Chapter Three

The Truth Revealed

"You're supposed to be dead!" I screamed, my eyes filled with tears.

"Now, now Aya. A daughter shouldn't talk to her father like that should she?"

"You're not my father!" I cried "My father would never dream of hurting me! My father was loving and caring. He would sit in the meadow with me... Make me flower crowns..." I smiled fondly at the memory. I realised what I was doing and quickly refocused on what was happening. "Aya, my darling Aya, I'm not here to argue. I'm here to ask you something. Call it... A business proposition, shall we?" My face twisted as his revolting words sunk in. "Now, don't look at me like that." He sighed. He looked almost upset by my grimaced expression. "It ruins your pretty face."

"No. Whatever it is. A thousand times no. Now get me out of these stupid ties!" I tried to wriggle my hands out of the rope they were tied in behind my back.

"Aya, you're tied up pretty well there, you're not going to break free of those." He chuckled, clearly proud of his work. "Right, now let's get on with it. I want you to come back with me, Aya. I know you and I are the same. I didn't want you to take the same path as me but now I realise we can achieve greatness together." He took his glasses off and looked me in the eye.

"Untie me, please." I commanded, but timidly. I looked up at father. "Please."

He sighed again. "Okay, hold still." He took a knife from his pocket and slashed the rope open so my arms were free. I stood up. He gave me a cautioned look, as if he was warning me. "We can achieve greatness, together." He repeated, as he held out his hand. Instantaneously, I slapped his hand away and grabbed the knife from his other. "Move." He didn't. "I said move!" I tried to hide my shaky grip around the knife, but he'd already noticed. He smiled at me warmly. "Aya, I would like you to meet Nina." He looked towards the door and in came a girl. Same age as me, same colour eyes, same hair... In fact... She was exactly like me. "She- she's a..." I stammered.

"Yes. A clone." Father said, fascinated to see my reaction.

"I'm you." She gave me a wicked grin.

"H-h-how?"

"It doesn't matter how, she's amazing isn't she! Just beautiful, like you of course." He seemed genuinely excited. I felt bile rise up in my throat. This is sickening. Anger surged through me once again. I'm going to kill you. I'm going to make sure you stay dead this ti-

"I didn't like the name Aya. Too... Sweet. So I chose the name Nina for myself." She gave me that evil smile once more. "Oh, by the way, your boyfriend, Dio or whatever it is. Yeah, well you won't be seeing him again!" She started cackling.

I can't listen to this. I pointed the knife in their faces once again and they jumped back in surprise, leaving me a small gap to escape from. I took my chance. I dropped the knife, and jolted out the door. Without thinking, I started running down the hallway, which seemed to get longer and longer. "Agh!"

Dio.

I ran towards the sound of the cry. "Where are you?!" I panicked. "Dio?!"

"W-what? Agh!" He screeched. It came from the garden. I sprinted towards the back door and swung it open, where I immediately locked my eyes on him. I ran over. As I got closer, I noticed blood. A lot of it. "No. Don't come any closer! Stay back!" What? I don't understand? Why is he scared of me? "Wh- Why?" I gasped as I realised. Nina. "Dio, this wasn't me." As I explained, I looked at the knife plunged into his stomach. "Father. He made a-another me." I noticed his expression "I know it sounds stupid but you have to believe me. Oh Dio, I'm so sorry!" I broke down in tears. "I don't want to do this anymore!" I rested my forehead on his, still sobbing. As I did so, I heard Nina chuckling. Getting louder and louder.

"And this is your entire fault." She nodded towards Dio.

"Nina, let's not torture the poor girl." Father said disapprovingly. Her laughter faded. "I take your abrupt exit as a no to my proposal then?" I ignored him, attempting to help Dio.

"Aya," he growled "If you don't come with me now, I'll make sure he dies. Right here, right now. You can watch."

I looked up at him, teary-eyed. "How could you be so cruel?"

"Just come, Aya, and he'll live."

I returned my glance to Dio. I kissed him on the forehead, then got up to join father.

"Aya! No don't do this!" I daren't look back at him. I couldn't.

"Good girl." Father smiled. "Come, Aya."

I'm sorry, Dio. I thought. Hoping to God he could hear me.