15 The perfect double

SHAY

Detective Oliver was covered with his father's blood. Tori was sitting beside a stoic Rachel.

I feel like I was watching the scene in front of me from a movie.

We rushed George Oliver to the medical building. The bullet has pierced him deeply in the chest, narrowly missing his heart.

I wanted to comfort the Detective, but I was quite aware that I was the last person that he would want to see right now.

Gratefully, the guy beside him, whom I had come to know as Ronald, seemed to be doing a decent job consoling the Detective.

Sensing that I wasn't needed while the family was awaiting the surgery result, I decided to make myself useful.

My stomach was grumbling. We barely had eaten anything before the incident.

I looked back towards Rafael. He hasn't lifted his head ever since the doctor had offered a little reassurance of his father making it out alive a few hours ago.

"Hang in there, Detective." I silently said, wishing I could whisper that to him.

I took a deep breath and began trudging my way towards the snack center to grab some food and water for our little crew.

I hardly recognized the familiarity of the medical building. I used to work here, and yet, it felt strange to be walking on the familiar hallway, passing by stations and a few random staff on duty.

Partly, I was blaming myself for what happened.

Maybe if I didn't agree to take part in Detective Oliver's plan, none of this would have happened. His father wouldn't have been shot, and I would still be back in Zone C4 with Stella, who, I'd like to believe, might be the one having a honeymoon right now.

The other part of me knew that the Detective was aware of the dangers he had gotten himself and his loved ones into. He was pursuing both a notorious criminal and an evasive villain, after all.

But I can't help thinking: what if I told him of my secrets? Would that have changed anything?

I shook my head. Probably not.

It wouldn't have done him any good to learn about them right now.

It wouldn't have done him any good. Period.

I managed to make it to the snack center, which was fairly deserted almost all the time.

I took a mini basket by the entrance and grabbed some crackers and five water bottles. I was almost at the counter when a hooded figure had suddenly blocked my path.

Catching sight of the familiar person hiding under the black sweatshirt, my hold on the basket instantly went slack, spilling the contents across the floor, creating a mess.

My hands were trembling. My entire body was almost numb with dread.

"You." I said, taking a step back, my heart instantaneously reacting to the hooded individual's sudden appearance.

"It's been a while, Shay." I took another step back, wanting to get away and put as much space as possible between us.

A small smile began to spread across her face.

It has been twenty years since I last saw her. And I shouldn't be seeing her right now either.

"Or should I rather call you by your real name? Right, Ava?"

"What are you doing?" I barely heard myself, my voice dropping to an audible whisper.

The hooded figure, whom I shared the same striking resemblance, merely laughed quietly as she strode towards me.

I took several steps back until there was nothing to step back to. I found myself pressed against the door of the fridge for energy drinks, my breaths coming to an irregular rhythm.

"What I should have done a long time ago." Her eyes bore into mine, no warmth nor kindness ever visible.

"You shouldn't be here. This isn't right." I stated though I knew it wasn't enough to stop her.

"Isn't it? You stole my life from me, Ava, and I watched it helplessly for what felt like an eternity".

Finally closing the space I had tried to create between us, she poked a finger on my chest.

"But now, I'm going to take it back."

--

"Shay, meet Ava. Ava, this is Shay". A girl of about the same age as I, bearing an identical puzzled stare, stood before me.

Except for some scars on her face, she rather looked beautiful.

"Why does she look like me?" The other girl looked up at Marcus, her expression accusatory.

She didn't seem pleased to meet me at all.

"Didn't you want a sibling, Shay?"

"No, no!" The other girl started screaming, throwing a tantrum while I watched them from the safety of my prison, which was made of glass, completely unbothered.

I gasped, opening my eyes to a white room with bright lights. I began to panic, frantically pulling out the oxygen and dextrose attached to my body.

"Shay." I heard a familiar voice when a door flung open.

I stumbled out of bed, falling on the floor.

"Shay!" Strong hands were suddenly helping me to my feet.

I was about to fight my way free when I found myself staring into Detective Oliver's deep blue eyes.

I suddenly felt weak; my body sagged under his hold.

I shut my eyes close, willing the tears to go away.

I let him put me back on the bed, allowing myself to recover from the sudden lash out.

Blood was dripping from where I had yanked the dextrose from my hand, which was still trembling.

Detective Oliver noticed the trail. Fishing a handkerchief from his suit jacket, he gently wrapped it around the wound.

I suddenly felt conscious, wearing nothing but a piece of clothing provided by the medical building.

"How's your dad?" I asked, masking my embarrassment.

"He's safe now. The surgery went well. We'll just have to wait until he wakes up".

I felt relieved.

"What happened?" Detective Oliver searched my face. I shook my head, devoiding myself of a trip down memory lane and telling him what really went down at the snack center.

"Nothing. The shock of the events from earlier must have caught up to me."

"I'm sorry, Shay. This wasn't part of the plan".

I shook my head once again.

"You have nothing to apologize for."

"Still. Listen, I know this might sound selfish or heartless, but I think the plan is working. The closer we are to catching Marcus, the faster it will be for all of this to be over, the better for us".

Partly he was right. But partly, there was only a slight chance of him ever catching Marcus Zephanie and the closer the detective thinks he is, the more dangerous things would get.

What happened to his father earlier was only the beginning. Things were bound to get uglier from here on out.

I had no plans of getting myself involved with either the detective's or Marcus' business. However, I can't stand to witness more unnecessary deaths. Besides, I think one loss was already enough for the Olivers. I think having another one would be too much.

I stared into the Detective's eyes, imploring it, searing it in my memory.

"I think that we should stop all of this, Detective. You will only inflict more danger to your family the more that you get yourself involved."

I grabbed his right hand and thought carefully about what I would say next.

"I'll find Marcus. But I will do it on my own. I promise to bring him to you, but you have to trust me."

"No." Detective Oliver shook his head defiantly.

"I can't let you do that, Shay."

Going against my own words of keeping my relationship with the detective professional, I put a hand on his cheek, compelling his full attention.

"I didn't care about any of this before. I still wouldn't have." I paused, making sure my emotions were in check.

"I care about you, Rafael. I can't let Marcus or X kill you too. I can't afford to lose you. So, please, let me do this. I beg you".

I watched as the Detective carefully removed my hands from his face, bringing it to his lips, looking back into my eyes right after.

"I care about you too, Shay." He paused, holding my gaze.

It was at this moment that I knew, there was no turning back for me or for the detective.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that, Shay. At least not on your own. If we're going to catch Marcus and X, we'll do it together. I wouldn't have it any other way".

Though I was not able to convince Rafael, I felt a heavy burden was suddenly lifted off of my shoulders.

If I'm going to have any regrets later on, I'll make sure that this moment would never be a part of it.