Chapter 11 - The Woman With Emily’s Face
Emily remained hidden beneath the table until the two men left.
Her muscles cramped.
Her lungs barely moved.
Only when the corridor became silent did she crawl out.
The folder was still on the hospital bed.
Dr. Hale had forgotten it.
Or perhaps he had left it deliberately.
Emily opened it.
The first page contained her employee profile.
The second carried a death certificate.
Her death certificate.
Cause of death: cardiac arrest during an unauthorized medical procedure.
Date: tomorrow.
Beneath it was a resignation letter with her signature perfectly copied.
Another document transferred her bank accounts to Daniel.
Emily’s hands shook.
Then she reached the final photograph.
A woman lay unconscious in a private hospital room.
Same height.
Same hair color.
Similar facial structure.
But it was not Emily.
Not yet.
Red markings covered the woman’s face, showing planned surgical alterations.
A note had been attached.
Final reconstruction requires subject verification.
Emily understood.
They were not only planning to kill her.
They were preparing someone to replace her.
Her phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel appeared.
Do not trust Claire. Leave the hospital now.
A second message arrived from the prepaid phone.
Daniel knows where the replacement is being kept.
Emily stared at both screens.
Then the overhead surgical light switched on by itself.
She spun around.
A camera above the observation window moved toward her.
A speaker crackled.
Dr. Hale’s voice filled the room.
“Emily, I was wondering how long it would take you to find us.”
The door locked.
Red emergency lights illuminated the corridor outside.
Emily grabbed the folder and tried the keycard.
Access denied.
Hale continued speaking calmly.
“You have always been observant. That is why Daniel selected you.”
“He didn’t select me.”
A soft laugh answered.
“Did he tell you that?”
A second door opened behind the observation glass.
Two orderlies pushed a hospital bed into view.
The unconscious woman from the photograph lay beneath a white blanket.
Her face was partially bandaged.
One eye opened slowly.
She looked directly at Emily.
Then, despite the swelling and surgical tape, she whispered through the intercom.
“Please don’t let them make me become you.”
Emily stepped toward the glass.
“What is your name?”
The woman tried to answer.
Before she could, Daniel entered the observation room carrying a gun.
He pointed it at Dr. Hale.
Hale did not appear frightened.
Instead, he smiled.
“You’re late.”
Daniel looked through the glass at Emily.
Then at the woman on the bed.
His grip tightened around the weapon.
Emily waited for him to unlock the door.
May you like
He did not.
Instead, Daniel raised the gun toward the unconscious woman and said, “Emily, whatever happens next, do not believe what she tells you.”
