared.
Jonathan continued:
“You chose to forget because remembering would have killed you.”
Alexander stepped forward.
“Enough.”
Jonathan smiled.
“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“Then stop protecting her.”
Alexander's eyes hardened.
“I am protecting my family.”
Jonathan nodded.
“Exactly.”
He pressed another control.
A file appeared.
PROJECT RESET
Alexander stared.
“What is that?”
Jonathan answered:
“Your wedding.”
Alexander froze.
“What?”
“Not the wedding you remember.”
A video appeared.
Alexander and Elena.
Years earlier.
They were standing in a small office.
Elena was pregnant.
Alexander was smiling.
His hand rested on her stomach.
The video continued.
Elena was crying.
Alexander hugged her.
Then another person entered the room.
Victoria.
Alexander's expression changed.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Victoria handed Elena a folder.
Young Alexander shouted:
“What did you do?”
Victoria answered:
“I gave you what you wanted.”
“What did I want?”
“You wanted to forget.”
Alexander watched the screen in horror.
“I never asked to forget.”
The video showed young Alexander turning toward Elena.
“Do you remember the children?”
Elena nodded.
“Yes.”
“Do you remember Daniel?”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember what Dad did?”
“Yes.”
“Then we have to erase it.”
Alexander stared at the screen.
His own younger self had made the decision.
Not his father.
Not Jonathan.
Not Victoria.
Him.
He had chosen to forget.
Why?
The video continued.
Young Alexander held Elena's hands.
“If I remember what happened, they'll kill you.”
Elena cried.
“And if you forget?”
“They'll think they won.”
“And the children?”
“I'll find them again.”
“How?”
Alexander smiled.
“I don't know.”
Then he kissed her forehead.
“But I will.”
The video ended.
Alexander stepped backward.
“No.”
Elena reached for him.
“Alexander…”
He moved away.
“You knew.”
“I knew some things.”
“You knew about Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about the children.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Eden.”
“Yes.”
“And you let me forget?”
“You asked me to.”
Alexander looked at her.
“Why didn't you tell me when I came home?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“That the memories would come back too quickly.”
“They did.”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at Daniel.
“They haven't all come back.”
Daniel suddenly whispered:
“There are more.”
Everyone turned.
Alexander knelt beside him.
“What?”
Daniel pointed toward the screen.
“That isn't the real video.”
Jonathan's expression changed.
“What did you say?”
Daniel looked at him.
“You changed it.”
Jonathan stared.
Daniel continued:
“That's what you wanted Alex to remember.”
Jonathan's face hardened.
“But I remember the other room.”
Alexander frowned.
“What other room?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“The room where Mom screamed.”
Elena froze.
“What?”
Daniel looked at her.
“You weren't there.”
Alexander looked confused.
“Who was?”
Daniel whispered:
“Dad.”
Jonathan's expression changed.
Daniel continued:
“He made Alex watch.”
Alexander suddenly grabbed his head.
A memory hit him.
A laboratory.
A chair.
His father.
Daniel screaming.
Elena being dragged away.
Alexander crying.
His father saying:
“You'll forget this.”
Alexander fell to his knees.
“Stop!”
Elena rushed toward him.
“Alexander!”
He pushed his palms against his temples.
“I remember.”
Jonathan backed away.
“No.”
Alexander looked up.
His eyes were full of rage.
“You weren't the one who erased my memories.”
Jonathan stared.
“What?”
“My father was.”
Jonathan's face went pale.
Alexander stood.
“And you didn't create Eden.”
Jonathan said nothing.
“You inherited it.”
Still nothing.
“From someone else.”
Jonathan slowly shook his head.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand enough.”
Alexander turned toward his mother.
“You knew.”
His mother looked down.
“Yes.”
“You knew my father did this.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you let me believe Jonathan was responsible?”
“Because Jonathan was.”
Alexander stared.
“What?”
“He continued the program.”
“But my father started it.”
“Yes.”
“And Jonathan took over.”
“Yes.”
“So why did you protect Jonathan?”
His mother looked toward Elena.
“Because Jonathan was trying to destroy it.”
Alexander froze.
“What?”
Jonathan looked away.
His mother continued:
“Jonathan became the monster because he wanted to destroy the monster.”
Alexander looked at Jonathan.
“Is that true?”
Jonathan didn't answer.
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
Alexander's jaw tightened.
“Then why hurt the children?”
Jonathan's voice broke.
“Because I believed sacrifice was necessary.”
“You tortured children.”
“I know.”
“You kidnapped them.”
“I know.”
“You manipulated memories.”
“I know.”
“You became exactly what you hated.”
Jonathan's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
Silence.
Then Daniel spoke.
“You killed them.”
Jonathan looked at him.
“I know.”
“How many?”
Jonathan closed his eyes.
“Thirty-seven.”
Lily gasped.
Alexander stared.
“Thirty-seven children?”
Jonathan nodded.
“Only six survived.”
Sophie whispered:
“Six?”
Jonathan looked at her.
“You.”
“Daniel.”
“Lily.”
“Emma.”
“And two others.”
“Where are they?”
“Gone.”
Alexander's voice became cold.
“Where?”
“Dead.”
The room fell silent.
Sophie began crying.
Alexander placed a hand on her shoulder.
Then he looked at Jonathan.
“You will answer for every one of them.”
Jonathan nodded.
“I know.”
Alexander expected resistance.
Instead...
Jonathan reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small key.
“This opens the final chamber.”
Alexander looked at it.
“What is inside?”
“The original archive.”
“We already opened the archive.”
“No.”
Jonathan shook his head.
“You opened the public archive.”
“What is the final chamber?”
“The memory vault.”
Alexander frowned.
“What does it contain?”
“Every original memory.”
“Whose?”
“Everyone.”
Alexander stared.
“Mine?”
“Yes.”
“Elena's?”
“Yes.”
“Daniel's?”
“Yes.”
“Sophie's?”
“Yes.”
“Lily?”
Jonathan hesitated.
“Yes.”
Alexander's expression changed.
“Emma?”
Jonathan looked toward the baby.
“Yes.”
Alexander immediately took a step forward.
“What did you record from Emma?”
Jonathan shook his head.
“Nothing.”
“Then why is her name in the archive?”
“Because she was born connected to it.”
Alexander's heart raced.
“How?”
Jonathan looked at Elena.
“She was conceived during the final experiment.”
Elena went completely still.
“No.”
Jonathan nodded.
“You were there.”
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
“I don't remember.”
“I know.”
Alexander looked at Elena.
“Was Emma part of Eden?”
Elena began crying.
“I don't know.”
Jonathan spoke quietly.
“She was never supposed to be.”
Alexander stared.
“Then why?”
“Because your father discovered something.”
“What?”
Jonathan answered:
“Children born after memory implantation could inherit the original memories naturally.”
Alexander's face went pale.
“Emma inherited them?”
“No.”
Jonathan shook his head.
“Emma rejected them.”
Alexander frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“She was born with a natural defense.”
“Against Eden?”
“Yes.”
Jonathan looked at Emma.
“She is the first child Eden cannot control.”
Alexander held his daughter tighter.
“And that's why Victoria wants her.”
“Yes.”
“And why you want her.”
Jonathan shook his head.
“I don't want her.”
“Then what do you want?”
Jonathan looked at Daniel.
“I want him free.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You said that before.”
“This time I mean it.”
Alexander looked at the key.
“How do we free him?”
Jonathan answered:
“The memory vault.”
“How?”
“Daniel's original memories must be separated from Alexander.”
Alexander looked at Daniel.
“What happens to me?”
“You lose everything that belongs to him.”
Alexander hesitated.
“And what happens to Daniel?”
Jonathan looked at the boy.
“He gets his life back.”
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“Can I live?”
Jonathan nodded.
“If we do it correctly.”
Alexander stared at his brother.
Then he looked at Elena.
Then Sophie.
Then Lily.
Then Emma.
He knew what he had to do.
“Open the vault.”
Jonathan looked surprised.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
“You may lose memories you think belong to you.”
Alexander nodded.
“I've spent my whole life carrying memories that weren't mine.”
He looked at Daniel.
“It's time my brother had his life back.”
They walked toward the final chamber.
The massive door opened.
Inside was a circular room.
Hundreds of glass containers lined the walls.
Each contained a glowing crystal.
Thousands of names were engraved beneath them.
Alexander walked slowly.
He saw Daniel.
He saw Sophie.
He saw Elena.
He saw himself.
Then he saw one name that shouldn't have been there.
LILY BLACKWOOD
Alexander froze.
“No.”
Lily wasn't supposed to be part of Eden.
He turned toward Jonathan.
“Why is my daughter here?”
Jonathan's expression changed.
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I swear.”
Alexander walked closer.
A second name appeared.
EMMA BLACKWOOD
Then a third.
ALEXANDER BLACKWOOD
Then a fourth.
ELENA CARTER
The system activated.
A voice announced:
“Memory synchronization beginning.”
Alexander looked around.
“What is happening?”
Jonathan stared at the machines.
“Someone activated the vault.”
“Who?”
Jonathan shook his head.
“No one here.”
Then the lights turned red.
A woman's voice came through the speakers.
“Hello, Alexander.”
Alexander froze.
Victoria.
But Victoria was outside.
“How?”
Her voice laughed.
“You really thought the warehouse was the end?”
Alexander raised his weapon.
“Where are you?”
“Everywhere.”
The screens activated.
Victoria appeared.
Then another image.
A hospital.
A newborn baby.
Emma.
Alexander stared.
Victoria smiled.
“You wanted to know why Emma was born different?”
Alexander's face hardened.
“Tell me.”
“Because she wasn't the first.”
“What?”
Victoria smiled.
“She was the second.”
Alexander froze.
“The first child was born twenty-four years ago.”
Daniel looked confused.
Jonathan's face turned white.
Victoria continued:
“Her name was forgotten.”
Alexander whispered:
“Who?”
Victoria smiled.
Then the screen displayed a photograph.
A little girl.
Dark hair.
Brown eyes.
The same face as Emma.
Alexander couldn't breathe.
Victoria whispered:
“Her name was Lily.”
Alexander turned toward his daughter.
Lily stared at the screen.
She looked terrified.
“Daddy?”
Alexander couldn't move.
Victoria laughed.
“You've been raising the wrong Lily.”
The screen went black.
And the little girl standing beside Alexander suddenly whispered:
“I remember.”
Alexander stared at her.
May you like
Lily began crying.
“I remember everything.”
