It had been a full three weeks. Fiona, or, rather, Eve, had been distant. Jonas had spent the entire time grieving. Both for the loss of Eve, and for the loss of Fiona, to her becoming Eve's persona. They were dead. All of them. He could not get that thought out of his mind. He had thought that the release was a taxing thing to understand. He had thought that the weight he bore on his shoulders was more than enough. Apparently not. He now bore the knowledge that his entire life was some damn science project. A failed science project – one that had been shut down, at the expense of the lives of all those subjects who he knew, and even came to love. Caught in his thoughts of grief, he hardly noticed the knock at his door. "Jonas?" he knew the voice. Knew it better that any in the world. This was the voice of the one who he loved. The only one left of the two twins, who he had cared for more than life itself. Were it not for Dr. Sheele, Jonas would have returned anyway. He had had to see her, one last time. He had thought it was for Alexander, and it was. The giver had become everything to him. Before his life in elsewhere, the giver was his home. He was a father to Jonas, and his closest friend. He had thought that was why he had gone back – back to the community. It was more than that. When he had left, four years prior, he had thought there would be no change. He had known that change brought pain. He knew this from personal experience. He knew that the community would never accept change, and quite possible kill all those who did. Much to his surprise, all that did happen – the community "released" many who defied them and followed the giver, but much went according to plan. Those who weren't released stood and fought, overthrowing the elders, and they were forced out. The community was reborn, as something not unalike the real world that was "elsewhere."
"Jonas, it's F – its Eve… can I come in?" he didn't respond. He knew she would enter anyway, so why bother responding? As he had thought, the door opened. She came and sat next to him on his bed. A few minutes past in silence. He loved her, he knew, but he had loved her sister, as well. How could he bring himself to tell her how much he cared, when the last time he had done so had led to the sacrifice of Eve's life for his own. Yes, he knew she, of all people had held her free will above all other qualities. Her independent nature that brought him to love her as so much more than the ghost of his past that now sat next to him, having taken Eve's place. He knew it was not a choice Fiona would have made under other circumstances, but he knew she would not bring their surrogate family – Eve's family, grief. He thought of what he had gained, since escaping the world of the community. He had gained the ability to love. He had gained people who loved him. And he had lost the one who he cared for most, in this world. Was she to forever be replaced by her sister, the one he loved most in his old world? Was he to come to know this girl for whom he had felt the stirrings all those years ago, as Eve? He knew he loved them both. He knew they held equal status in his heart, but Eve was gone… was he supposed to just forget? He turned to the twin who he had known since his birth, and yet never really known, until four weeks ago. "Fiona…" "it's Eve now, Jonas." His eyes hardened. "How can you say that? Must I grief the loss of both of you! Must I know that Eve is dead, and that Fiona has taken her place, never again to be just Fiona? How can I ever come to love you, if you will not be you? How can I ever love… knowing it was me that brought her to do as she had done…" Fiona, as she would always be to him, held her arms out to him. His grief overtook his anger, and he collapsed into her arms, clutching to her for support, as he cried. After he had calmed down, Jonas couldn't help but chuckle mentally. "If she could see me now…" "Hmm?" "Eve, she always thought that it was my unbreakable serene attitude that made me… desirable. She said that it was that I always kept my cool, no matter the situation… And now look at me." She clutched him tighter, as he wept uncontrollably once more. although in the presence of Eve's mother and sister, he had always kept cool, for their sakes, he was anything but. He refused to show this side of himself to anyone. Not Gabe, not Lilly. This was the first time he had grieved openly. Something in him hated the weakness he was showing. The giver had bestowed upon him the mission of changing the community because he was strong, and determined. Now, he was nothing more than a tiny insignificant speck, washed about on a sea of other insignificant specks, and none of which he knew. He felt only three things, in this new manner of living. Sadness, for the loss of everything he ever cared for, fear, for the feeling that the infrastructure, the group of scientists that had run the community project loomed over him, waiting to pounce, and helplessness, that he was nothing more than a robot with a serial number. Nothing more than an amoeba on a petri dish. Fiona pulled him from her by the shoulders, so that they were looking into each other's eyes. "Jonas…" Fiona pulled him into a kiss. Although he didn't return the kiss, he let it happen. When they broke, Fiona had tears in her eyes. "I love you." She said, her voice broken. He refused to return that love, despite the feelings she knew he had for her. "And I you. But, knowing that my actions have caused the deaths of so many, including your sister, I cannot whole heartedly return that love. There is too much pain in me for there to be space for your heart." Without another word, he got up, and left the room. Fiona did not follow. Although she could not empathize with what Jonas felt he had done, she could not be angry at him. She knew he was going through something she would never quite understand. With all the memories of grief and guilt the giver had given Jonas, nothing could compare to the current feeling. 'Alexander… I wish you were here. You would know what to do.' He thought. He headed downstairs to leave – to get some fresh air and clear his head, and as he headed down, as Diana, Eve's surrogate sister, headed up. So caught up in his own world was he, that he failed to notice the rather large knife in her hand. He headed outside, shutting the door behind him.
Back inside Jonas' room
Fiona sat on his bed, forcing herself not to cry. She understood why he had left, but she was nevertheless heartbroken. Yet, somehow, what hurt her more was seeing the hurt in his eyes, knowing that he was in pain. Lost in thought, it was her turn not to notice the woman who was her surrogate sister walking into the room with a knife. In the past three weeks, eve was not herself. Then again, neither was Jonas, so, originally, Diana put it off as they needed time to revive from a traumatic event. However, eve was not herself, and Diana had found something in Jonas' possession that proved her suspicions. For the past few days, she had seen him enter the small wooded area of their back yard, and return an hour later. One day, when he returned, she went looking for where he had gone. She had had her suspicions then, that he had some grave for his lost love out there, she just wanted to see it, considering Fiona could be considered a sister she never knew. She followed his footprints in the muddy spring ground, and when hen she got to the center clearing, she was greeted with an impressive sight. 'I knew he was good in woodworking when he brought that wooden toy car home for Gabe…' it was a large, however simple headstone, most likely ironwood in making, carved into it are intricately lettered words.
Fiona
Although she lies not beneath this ground,
Within our hearts she rests peacefully forever.
The letters of the name were raised, and flowery; very old English, and the letters of the epitaph were engraved into the wood in a similar font. A rather large breeze alighted the area, and that was when it happened. A dead branch blew down, knocking against the back of the headstone. Her first thought was of Jonas' despair when he discovered the finish was scratched, but then her eyes settled on the barely visible seam around the name 'Fiona.' It appeared that the name was covering something, and, despite her respect for Jonas, and those he mourned for, she had to know if the fear of what was behind the name was a rational one. Using her nails, she slowly, carefully removed the name plate. When she got it out, she was greeted with a folded piece of paper. She took the paper out, and read it:
Washington, D.C.
Sent : Report Comm. Project Annihilation to D-34762, Tuesday, May 19, 2150
Received : 8:01 a.m. EST
SERIAL NUMBER 9-20162… searching…
CONFIRMING E-CHIP CIRCUIT SHORTAGE …
found… NAINA, CONFIRMED
SERIAL NUMBER 9-11073… searching…
CONFIRMING E-CHIP CIRCUIT SHORTAGE…
found… KATHARINE, CONFIRMED
SERIAL NUMBER 9-60035… searching…
CONFIRMING E-CHIP CIRCUIT SHORTAGE…
found… FIONA… UNCONFIRMED
SERIAL NUMBER 9-60036… searching…
CONFIRMING E-CHIP CIRCUIT SHORTAGE…
found… EVE, CONFIRMED
I once told Diana when I was eight years old that family meant more to me than anything. I would give anything to see them happy, them before myself or anyone else. I would die for them.
I'm thankful that the time has come when I can prove my words. I may not have known it then, but I understand it now better than ever. There is destiny, and there is fate. I was taken seventeen years ago, to escape a world of dull and lifeless existence. Fate. I went back three days ago, to see my sister, my family. Destiny. I decided only five minutes ago that she was more than worth my words.
You couldn't have known, and you couldn't have stopped me. But you have to believe me when I say I have no regrets and no fear. In these last few minutes, I think only of the people I'm giving my life to. I was given the chance to live, and I now give that chance equally, to a certain twin who was robbed of her first love and her best friend.
Love,
Eve
Her terror was confirmed. She looked up into the half centimeter deep hole was in the headstone, and, she was unsurprised by what she saw. Behind the name of Jonas' Fiona, lay the true name of the one who had passed.
Eve