The second another
When Lola came back into the lounge, she saw Jessica with her hands over her mouth and giggling. She sat down next to her daughter and put a hand on her shoulder. Jessica just looked up.
"What's so funny?" Lola asked.
"The fact that you need another drink. You've been talking so much you've probably made your throat dry." Jessica replied. Lola giggled a little.
"Well I'm not finished yet."
"How much longer until your story is finished?"
"Not much longer."
"Anyway, where did the door lead you?"
"Have a guess."
"Another hallway?"
"Yep…"
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The fourth hallway only had a couple of doors. One directly ahead at the end of the corridoe and one just to the right of that door. The door at the end was locked so we had to go into the other room. This led to Brett's room. It was by far the largest room in the house. Dead ahead of me was a table and two sofas. There was also a desk on the far end of the room. To the left was a fireplace. There was a portrait above the fireplace. The portrait was of three rabbits. The middle one was much older than the other two and was holding a cane.
"Who is this?" I asked. A then remembered who the person was.
"That's my great-grandfather" A replied. I had a look at the rabbit on the left. There were no defining features of him.
"Who is this?" Again, A remembered who it was.
"That man, he's my father."
"Your dad?"
"Yes, I remember now. Dad brought me into this room. My great-grandfather was sleeping in bed. We walked up to him and he slowly opened his eyes andlooked at us. He gave us both a sad smile. Dad held his hand and started to cry. It was the first time I had ever seen him cry." MFinally, I had a look at the other person. Again, there was nothing special about him.
"A, do you remember who this is?" A then remembered, but it was a shocking memory.
"That's therabbit in the black jumper."
"Your father's killer!"
"Yes."
"Who is he?"
"He's…uncle George."
"So that's George."
"Yes, I'm certain it was him."
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"So, A's father was killed by A's Uncle." Jessica exclaimed.
"Yes, shocking I know." Lola replied.
"I think that's taking sibling rivalry to the extreme."
"Kind of, I suppose."
"So, the killer of A's father is finally unmasked."
"And I suppose that he could finally rest in peace after that discovery."
"Anyway, was there anything else in the room?"
"There was something in the desk…"
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We went over tto the desk and had a look in the drawers. We found one of the drawers locked. There was a motif of a golden bird on the locked drawer.
"Lola, I think the golden bird key wilol unlock this drawer." A said.
"It's worth a try." I replied. I tried using the golden bird key and unlocked the drawer. The drawer was unlocked and I opened it. There was a old looking book in the drawer.
"A diary." I exclaimed. I had a look at the inside cover and found a name.
"The diary belonged to Brett Rabbit." I said.
"My great-grandfather." A added.
"Shall we have a read?"
"Sure." I took out the diary and began reading the final entry.
"May 1948
I believe my time has finally come. I shall write down my thoughts while I am still able to hold a pen. Foremost on my mind is that sunny day 32 years ago. That was the day I first held George and Richard in my arms. It is hard to believe that these men were once so small. It was that day I received a letter of reconcilation from my son. Unfortunately, the letter had come too late. When I had learned of his death my heart was filled with regret. The boys are another chance for me to make peace with my son. Their innocent smiles is an image I'll never forget. They lightened my heart. On that day, I decided to raise them as my own. I loved them more than anything in the whole world. I wished them nothing but happiness. It became my life's purpose to give them good lives. They set my heart free. They were my birds of happiness. They both grew up healthy and happy, as I had hoped. They both chose their own paths like their father. I made certain that I dodn't repeat the mistake that I'd made with their father. I set them free to chase their dreams. George went on to become an artist and Richard became a writer. Even though I would be alone, I wished them all the luck in the world. Unfortunately, just as their dreams were coming true, my hopes were shattered. We had entered the war and both of them were sent off to fight. I had been saving a large ammount of gold for them, but the military confiscated all of it. I felt powerless. All I could do was hope for the war to end soon and that both George and Richard would safely return. When the war finally ended, they were returned to me. Unfortunately, both my birds were hurt and had lost their wings. George had lost his right arm, his painting arm. Richard had lost part of his heart. He no longer trusted anyone. Just like when I had first held them 32 years ago I embraced them both with my old arms. Then I wept, hoping beyond all hope for a quick recovery. But now, I wonder if I had acted correctly. My heart is filled with regrets and sorrow, just like when my son died. However, this time I don't have those innocent smiles to wipe those regrets away."
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"That was all one entry?" Jessica asked.
"Yep, all one entry." Lola replied.
"I'm glad you didn't read the whole diary or we'd be here all night."
"We would, anyway, how do you feel?"
"I feel fine now. This story has really helped."
"That's good."
"But I'll still get an early night tonight though."
"Wise. When will you head to bed?"
"When you finish or when dad gets back, whichever comes second."
"Ok, I'll try and finish before your dad gets back…"
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While I was looking around, I noticed a circular tin on the table. The tin had several slits near the top.
"A, what is this?" I asked.
"It's a Zoetrope." A replied.
"Zoe…trpoe?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"You haven't seen one before?"
"No."
"You spin the outside of the Zoetrope counter-clockwise and look through the slits."
"And what does that do?"
"You should see something interesting."
"Cool, I should try that." I spun the Zoetrope like A said and looked through the slits, but saw nothing.
"What did you see?" A asked.
"Nothing." I replied.
"Huh?"
"Are you sure something is supposed to happen?"
"You should see something."
"Then why can't I?" A had a look in the Zoetrope.
"Ah, that's why."
"Why?"
"No paper."
"Paper?"
"You need to fit a special Zoetrope paper inside the Zoetrope to make it work."
"What would it look like?"
"Well, it often comes in a roll."
"Hey, I remember a roll of paper back in the art room."
"That must be it then." We made the long treck back to the art room and found the Zoetrope paper in the storage box where I found the hammer. Then I made the long treck back to the Zoetrope to see if it would work this time.
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"You were certinly getting your exercise on that day." Jessica joked.
"I suppose I was thinking about it." Lola replied.
"I now know why you're so fit."
"But I was tired afterwards."
"I seem to remember that you weren't feeling too well that morning. How did you feel at that time?"
"A little better but I was still a little ill."
"But that didn't put you off."
"No it didn't."
"Anyway, what did you see in the Zoetrope?"
"Let me think…"
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I put the Zoetrope paper into the Zoetrope and started spinning it again. When the Zoetrope was spinning as fast as it could, I looked through the slits. I saw a picture of a bush with six flowers. A bird then flew between five of the flowers in a certain direction.
"What did you see?" A asked.
"I saw a bird flying through the branches of a tree."
"Ah."
"It was really cool."
"Shall I tell you the history of the Zoetrope?"
"Ok."
"It was invented in the 1830's but it didn't become popular until the 1860's. It was the first form of animation."
"Wow, you know a lot."
"The Zoetrope led to the creation of other inventions which eventually led to modern cinema."
"How do you know this?"
"I studied about them in the hopes of becoming a film director when I grew up."
We went towards the other end of the room. At this end was a very large bed. There was a cabinet next to the bed and a sofa at the end. Either side of he bed were two pictures of a flower bush, similar to what I'd seen in the Zoetrope. As we approached the bed, I heard a noise.
"A, I can hear something." I said.
"I can to." A replied.
"Where is it coming from?" I had a look around the area and had a closer look at one of the flower drawings. It was exactly the same as the flower pattern I'd seen in the Zoetrope.
"I've got it. I need to remember what path the bird took." I said to myself. I had a think and then touched the flowers that the bird visited. After pressing the last flower, a pannel opened, revealing a button. I pressed the button and the picture turned, revealing a hidden door.
"Wow, a hidden door." A exclaimed.
"Let's look inside." I said. We entered the room. The first we saw was a rabbit on the floor. He was a grey rabbit wearing a lab coat.
"Who's that?" A asked.
"I don't know, he might be Dave." I replied.
"If he is, why is he on the floor?"
"I don't know."
"Hmm."
"Should I wake him?"
"If you do, be careful."
"I will." I started massaging the body carefully. After a couple of minutes, he woke up. When he saw me there was an uncomfortable silence, which he eventually broke.
"Are you…Lola?" He asked.
"Hey!" I snapped.
"What is it?"
"Who are you?"
"Huh?"
"I said, who are you?"
"What is your name?"
"Lola!"
"Lola? You're Lola?"
"Yes, Lola J. Bunny."
"Lola, you've grown so much. Let me look at you."
"Keep away from me!"
"What?"
"Stay away!"
"You must be mad at me for leaving you for so long."
"What are you talking about?"
"You're angry, aren't you?"
"Of course I am! Stop lying to me!"
"I'm not."
"Stop pretending to be my dad!"
"What?"
"I already know the truth! You're Dave, aren't you?"
"What?"
"Why did you drug Rachiel?"
"Rachiel was drugged? Where is she?"
"Like you don't know!"
"What?"
"She's where YOU left her! She's very important to me! She has always been thereto look after and protect me. She isn't my dad or mum, but she's as important as both of them."
"Lola, listen."
"I never wanted to come here but Rachiel convinced me. She wasn't supposed to get hurt. She then disappeared and…"
"She disappeared?"
"YOU attacked her and put her in that storage room!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Stop playing dumb Dave!"
"I am not Dave."
"Stop lying! You hurt Rachiel and you're trying to steal another!"
"You think I'm Dave? How can you think that?"
"Stop playing dumb!"
"Lola, what makes you think I'm Dave?"
"Because besides dad, you're the only male around here!"
"The only person besides your dad? What are you talking about? You already met your father?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"In the lounge!"
"What's going on?"
"What?"
"No, I don't believe it. I never thought…but maybe…"
"What are you mumbling about?"
"Yes, that's it."
"What is it?"
"When you met your dad in the lounge, what did he say?"
"None of your business!"
"What happened to the DAS?"
"Why do you want to know about the DAS?"
"I just want to know if you still have it."
"Yes but I'm not giving it to you!"
"You still have it. Do not give it to anyone Lola."
"What?"
"Lola, listen to me carefully."
"What is it?"
"I am not Dave."
"If you're not Dave, than who are you?"
"I'm…Robert Bunny, your father."
"YOU'RE my dad?"
"Yes."
"I don't believe you!"
"Can't you tell?"
"Tell what?"
"Can't you tell by looking at me?"
"I don't know…"
"Lola, look at me."
"Huh." I then began thinking.
"When I look into his eyes, I remember. I have met him before. The night mum was murdured, he was crouching over her, drenched in her blood."
"Lola what's wrong?" The person asked.
"The night mum was killed, you were there. Her blood was all over you."
"Lola."
"Keep away from me!"
"Lola?"
"Were you the one who killed my mum?"
"Are you mad? I would…" The person stopped talking and his expression changed to shock.
"See, you can't answer. WHY? If you are my dad, answer me!" The person didn't answer and ran from the room.
"Lola open your eyes!" A said.
"Where is he?" I asked.
"He just left."
"Oh."
"Lola, I've seen him before. He came to the cemetary. He can't see me either.
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"Mum, now I'm confused." Jessica protested.
"If it's any consolation, I was at that point as well." Lola replied.
"Was he your father or not?"
"Why don't you wait and find out."
"Ok, I'll be patient."
"Good, there's still a bit more."
"Was there anything else in the room?"
"Yes there was…"
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As I glanced around the room, a typewriter caught my eye. It was a little rusty and was out of ink. There was a letter sticking out of the typewriter.
"What does that letter say?" A asked. I read the letter aloud.
"Dear Diana,
I sit here alone, typing a letter you may never read. After much debation, I have decided to follow after Richard. Before that, I wanted to tell the truth to only you Diana. I wanted you to know what your fatrher was thinking. I wanted to tell you this in person but thatt, unfortunately, is no longer possible. Diana, your mother believes I killed Richard so I could become the sole heir to my grandfather's assets. That is absolutely not true. As you know, when Brett fell into a critical condition, Richard returned to the mansion with his son Alex. A few days after, Brett passed away. That night, something terrible happened. Richard brought me into the silver bird room and said 'You must be happy now. Our grandfather has invited you and your family to live here after the war. He worked tirelessly, spending a fortune getting you back on your feet. And you lived up to his hopes, even becoming left-handed so you could paint again. Your new work is the best of your life. Now you are back on your feet, you must be satisfied. It is my turn now.' After that, Richard pulled an envelope out from his pocket. He looked at me in the eye and said. 'George, this is our grandfather's will. It says who will inherit the entire estate. There is only one name. You will open the envelope in front of everyone tomorrow. I am sure you do not want to have an ugly argument over the inheritance. You are a kind person and I know you love your dear brother'. When I heard that, I finally realised what he really wanted. He wanted to inherit everything Brett had left. He wanted it all for himself. Diana, even then, Richard, the father of your friend Alex had no idea. Our grandfather had nothing to pass onto us. I told him but he didn't believe me. He became wildly upset. He then pointed a gun from the Golden Bird room at me. I could never believe that my own brother would do something like that… And then Diana, the unthinkable happened. I did something that cannot be fixed. Alex saw the incident and…I don't know why things fell apart like that. I think about it all the time, but I am still not sure why it happened. Diana, I beg you, please forgive me for not being able to make you happy.
George."
"This is George's last letter." I exclaimed.
"Last letter?" A asked.
"Yes, it says that he will follow after Richard. I think George commited suicide after writing this."
"Lola, that boy mentioned in the letter."
"Who, Alex?"
"Yeah, I think that boy is me."
"So your name is Alex. What did you see in the bird room?"
"I don't remember."
"After your father died, what happened?"
"I really don't know."
"Please try and remember A. If you can remember that, you may remember everything else."
"I'm trying, but I can't remember anything."
"A…"
After readnig the letter, we began to leave the room. Before we left though, I checked the drawer next to the bed. Inside was an envelope sealed with wax. I tore the envelope open and had a look at the letter inside.
"Last will and testament.
After my death, I bequeath all my assets to George Rabbit.
Brett Rabbit"
"Brett's last will. And it has his signature." I exclaimed.
"My great-grandfather's will?" A asked.
"Looks like it. It says that George was to get everything when Brett died."
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"I think I understand all that." Jessica said.
"You do? It took me a few minutes." Lola replied.
"But I'm still not sure about your 'two' fathers."
"I'll get to that."
"Anyway, where did you go after that?"
"Let me think…"
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After reading the will, we went back to the hallway. When we arrived, we found that the previously locked door was now open. Without haste, we went through the door and found ourselves outside a research lab. The whole area had been freshly built and looked very clean.
"Wow, so much different to the rest of the mansion." I exclaimed.
"Lola, there used to be a courtyard here." A said.
"A courtyard?"
"Back then, it was very different. A courtyard was past that door we just came through. I can't remember what was beyond that but there was something else."
"A, I've just realised that this must be the entrance to the lab." We went up to the door and found it locked. There was a keypad and a small window.
"Great, now what?" I asked.
"Lola, there's a trace of writing on the window." A said.
"Huh?"
"One game I used to play with Diana was this. She would write a message on a window and I would breath on it to read it."
"Hmm, maybe that's the key?" I began blowing on the glass. Just like A said, writing appeared. It was a 10 didgit number that I pressed on the keypad. After pressing the last didgit, the door opened. We entered the next room and the door closed behind us. There were several shelves in the new room. There were also some boxes around and a desk at the far end. There was a small computer on the desk. When I looked around, something on the shelves to my right caught my eye. I saw a teddy bear with a red ribbon and a photograph. I had a look at the photograph first. It showed four people, three of them in lab cosats and one in casual clothes. The person to the far right was a male rabbit in a lab coat. It was the same man that I had seen in the lounge.
"He's the man in the lounge." I said.
"Yes, I see the resembence." A replied. The person next ot him was a girl in casual clothed.
"Hey, that's Rachiel." I exclaimed. I then remembered what she had said on the boat.
"On the boat coming here, Rachiel said that she didn't know my mum very well. But I can tell by the photo that they knew each other very well. She lied to me." The lady next to Rachiel was a tan rabbit with blue eyes.
"This has to be Hikaru, my mother." I exclaimed.
"I see a resemblance." A replied. The last person in the photograph was the person I'd seen in the hidden room.
"That's the man from the hidden room."
"Yes." I then looked at the teddy bear nexct to the photo.
"That bear looks brand new." I then looked at the other side of the room. There, I found a report in a file. The report said.
"Additional comments on the final specifications of another. Another requires two codes for activation which are stored in two separate DAS cards. The first activates another I, the second activates another II."
"The activation codes for another? I suppose it takes two codes." I said. I picked up the reoprt and went over to the computer on the desk. I then found a photo of Hikaru holding a baby. There was a man standing next to her.
"So that's my mum. The little baby must be me." I then suddenly remembered that night 11 years previously.
"That man in the photo…"
"Lola, whatt's wrong?" A asked.
"I remember now A. That man in the photo was the one who opened the wardrobe where I was hiding."
"Opened the wardrobe?"
"Yes, I was waiting in there for my dad. I was absolutely terrified because of the dark. It was definitely that man that opened the wardrobe and took my hand."
"So that means he's your father."
"Yes. I remember holding his hand tightly."
"Lola, he looks like the man in the hidden room."
"If that's the case, the guy I met in the lounge was Dave, Dad, I'm sorry for not believing you." I began touching the photo. When I touched mo mother, something came out of the photo frame.
"A white DAS card." I exclaimed. I grabbed it and put it in the DAS.
"Card no. 991
Code: LO19473LA
Activation codes for another I contained. Place DAS on main unit to display activate icon."
"Another I activation. I have one of the cards, I need one more." After looking at the card, I had a look at the computer screen. The background was blue and four documents were availible. They were displayed by four documewnt icons, one blue, one green, one red and one yellow. I touched the red icon first and this message displayed.
"Things to remember…
Don't pig out on carrots
Brush teeth in preperation for meeting Lola"
I touched the yellow icon and this message was displayed.
"Dear Hikaru,
I do not know whether you will be able to read this, wherever you are, but I hope you can. I have finally completed another. All the codes are set up. When Lola arrives with her DAS, it will be fully activated. Hikaru, another united us. You were such a wonderful scientist. It seems like a completely different lifetime when our research on memory began. We both worked on the project in a top secret government lab. We had devoted ourselves to research there during that time. We then discovered the technology for creating false memories. Soon after, we realiused that we were in love, a time of happiness. We got married and discovered that you were pregnant. I still remember when Lola was born. You were holding in your arms smiling. You told me that we should stop research for her. You already knew that another would be used for the wrong reasons by the upper management. We sealed our findings in a box and hid it without the lab's permission. We then created a false report saying that a huge error had occurred and the project had to be stopped. We thought that would be the end of it. You then quit the lab and lived with Lola as her mother. Every fortnight, you sent her to granny, where she made so many friends. Everything was as we had hoped, until that day 11 years ago. That horrible night, it sometimes feels like a bad dream. You, lying on the floor, covered in blood, drawing your last breath in my arms. When you died, it felt like a part of me went with you. Even now that another is finished I can still feel the emptiness. Hikaru, when I meet Lola, where should I start? She probably can't remember what I look like. Do you think she can forgive me for being selfish? And I will finally be able to give her the present that I was unable to give her 11 years ago."
"The present he couldn't give me?" I asked. I then remembered the teddy bear on the shelf. I ran back to the teddy bear and had a look at it.
"Yes, this must be the present that dad couldn't give me 11 years ago. Oh dad…" I began.
"Lola." A said
"Yes."
"About the teddy bear."
"What about it?"
"Look at the back."
"Huh, ah. The back is slit open." I had a look at the back and saw a gap in the back. There was something red in the gap.
"A red DAS card." I exclaimed. I grabbed the card and had a look at it.
"Card no. 992
Codde: HIK284ARU
Activation codes for another II contained. Place DAS on main unit to display activate icon."
"The remaining activation codes." I exclaimed. I took one last lok at the teddy bear.
"Oh dad.." I said. I picked up the teddy bear and went back to the computer.
There were only two unread documents on the computer. I touched the blue icon and this message was displayed.
"Additional information about DAS. To replay existing memory, you use the DAS and the activation codes. The first are stored inn white, the second are stored in red. Additional code: HIK284ARU"
The only icon left was the green icon. It displayed this message.
"Dave,
Another is finally complete. It's all thanks to you. You are a true friend. You supported me and my research from the beginning. When Hikaru died 11 years ago and Lola was left with me I thought I'd never get back on my feet. You then gave me a reason to live by saying that Hikaru gave her life for the research and it would honour her sacrifice by finishing another. That is what she would have wanted. Your words struck a chord with me. I gave Lola to Rachiel and came here to continue my work, just like you had advised me. I shut off any contact with the rest of theoutside world, like you requested. I have spent the last 11 years working on another and it is finally finished. I'll wait for you Dave. I want you to be there when it is activated. At the same time, I will ask you the question I could not ask you 11 years ago."
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"Wow, a lot happened in there." Jessica remarked.
"And throughout the whole day." Lola added.
"It's a little over my head though."
"It's still over my head."
"Mum, how smart was your dad compared to Wile E?"
"I don't know, maybe just as smart."
"Do you still have that bear?"
"I might have."
"Was that room a dead end or not?"
"No, there was another room beyond it…"
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The room we were in was more of a corridor than anything, but it was in the design of a lab room. As I walked, I felt graating beneath my feet.
"Looks like there's another lab at the back" I said.
"Yes, looks like it." A replied. He had a puzzled look on his face.
"A, is anything wrong?"
"Lola, I understand that your father was devoted to his work, but what I don't understand is why he left you alone for all these years."
"Perhaps he was trying to get over the griief from mum."
"To get over grief?"
"The only way I can explain it is that he needed time to be alone."
"Oh, I see." We continued to the end of the corriddor. When we reached another door, I began to get nervous.
"A, I feel extremely nervous."
"Lola." We reached the door at the back and saw a keypad next to the door.
"Now, I need to enter the codes to open the door." I went up to the keypad and entered the codes that were on the DAS cards I had found in the lab. When I finished entering the final code, the door opened. Behind the door was my father standing next to an unusual machine. It was sort of square with a raised area at the back. The device was lined with rods. When he saw me, dad spoke to me.
"Lola, this is another." Dad said
"Another?"
"The reason I had to leave you with Rachiel for 11 long years. This is the liives work of me and Hikaru."
"I know the truth now."
"What do you mean?"
"I know that you are my father and the person I met in the lounge was Dave."
"Oh Lola."
"Dave attacked Rachiel, didn't he?"
"It seems so."
"Yes, he is Dave Rabbit."
"Is he from the Rabbit family?"
"Yes. He's the last of the family."
"So he owns the mansion."
"Yes."
"Why did he pretend to be you?"
"Because he discovered that he needed you and the DAS to activate another II."
"Where is he now?"
"I have no idea."
"What were you doing in that hidden room?"
"I don't know. I woke up there."
"I thought everything would become clear when I found you, but now I'm even more confused."
"I'm sorry."
"It won't help if you apologise so don't."
"I know it won't help, but apologising is all I can do now."
"Ok."
"Lola, when I finished another, Dave came to see me. Tthen the next thing I remember was waking up in that hidden room."
"After you saw Dave, what happened?"
"I have no idea. I don't know how long I was out for. It could've been a few days or a couple of minutes. I don't know what happened while I was unconscious. Then when you mentioned your mother I was shocked by a sudden memory."
"What was it?"
"I don't want to say. But there is something only you can do for me."
"What?"
"Lola, I need you to activate another and verify the truth of my memory."
"Verify the truth of your memory? What do you mean?"
"Listen carefully Lola, I have a terrible memory about the night your mother died."
"An awful memory?"
"Yes, if that memory is true then I have done something completely unforgivable and have no right to be your father."
"Huh?"
"That's why I need it verified. I need to know if this memory is real or a manipulated memory."
"Manipulated memory?"
"Lola, another can manipulate memories. You can use it to implant false memories to replace true memories."
"Why would you do that?"
"It was meant to help people with bad memories."
"Like?"
"Like veterans of war and trauma victims. Me and Hikaru thought that if we removed the bad memories and replaced it with a happy memory, they would have a higher chance of happiness."
"I see."
"But someone could use another for the wrong purpose and terrible things could happen."
"Did Dave manipulate your memory with another?"
"Maybe. Just before I blacked out there was a prototype DAS on my desk. It could only read white DAS cards. The DAS you have is the only production model so only it can read red DAS cards as well as white ones."
"I see."
"If my current memory is false I would like to get my true memory back and face you as your father. On the other hand, if it is real…"
"Don't think about it."
"Lola, please connect your DAS to another. The white DAS card will activate another I and replay my current memory for you to see. Then use the red DAS card to recover my true memory."
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"What is going on?" Jessica asked.
"I wasn't sure at the time myself, but Dad thought he had a false memory." Lola replied.
"A fasle memory. Imagine what would happen if another fell into the wrong hands."
"Yeah. That's why it is not well known."
"Who knows about another now apart from us?"
"I think only us. Rachiel died a year ago and dad died before I met your father again."
"That's a relief."
"I know."
"What did you decide to do?"
"I was unwilling at first…"
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After speaking to my dad, I began to leave the lab. I was unsure of everything that had happened.
"How is this happening?" I asked.
"Lola, what are you going to do?" A asked.
"I don't know?"
"What if your father's memory was replaced?"
"But what if his memory is the truth?"
"Lola, what are you going to do?" Do you want to know the truth about your parents?"
"I want to know."
"Good."
"But…I don't know who to trust."
"Lola, do you think your father killed your mother?"
"NO! He'd never do that!"
"I agree with you. Come on, let's recover his memory."
"A, you're right. Let's do this."
We went back to where my dad was standing. When we reached him he was the first to speak.
"Lola, it's ok. Maybe I am asking too much of you." Dad said.
"Dad, I want to verify your memory." I replied.
"Oh Lola." With that, dad opened up another and climbed inside. When he was in, it closed. On the back of another was a control pannel with an indent. The indent was shaped like a figure 8.
"This indent looks like my DAS when I open it. That's where it must go." I exclaimed.
"Yes, I suppose so." I placed the DAS in the pannel and inserted the white DAS card to replay dad's current memory. After a bottup sequence, dad's current memory was replayed.
Hikaru was cornered against the wall, her back towards Robert.
"Hikaru." Robert said. Hikaru then turned around and faced him.
"No! Please don't!" Hikaru pleaded. Robert took no notice and held a gun at her chest.
"Another is mine, you hear me!" With that, Robert pulled the trigger. Hikaru then fell to the foor at his feet.
"Hikaru." Robert muttered.
"Dad? He shot mum? I can't believe that! I won't!" I shouted.
"Lola. That is just his current memory." A said.
"You're right, but it looked so real."
"Now you need to verify this with the red DAS card." I removed the white DAS card and inserted the red DAS card to recover dad's true memory. After a bootup sequence, dads true memory was recovered.
Robert returned to his house and found Hikaru on the floor, drenched in blood.
"No! Hikaru!" Robert exclaimed. He went over to her and picked her up. She was still alive but barely. She looked up at him.
"He was here…he…wanted…another." Hikaru gasped. She then died in his arms. Robert then looked around the room and saw the wardrobe slightly open.
"Lola, is that you on there?" Robertwent up to the door and opened it. A trembling 3 year old Lola Bunny was looking up at him. Robert reached down and picked her up.
"Daddy!" Lola exclaimed.
"Dad! When he came home, mum was still alive. She died in his arms." I exclaimed.
"Lola." A said.
"Mum…" After that, another opened and dad stepped out.
"Lola, my memory of that night." Dad began.
"It was false." I finished.
"Oh my Lola,"
"Dad."
"Now I can finally hold you in my arms."
"Dad." Dad slowly walked forward and kneeled down to me with his arms wide. I stretched my arms to the side and grasped them around his neck. He wrapped his arms around my back and hugged me. I hugged him back with as much pressure as I could. I was filled with happiness. After 11 long years, I finally had my father back. It brought back memoried of when he hugged me after mum's death. I opened one eye and glanced at A. He was smiling.
"Lola." I heard him say. We were interrupted by the sound of laughing. It was echoing throughout the whole room I immediately let go of my dad, shocked by what had just happened.
"What was that?" I asked.
"It's Dave." Dad replied.
"Where is his voice coming from?"
"That speaker above the door." Dad was pointing to a speaker above the back door, neither of which I had noticed before.
"Robert, come to the cave. We have a lot to talk about."
"Lola, wait here." Dad instructed.
"NO! I'm going with you!"
"Why?"
"I don't want to be apart from you anymore!"
"Oh Lola." With that, we all went through the back door to find the caves, where Dave was waiting.
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"Mum, I'd like to do a refresh." Jessica said.
"Ok, there was a lot in that.2 Lola replied.
"That's why I want to do a refresh.
"Oh, ok. I went into the back of the mansion looking for Dad. He wasn't in the hallway so we went into Brett's room. We found his diary and will there. What else did we find?"
"A portrait of three rabbits. A then remembered his father and identified his killer as hus uncle George."
"Yes. We then solved the Zoetrope puzzle and opened a hidden room. Who was in the hidden room?"
"Your dad, though you thought it was Dave at first."
"Yes. After that, there was a bit of confusion in which Dad made a run for it. After he left, I found George's last letter. Who was it addressed to?"
"It was addressed to Diana. It revealed George's motive for killing A's father. Then you learned that his true name was Alex.
"Correct. We then went into the lab to look for Dad. There I found the two DAS cards that stored another's activation codes. I then used them tto verify his memory. Discovering his current memory was false, I was finally able to give dad the hug I had wanted for 11 years. We were interrupted by a voice from a speaker…"
"That was Dave. He said that he'd be waiting in the cave."
"Correct."
"But what will happen now?"
"You'll have to wait and see."
"Can you finish this quickly before dad gets home?"
"Let me get a drink first." Lola stood up and went into the kitchen to get herself a drink. This left Jessica smirking again.
(A/N: Ok, only two more chapters left. They will be primarily dialogue based chapters, especially the next chapter, and they will be shorter than the others. Anyway, please read and review that chapter.)