CLONE • E.D

6

" hey dad? " I drop my fork on my plate and look up at my dad who's all dressed up for work and ready to leave.

We were having breakfast and I wanted to go with dad today to check on Ethan.

I haven't been able to sleep last night because all I thought about was him and how he probably felt all alone with no one by his side as he tries to deal with the constant pain.

I knew that he was in pain. And I wanted to stay with him and get him out of there, but I don't know how I would be able to do that without getting caught.

All that I could do now is just check on him and try to figure out how to get into his cell to maybe make him feel like not everyone here is bad.

He wants revenge on everybody because he has never seen anything good come out of us.

And I made it my mission to change that.

" are you going to just stare at me? " I avert my attention back on my dad who's got an eyebrow raised at me.

" um, I have nothing to do today, so I thought maybe you could take me to work with you? " I ask once I realize that I've zoned out for a little too long and wait for his reaction.

I knew that he was going to be shocked since I've always hated going to work with him, but this is a different case. I had to go.

" never thought I'd hear you say that, but sure. Nancy is going to be there anyway " he flashes me a wide smile and I flash him a quick one before excusing myself and running up to my room to get changed.

••••••

I was even more anxious and nervous than I was yesterday while walking in with my dad by my side.

" morning Andrew " one of my dad's work mates greets once he passes by us and gives me a quick smile, greeting me too on the way.

I flashed him a smile back and immediately turned to my dad who's already looking at me.

" come, I think I know where na-"

" no dad, it's fine, I just want to walk around for a bit on my own. I'll look for her when I get bored " I reassure him as I hesitantly tap his shoulder and smile at him.

I was still mad and angry with him, but I had to act like I wasn't so that I'd be able to come with him and also so he wouldn't notice why I always wanted to come.

Maybe he's just a Clone, but he's the only living clone that is complete and has the mind of an actual human being, and they're taking that for granted.

He acts like us, looks like us and even thinks like us and this is what they do, use him as an experiment tool to make more of him.

" before I go, do you know where Ansel is? " I ask dad and he gives me a weird, i took that as my cue to make up a lie as quick as possible.

" I have a really light headache, so I want to check if he's got something to help " I smile and his shoulders slump down.

" he's in his lab. Don't be late " I nod at him and start racing towards Ansel's lab.

Ansel helps the scientists here when they have a question that has to do with medicine. He's also the healer. Whenever a scientist messes up or something, they'd go to Ansel and he'd always heal them.

Ansel is also very sweet. When I was little, he'd take me to his lab and teach me what everything in the first aid kit was for and how it's used on people.

" good morning " I press on the red button outside of Ansel's lab and get in once the door swings open by itself to let me in.

He stands up straight and removes his lab goggles, a smile forming on his lips once he sees me.

" haven't seen you in a while " he chuckles and I giggle as I give him a quick hug and pull back, my eyes scanning the place for a first aid kit.

I was already running out of patience.

" do you need anything? " he asks and I nod, pointing at a first aid kit once my eyes land on its white box with a Red Cross over it.

" a first aid kit? Why? Is everything okay? " I rolled my eyes and nodded again at him.

Ansel really cared about me, so whenever I'd come here and ask for anything, he'd get worried and ask if I hurt myself.

Which I find really nice of him, but it's also annoying sometimes.

" yes Ansel, everything's okay, I just wanted to check if I remember what you taught me last year " I lie, a nervous chuckle escapes my lips to cover up for lie.

Fortunately, he falls for it and hands me the white medical box.

" thanks " I thank him before walking back towards the door.

" don't hurt yourself! " he yells and I shrug at him.

" I can't promise you that! " I yell back once I exit the lab and wait until I'm out of his sight.

I didn't want anyone seeing me run through the building because they'll probably get suspicious and think that something's up with me.

I didn't really need all that attention on me, especially not now.