omg you guys I'm
sooo sorry it took so long. I've been totally stuck w/ this one. Anyway, here
it is.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"Vaughn... what's going on?" I whispered, not taking my eyes away
from the empty space.
"Nothing. Nothing's going on. I think that's the problem..." he
answered, awe in his voice.
"How... how did this happen?"
Vaughn shrugged, shaking his head.
"I believe I can answer that for you, Mr. Vaughn," a voice called
from behind us.
We turned instantly and found ourselves looking at a familiar face framed by
dark brown hair.
"Mom!" I exclaimed.
She smirked. "Sydney. And so the reunion continues. Really, sweetie. I don't see you
for 30 years and when we finally meet again, you run right back to L.A,"
she paused, as if wondering if she should make her next comment. "To be
with him. " She gestured to Vaughn and spat out "him"
like a dirty word.
"Don't use that tone about Vaughn," I demanded.
She smiled. "Ah, stubborn and forceful. Reminds me of someone."
"Sydney is nothing like you," Vaughn
returned the coldness.
"You too, Mr. Vaughn. Michael, is it? Yes, I remember. You're just like
him, you know. You may not remember. You were young. But I remember everything.
He stood strong, acting brave, just like you. It wasn't until that last moment
that he broke down. He talked about his family. That's how I know you."
"You don't know me at all..." Vaughn whispered and stepped backward.
Irena had struck a nerve.
"Leave him alone. Tell us what happened to the Circumference."
Irena laughed. "Oh, it's gone. In fact, I destroyed it. It had no
purpose."
"What?" I couldn't believe what she'd just said.
"That's right. It's just a trap. I needed to bring you to me. Set up some
fake clues, built the silly contraption to look just like the original, and
finally, forced that rat boy Haladki to not tell anything about the impossibility
of a second Circumference if he was questioned. Cowardly, jackass of a human
being, that one. Very easy to manipulate."
I was stunned. "So... we came all the way out here... for nothing. Nothing
but your sick pleasure for messing with our minds and emotions?"
"Oh, no. I wanted to see you. That didn't work out in Taipei. If at first you don't succeed.... Also,
I needed to speak with Mr. Vaughn here."
Vaughn blinked his expression unreadable. "What could you possibly have to
say to me? Unless it's an apology for killing my father, I don't particularly
care."
"I didn't kill your father, Mr. Vaughn."
Vaughn smirked. "Oh, you're going to deny it? How someone as cold as you
could possibly have the same blood flowing through her veins as a person as
incredible as Sydney-" he stopped, blushing.
I couldn't help but smile.
My mother continued, unaffected. "Oh, that was sweet, Mr. Vaughn. But I'm
not denying anything. I killed William Vaughn, this is true. But I did not kill
your father."
"Wh...what?" Vaughn asked softly.
"Your father was killed by SD-6 when you were three years old. William
Vaughn is not your father."
TO BE CONTINUED...