Campus Memorial

Alex's head smashed against the wall as Professor Reed, still wearing Noah's face, pinned him by the throat.

"Where is the folder?" Reed asked, his grip tightening.

Alex clawed at the hands crushing his windpipe. Black spots danced in his view. He'd hidden the folder behind a paint cabinet before entering the studio, but he couldn't speak to tell Reed that.

Suddenly, the window shattered. Jasmine burst through the broken glass, swinging a fire extinguisher. She slammed it into Reed's head, and he fell to the floor.

"Alex! Run!" she screamed, grabbing his arm.

They raced through the dark building, alarm bells ringing from the broken window. Behind them, they could hear Reed screaming for security.

"Where's Emily?" Alex gasped as they ran.

Jasmine's face twisted with pain. "They got her. I saw them drag her into a van when she was coming to meet us."

Alex's gut dropped. "No!"

They burst out of the building into the cool night air. Campus security flashlights swept the area, looking for the intruders.

"We need to get to Ethan," Alex said. "He's not safe."

They took a path through the woods behind the science building. By the time they reached Ethan's room, Alex was shaking so badly he could barely use his key card.

Ethan was gone.

In his place was a note: They have Emily. Memorial service tomorrow at noon. Come alone or they both die.

Three days later, Alex stood in the back of the packed campus chapel. Students and teachers filled every seat for Emily's memorial service. At the front, a large photo of Emily's smiling face was surrounded by flowers.

Alex hadn't slept since that night in Reed's studio. The FBI had found no trace of Ethan or Emily. Professor Reed had vanished too, along with all evidence from his office. Even the folder Alex had hidden was gone when he went back for it.

"She can't really be dead," Jasmine whispered beside him, her eyes red from crying. "This has to be part of their plan."

Alex nodded, scanning the crowd for any sign of Reed or Ms. Vickers. "Stay alert. If they're watching, they'll expect us to do something."

Dean Phillips stepped up to the podium, his voice somber. "We gather today to remember Emily Chen, whose bright spirit was taken from us too soon."

The official story was that Emily had been killed in a hit-and-run accident off campus. Only Alex, Jasmine, and the FBI knew the truth—and even they didn't have the full picture.

As the dean spoke, Alex noticed Dr. and Mrs. Harrison slip into the chapel. They looked worried and exhausted. They'd reported Ethan missing, but the cops thought he'd just left campus without telling them. They had no idea about the danger he was in.

The memorial continued with Emily's teachers sharing memories of her. Each word felt like a knife in Alex's chest. This couldn't be real. Emily couldn't be gone.

"And now," the dean stated, "Emily's roommate would like to say a few words."

Alex froze as a familiar figure walked to the stage. It was Emily.

Gasps spread through the crowd. Mrs. Harrison clutched her husband's arm in confusion.

But Alex knew instantly it wasn't really Emily. Her walk was different, her smile too big. It was someone wearing Emily's face, just like Reed had worn Noah's.

"Thank you all for coming," fake-Emily said. "It means so much to see how many lives I touched."

Alex's hands curled into fists. He started moving toward the front, but Jasmine grabbed his arm.

"Wait," she hissed. "This might be our only chance to find out where they're keeping them."

Fake-Emily continued her speech, talking about treasured memories and future goals lost. It was a believable performance—anyone who didn't know Emily well would believe it.

Then she looked directly at Alex. "Some friends are so special they become family. Alex was like a brother to me. He would do anything to protect me."

The message was clear. They were watching him.

After the service, people collected in small groups, many looking confused about Emily's appearance after hearing she had died. The dean was hurriedly trying to explain that there had been a "misunderstanding."

Fake-Emily made her way toward Alex, giving that wrong smile.

"Wasn't that touching?" she said when she reached him. "So many people who care."

"Where are they?" Alex demanded quietly.

"All in good time." She slipped a piece of paper into his hand. "Follow these instructions exactly. Come alone."

"How do I know they're still alive?"

Fake-Emily pulled out a phone and showed him a movie. Ethan and the real Emily were tied to chairs in a dark room. Both looked terrified but alive.

"You have two hours," fake-Emily said. "Don't be late."

She walked away, leaving Alex holding the paper.

"What did she say?" Jasmine asked, rushing over.

Alex showed her the note. It had an address for an old plant outside town.

"We need to call the FBI," Jasmine said.

"No. They said to come alone."

"Alex, you can't trust them! It's a trap!"

"I don't have a choice!" Alex's voice broke. "They have Ethan. And Emily."

Jasmine grabbed his shoulders. "Then I'm coming with you."

"No, you need to stay here. If I'm not back by tonight, give this to the FBI." He gave her the USB drive he'd been carrying. It held everything they knew about Reed, Vickers, and the face-changers. "Promise me."

Reluctantly, Jasmine nodded.

The plant loomed against the gray sky like a metal monster. Alex approached slowly, his heart beating so loud he was sure they could hear it inside.

The main door was opened. He stepped into a vast, empty place filled with shadows and rust. His footsteps echoed on the concrete floor.

"Hello?" he called. "I'm here. Alone."

A door creaked open on the far side of the room. Ethan stumbled through, his hospital gown replaced by jeans and a t-shirt, his face pale but determined.

"Alex! Run! It's a trap!" Ethan shouted.

But Alex was already running—toward Ethan, not away. He wasn't leaving without him.

Before he could reach Ethan, the lights blazed on. Alex squinted against the sudden light. When his eyes adjusted, he saw they weren't alone.

Twenty identical faces stared back at him. Twenty Noahs. Each one exactly the same, standing in perfect rows.

And walking between them, smiling proudly, was Professor Reed—wearing his own face this time.

"Welcome, Alex," Reed said. "I've been waiting to show you my greatest creation."

Ethan managed to reach Alex's side, gripping his arm for support. "They're not masks," he whispered. "They're clones."

Reed laughed. "Not quite. But close enough."

From another door, Ms. Vickers emerged, leading a handcuffed Emily.

"What do you want from us?" Alex asked.

"Want? My dear boy, I want you to join us." Reed pointed to the Noah army. "Your artistic talent combined with my scientific breakthroughs... we could change the world."

"By replacing people? Creating fake identities?" Ethan's voice was shaking with anger.

"By creating perfection." Reed snapped his fingers, and the Noahs moved in perfect unison. "Imagine—soldiers who never question orders. Celebrities who never age. Politicians who say exactly what we want them to say."

"You're insane," Alex said.

Reed sighed. "I was afraid you might feel that way." He pulled out a gun and pointed it at Emily's head. "That's why I needed insurance."

Before anyone could move, the building doors burst open. FBI agents poured in, guns drawn.

"FBI! Freeze!"

Chaos occurred. The Noahs scattered in different ways. Ms. Vickers dragged Emily behind a stack of boxes. Reed grabbed Ethan, pressing the gun to his head.

"Nobody move!" Reed yelled. "Or I'll kill him!"

The agents froze. Alex raised his hands slowly.

"Let him go," Alex begged. "This is between you and me."

"Oh, Alex," Reed said, smiling. "It always has been."

And then Reed's face started to change. The features melted and changed, reforming into a new face—one that made Alex's blood run cold.

It was his father's face. His father, who had apparently died in the same fire as his sister.

"Dad?" Alex whispered.

"Hello, son," the man said in his father's voice. "Ready for a family reunion?"