10

I don't even know why I felt a little better.

I run into the alley and... run into Enrique, almost hitting him with a giant iron hook.

— Hey, hey, hey!—He immediately raised his hands.—Careful, I'm not one of those programmed clones, Darek...—

Enrique grabbed my arms.

— You look like a psychopath... Dariusz!—Enrique takes me further away, onto some boxes, and wraps me in his poncho.

The warmth calms me down a little.

— Cornelius...—I say hoarsely, trying not to cry.—Mariusz... Mariusz did something to him... He's not who he was...—

The Indian hugged me.

— This guy is not your brother, trust me. It's a replicant, I was hoping to tell you that, but when Lizzie and I got there, I..... I realized that I need to save you. Let's get this off you...—He took out a device that looked something like ordinary human lockpicks.

— Replicant... I don't understand what it is! What did Mariusz do to Cornelius?— I coughed when the collar fell on the asphalt.

— It's not your brother, it's a clone printed on a replication tri-d printer. If you insert an engine into such a clone, it will live...— Enrique went somewhere around the corner.

I got up and followed him, because the desire to sit was gone.

— Darek, don't get up!—Enrique turned around and immediately grabbed my arm.— What if he injected you with some of the poisons or could have mixed something into your food...—

— Don't worry, I didn't eat or drink.—I said.

— Haven't eaten or drunk for three days?—Enrique whistled.—Where's that replicant left? Did you kill him?—

— No. I am... I can't do it! There's a lock on the door that's heavily pressed in from the inside, the door can't be opened. You have to climb into that house through the window...—I took the shirt from Enrique's hand.— Was I really there for three days?—

— More precisely, even four. It's almost half past three in the afternoon. We need to go back and kill him.—Enrique took out a pair of large knives.— Then we'll take care of your wounds...—

— Enrique, I told you I can't!—I looked at the weapon in my hand.— The brain is easy to convince, but the heart... My heart won't understand why I'm killing the brother I've been looking for for so long...—

— It's a replicant. Teach your heart to understand this...—

***

We returned to this house.

— Will you give me a lift? I climb first.—Enrique said.

— Okay, just don't forget to wait for me.— I bent down so that Enrique could climb through the window, stepping on my back.— Damn it... You're so heavy...—

I looked at my own reflection in the broken, bloodstained glass. The eyes are dark gray now, the bruises under the eyes are still much darker than the eyes themselves. The glass cuts on his cheek were woven into a strange hieroglyph.

— Stop looking at yourself.—Enrique waved his hand at the other side.— The door is welded here, but he's not here!

— Are you sure?— I jumped out the window, holding his hand.— I broke his skull!—

— Darek! You shouldn't consider him human! You...—Enrique started when he heard a creak.

— You know, Dariusz... Your friend is not as dumb as you are...— There was a voice behind me.

A sharp pain burned my side.

I pulled out the knife that Cornelius (no, the replicant!) He pulled it out of my hand and stuck it in my stomach.

Now, up close, when we were desperately trying to hurt each other, I noticed how unnatural his mask was.

Enrique threw a knife at this doppelganger and screamed:

— Kill him, Darek! Kill him!—

With all my strength, I swing the knife into the replicant's throat.

A white-green liquid pours down my arms, my brother's doppelganger desperately snatches the knife from me.

Enrique comes up to us at a brisk pace and cuts the throat of the doppelganger.

— That's what needed to be done. Here is the main cable that supplies power to this ugly puppet.—

I feel nausea rising in my throat.

— How are you?—Enrique looked at me.— Don't try to pass out! I can't get you out the window.—

— I know...—