Final Chapter

When the sun's rays broke through the curtains, Elena realized that it was dawn. She was still inside reality, far from the white-framed mirror that so frightened her for almost two decades. After leaving the soft sheets that covered her body, she calmly headed towards the stairs of the home where she would live forever, or at least that is what she expected, after having reunited with her mother. The corners of her mouth widened even more when she discovered a familiar silhouette at the beginning of the stairs that connected to the lower floor. It was about her, the woman she loved, and the one who had given her life. Katherine Miller, her mother.

Then both women got ready to have breakfast, happy to see each other again, in the dining room of the house. Elena smiled as she talked to her mother and they caught up. The young woman preferred to omit first of all the details related to the monsters and what she was hiding inside the mirror in her previous home. She didn't want to scare her mother into thinking she was insane. Her mother, meanwhile, was silent, but happy, as she visualized the new reality of which her life was part: Elena, her daughter, had returned home after ten years. Everything in the environment was joyful and tranquil until a sound interrupted the comfortable atmosphere that they had formed.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Someone was knocking on the door.

—Who is it? —Elena asked.

Her mother, Katherine, sighed. —I don't know, I will open it.

And she started to walk away from her.

The confusion painted on Katherine's face was nothing more than a mask because the truth was that she did know the person who was outside her home. However, she would not be able to lie at that moment, her hands were sweating profusely, like ice during the summer, while her legs began to shake uncontrollably. At that rate, she would end up on the ground, unconscious.

The reason was fully known by itself and it was the person on the other side of the door. The one who, in the same way, called her last night when her daughter was sleeping.

Doctor Choi.

It was so long ago... And yet, Katherine remembers it as if it were yesterday when she left the scientist's laboratory with a baby in her womb. With Elena inside her body or, as Choi referred, with prototype number three.

Guilt began to creep into her body with each step she took toward the wooden door. The lies she had hidden from the person she loved the most in the entire world struck, without qualms, her mind. Without even being able to avoid it, thick tears came, rebellious, from both dark orbs as she was aware of the devastating future to which she was soon heading.

She had signed a contract and now she had to deliver what she loved most in that life.

Finally, she unbolted the entrance and opened it.

—Good morning, Katherine.

The aforementioned smiled at her with obvious sadness. —Good morning, Choi.

The mother gave space for the doctor to enter her home. Choi really smiled at her when she heard a female voice coming from the kitchen of the house.

—Now you know. —She said. —I have come for what belongs to me. I have come for Clara.

[...]

The atmosphere turned hopelessly horrible in a matter of minutes. The atmosphere that surrounded the three women inside the house was characterized by the immense tension that it exuded. And it was not for less, at the moment that Elena found out about everything. From the whole game, her mother was a part of even before she was born.

It was also incredible. Unimaginable. Yes, that was the right word to describe the mistake her mother had made so many years ago.

There was a moment in which Elena refused to believe any comment that came out of the mouth of the newly arrived visitor. It was more than obvious a phony that only wanted to take away from her mother. No, she had gone so far as to allow such atrocity towards the person she loved the most. So she wouldn't indulge her.

Her mother kept quiet from her position, just nodding to whatever Dr. Choi said. And Elena couldn't understand it yet. Did she not realize that the intruder was staining her image? Why was her mother all of a sudden in favor of that lady?

—As I see you don't believe me. —The scientist murmured. —Look at this. —And she handed her a paper with a signature on the end. It was a contract. And the signature belonged to her mother.

—What is it...? —The youngest of the three continued to read, letter by letter, what was stipulated on that sheet.

She could not believe the reality that, with brutality, hit her in the face like a bucket of cold water. She couldn't believe it. It couldn't be true.

—This can't be true... —She murmured with difficulty, looking at her mother. —Tell me it's not true. —But her mother did not answer her, but she began to cry.

Suddenly, Elena's entire world seemed to turn around, but at the same time, she seemed to break into a thousand pieces.

—I'm so sorry, Elena. —Katherine hiccupped in the middle of tears.

Then, patience ran out from one second to the next in her daughter's body.

—Do you even know everything I did for you?! —She snapped. —All these years, trying to find some way to come back to you, and find out what you were up to! Maybe it would have been better not to see you double-sided again, Mom. Because that's the only thing you know how to do. You are a fucking liar! —And she kept quiet. —A liar swallowing other people's money.

Sparks and flames of pure anger sprang from the eyes of the firstborn at the woman she had loved the most in her life. For the woman, she had committed a crime days ago. She really was disgusted to find out the real person who was her mother. She was completely disappointed.

—Leave her alone. —Dr. Choi ordered. —It's time for you to know your future life. I've missed you so much, Clara. —A tear slid down Choi's cheek.

Elena turned around and faced the scientist. —Sure, ma'am.

Choi moved her head at the young female's reply. —You know very well that that's not the way you should call me, Clara.

The aforementioned swallowed hard and nodded. It was true. That was her reality now, so she replied, staring at the doctor.

—It is right. But, my name is Elena, Mom.

—Well, not now. From this moment you will be Clara Choi. Let's go, honey. Let's go home, my daughter.

—Who is Clara Choi? —Elena asked in doubt caused by taking that unknown name as her own. But the doctor did not flinch at all. On the contrary, she ignored the question thrown by the youngest and she preferred to remain silent. It was a thorn still in her heart. Talking about Clara still hurts her in the depths of her soul.

With no apparent remorse on Choi's and Elena's expressions, they both disappeared holding hands through the door, leaving Katherine in complete solitude, who was crying on the living room floor.

She was left alone at the end of all.