Thanks for all the follows and reviews! Wow! I started writing this story a few years ago and only just grew the tits to publish it so really awesome that you guys are liking it - definitely giving me more motivation to continue it.
Here's the next chapter...
If Emma thought it was bad enough that she, the punk teenage nightmare, was the one to pick up her seven year old niece, the reaction of the mothers when she brought along her very, obviously gay brother, was priceless.
"Oh, hello. Would you like to take a picture? Didn't think so." Fe made her laugh with his condescending comments, consequently scaring off the women with the uncomfortable interaction.
"Uncle Felix!" Kira's shriek filled the playground, causing more than a few heads to turn as the little girl raced towards Fe, diving into his hold. Em watched, smiling.
"Hello, monkey! I missed you." He said, squeezing her.
"How was your day?" Em asked her niece as she fell into the older girl's arms.
"Good." Kira replied, breaking away from the embrace and grabbing a hand of her aunt and uncle. As the trio walked away from the school, Kira poked her head out, looking in each direction of the street. "Why didn't mummy come?"
Em and Felix exchanged a quick look. Fe's gaze was questioning and Em just shook her head to suggest that she hadn't told Kira that Sarah was back.
"What do you mean monkey?" Felix asked his niece.
"Mummy's back now so why didn't she come too? Doesn't she want to see me?" Kira's voice saddened slightly but she held her poker face. Like mother like daughter.
"Did Mrs S tell you she's home?" Em asked and Kira shook her head. Felix looked at Em, confused as the teenager carried on, "Of course your mum wants to see you Kira but remember what Mrs S said?
Kira huffed, sadly, "When she's ready?"
"And?"
"When Mrs S says she's ready."
"Right. And Mrs S doesn't say so, yet. But you'll see her soon, yeah, monkey?" She stroked the little girl's hair, lovingly.
Sarah parked unevenly at the top of a multi-store parking lot. Pulling the briefcase out of the car with her, she walked over to a stone wall and sung the case above her, knocking it against the surface with great force.
After a few times of repeating the action, she lay the briefcase on the wall and tugged at the metal clasps with a pocket knife until they opened.
Inside she found x-ray scans, files and test tubes filled with blood. She picked up one of the tubes and tilted in her fingers, confusion crossing her face. She turned it over and read the label on the front, "Danielle Fornier".
Quickly, she pulled out the files and opened them up to see photocopies of passports from all over Europe. Only, each photo showed someone with Sarah's face.
The first, a red head with a pixie cut from Germany, "Katja Obinger". The second, Austrian, "Janika Zingler". The third, Italian, "Aryanna Giordano". Each passport had clippings of hair attached to them.
"Shite."
Sarah pulled out a slip of paper and read out the two names on it. The first being Beth Childs along with her address, the second "Alison Hendrix. Scarborough." Sarah read the address. "Live practically local."
Suddenly the pink phone started to ring, "And punctual." She said before answering the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey. Did you get it?" The familiar voice from their phone call earlier answered.
"Yeah." Sarah replied in an accent, still confused with the whole situation.
"Well, bring it tomorrow, okay?" After Sarah didn't answer, the voice carried on, "Hello?"
"Hang on," Sarah had already gotten too deep in this, she took the phone, away from her ear and deliberated whether or not she should reveal herself. "Screw it." She brought the phone back up to her ear and immediately gave up Beth's voice, displaying her own London accent, "Hello? Who am I speaking to?"
Her voice was very obviously different, not only the accent had changed but her tone was eager and her low voice was much louder, maybe even intimidating.
"Beth?" The voice on the other end was confused.
"Alison?"
"Who is this?" After, again, no response, the other woman's voice grew frustrated and a little panicked. "Who is this?"
"Beth's indisposed, is this Alison?"
After a few moments hesitation the other woman's voice returned, low and threatened, "Just one, I'm a few. No family too, who am I?"
Sarah rolled her eyes, "Yeah, sorry, Riddler. Means nothing to me." She began pacing, "Look, Beth said to say I have the briefcase. Do you want me to bring it to you?" Sarah asked, hopeful to match the face behind this voice.
Until the phone hung up.
The next day, Sarah woke up early, and hurried to get out of the house in case Paul showed up and tried to speak to her. She took Beth's car and drove into Scarborough, stopping outside the house of this Alison Hendrix. "35 Black Oak Drive." She muttered.
Before she climbed out of the car, she saw the garage door opening and watched a red SUV reversing out of it. Careful, not to be too obvious she followed and soon, both cars had pulled up outside a school and were parked by the field.
Peering from behind the steering wheel, Sarah watched as two dark skinned children pulled back the door and jumped out, tugging at each other. Next a woman stepped out, and Sarah's jaw dropped as she saw yet another doppelganger in person.
"Holy shite. A soccer mom."
The lookalike began pulling her kids away from each other and proceeded to help the kids with their large bags. This must be Alison Hendrix.
The soccer mom walked to the field with the children and a large bag of soccer balls slung over her shoulder. Sarah watched for about ten minutes of whistle blowing and goal scoring before the other woman's phone rang and she pulled it out, revealing it to be yet another pink phone.
The woman spoke uneasily and nervously looked around as she rested a worrisome hand against her cheek before hanging up and heading to a shed with a bag of fruit.
Sarah followed her out of the car and across the field, her hood up. She crept up to the shed and peered in through the window, spotting a dozen cut up oranges.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and quietly stepped inside, looking around to find the shed empty. Until another door opened Alison walked out before loudly gasping and stepping back in surprise.
Sarah leapt back against the wall and held her arms out to reassure the woman, "I just want some answers."
Surprisingly, the Alison just huffed in annoyance and began walking quickly over to Sarah, "Are you out of your mind?" The soccer mom threw her hand at Sarah's shoulder, pushing her against the wall further. "You show your face again, around my children…" She threatened and then whispered, "How did you find me?"
Sarah whipped her arm out, hitting the woman's arm away. "The briefcase. Your address was in it." Taking a good look at Alison, Sarah stumbled out her words, "I've got what you wanted, I've got the briefcase."
Alison crossed her arm across her stomach and she hit her head lightly with her other hand and smirked, "Idiot. Do you even know who you're talking to? Hmm?" Sarah shook her head.
"Where's Beth?" Alison asked.
"Uh, she's dead."
"What?"
"I'm sorry. She killed herself." Sarah watched, uneasy, as Alison picked up the knife next to the oranges.
She waved the knife and spun around, "No. Nope, no. She wouldn't do that. That's impossible."
"Look, I can explain. My name's Sarah," She started before Alison interrupted, gesturing the knife at her.
"I don't care who you are." She spun around again, her back facing Sarah and muttered, "Why Lord? Why me? I never wanted any part of this. Do I wear a huge 'kick-me' sign on my back?"
"Please, just tell me, who are we to each other?"
Alison faced Sarah with a ridiculous smirk on her face, "Are you kidding me?" She almost chastised before violently shaking her head, "I'm not doing that. Nope, that is not my responsibility. You need to get out of here. Go and wait for a call." She began packing up the fruit and turned, walking away.
Sarah reached for the woman, grabbing her arm, "Eh, tell me what the hell-,"
Alison span round, "Let go of me. Don't you touch me." She glared at Sarah, "This is my neighbourhood. You wait for a call." She turned to leave again, "Oh, and hide your ugly face on the way out of here." She added, pointing outside.
Sarah stared after her, stunned. "Bitch."
Later on, at the police station, after Sarah had finished her statement as detective Elizabeth Childs, the pink phone rang and she answered warily, "This is Sarah."
"Well, Sarah. This will be quick," Alison answered.
"Good."
"Since you apparently already know where I live, I can't find a sitter, come by after nine tonight."
"How about right now?" Sarah challenged.
"Tonight!" Alison barked back. "Bring whatever you got from the briefcase. Go around back, and go to the basement door. Knock quietly!" She added, before hanging up.
Felix climbed into the jaguar, excitedly. "Ooh, so where we going?"
Sarah laughed, "I don't know, just wanted to get out of that house. How's Kira?"
"She knows your back. Em and I went to pick her up today and she was asking for you."
Sarah smiled sadly, "S is setting up a date for me to come over and see her."
"I'll try to make it soon," Fe winked at his older sister who shook her head, amused.
"Em?"
Felix whacked his hands onto the glove compartment, causing Sarah's head to jump up and stare at his unreadable face. Was he excited or worried?
"Oh my God. She ditched school again, today. Came over to mine from somewhere, high as a bloody kite. She couldn't even walk, Sarah, she was so out of it." Worry. He was definitely worried.
Sarah shook her head, not surprised at her sister's promiscuous activities but she was anxious, "What? Where had she been?"
"I dunno, she wouldn't tell me. Some guy's, I reckon. She was stinking of pot, her hair was sticking out everywhere, mascara smudged and I'm pretty sure her top was on backwards."
"Jesus Christ," Sarah whispered. "I need to go see her. That's the last thing I bloody wanted; her turning out just like me."
Felix sighed inwardly, now understanding why Em had gotten so upset earlier when he had said something similar.
"Please. As much as she would hate to admit it, she needs you, Sarah. Though she doesn't want to think you've gotten away with running again."
"I know, I know." Sarah muttered, "Try to set something up for tomorrow at yours, yeah?"
"Yeah, alright. Just take this with you when you leave again."
Sarah rubbed her eyes, "I will, I will. I promise.
Half an hour later, Sarah pulled into Alison's road.
Felix groaned, "God! You know I never would have got in if you'd said we were going to suburbia."
Sarah rolled her eyes and parked opposite Alison's house.
"Oi, what are you doing? Don't stop, someone might see us!" He panicked.
Sarah looked out the window at the house as Felix rambled on, looking at himself in the mirror, "Christ. My skin just breaks out every time I leave the downtown. Yeah, look right there! Acne." He pointed at his chin.
"Nope. I don't see anything." Sarah shook her head.
"Am I blushing? There's redness. There's – right there. Tiny suburban stress zits, emerging in direct proximity to bad architecture."
"Look, Fe. I'm going to have the money in a couple o' days. Okay?" Sarah shifted, facing her brother. "And then, look, I'll make good with Mrs S and we'll take Kira somewhere quiet. Yeah? Somewhere warm."
"Yeah. Please…So what's in the house?"
Sarah turned and winked at him, "Won't be long."
"What?! Who's in there?!"
"Please, Fe. I just need someone to know where I am." She said climbing out of the car and towards the house, ignoring Fe's moans.
"That is not comforting! Sarah!" He called after her.
Sarah followed the other woman's instructions and soon, Alison had opened up the door for her, "Close it. Lock it."
Again, Sarah did as she was told and then followed Alison, who was wielding a gun, into the room.
"Really?"
"Be quiet, my kids are sleeping."
"You're gonna shoot me whilst your kids are sleeping?" Sarah challenged.
"You wake them, or show your face. Yes, I will shoot you."
"Well, being your twin certainly sucks." Sarah spat out.
"You really have no idea do you?" Alison stepped back and looked into another room, watching as another woman emerged into Sarah's sight.
Another twin. Only this one wore glasses, a nose ring and adorned long dreadlocks.
"Hey, I'm Cosima."
"Bloody hell." Sarah whispered.
"We talked on the phone."
Sarah stood shocked, looking back and for at the woman who were identical to her. "How many of us are there?"
"Okay, define orphan, Sarah." Cosima was leant over, sitting on the couch opposite where Sarah sat whilst Alison paced nervously in the next room.
"Orphan. Orphanage…"
"So you don't know your birth parents?"
"No, I was fostered out and legally adopted and then came here."
"When?"
"We were adopted when I was like 12, came here around 16."
"Heart breaking," Alison chimed in, sarcastically, "Can we get back to Beth please?"
Cosima held her hand up to Alison, ignoring her and focused on Sarah, "Wait, 'we'? Do you have a biological sibling?"
"Yeah, my little sister." Sarah asked, suspicious now and feeling protective over Em. Why would they want to know about her?
Alison poked in again, continuing the subject of Beth, "Suicide? I don't accept that. This one's some low life grifter. How do we know she didn't push her?"
"Oi! I already told you, I didn't want to be her. I got stuck, I was running from my own shit."
Alison scoffed, "I can only imagine…"
Cosima spoke softly, "Alison, I'm very sorry about Beth, but she was… losing it. Like clinically."
"She was a cop. She had tools, if she couldn't cope, then I mean…" Alison waved her hands in defeat and walked into the next room, panicked.
Sarah leaned towards Cosima, "Look, can you just tell me what the hell this is?"
"Don't tell her anything!" Alison yelled from the next room.
"Uh, short answer? No." Cosima's hands flew around, as if she were trying to paint the picture for Sarah.
"How are we all related?" Sarah asked as Alison walked back into the room.
"We're not!" She yelled at Sarah.
Cosima gave Alison a quick warning look and put her hands up to calm her slightly, "Well, we are by nature. She's referring to nurture."
"Just give us the briefcase." Alison turned towards Sarah.
Sarah leaned back in her chair, "I'm not giving you anything 'till you give me some answers."
"You don't rate answers." She replied, patronisingly.
"Alison." Cosima grew frustrated at her.
"Fine! She wants in?" Alison threw her arms up in defeat and stood over Sarah. "We're clones. We're someone's experiment and they're killing us off. Is that helpful?"
Sarah looked up at her, dumbfounded. After a few moments silence, a small voice made its way down the stairs, "Mummy?"
Alison whirled round, straightening her jumper over the gun poking out of her trousers. "Gemma!"
"Who are those ladies?" Gemma asked innocently.
Alison hurried up the stairs and picked up her daughter, careful to shield her eyes away from the women. "They're just mummy's friends." She ran up the stairs with Gemma.
Sarah sighed, sinking into the chair slowly.
"Sorry. I wanted to float that whole clone thing a lot softer." Cosima shook her head.
Felix had grown bored and frankly quite worried at Sarah's elongated absence and so he climbed out of the car, creeping into the garden he saw Sarah enter earlier.
The light was on in the basement so he cupped his hands over his eyes and gazed inside for a closer look. He spotted Sarah in an armchair, listening intently to a dreadlocked woman with her back to the window but before he could inspect further he heard someone shout.
"Freeze!"
"Oh my God!" Fe spun round, waving his hands up automatically and panicking even more when it looked like Sarah dressed in nice clothes was pointing a gun at him.
"What are you doing in my yard?!" The woman shouted.
"No! No, do not shoot me, please!" Felix pleaded, his hands trying to calm the woman down.
"Hey! Hey! Alison, Alison," He felt relieved when he heard his real sister's voice and she came bouncing in between himself and the gun wielder, protectively shielding him with her hands.
"Put it down," Sarah carried on, walking towards Alison, the gun shaking in her worried clutch.
"Get out of the way," Alison's voice was higher and more unstable than before.
"He's with me, okay?"
"Move!"
"It's okay," Sarah whispered calmly, edging closer to Alison and lifting her fingers to slowly move the gun down. Once Alison's countenance had become relaxed, Sarah lifted her other hand and swiftly slapped the woman hard across the face.
"You point a gun at my brother again, I will kick the living shite out of you!" She threatened, holding the collar of a very frightened Alison's shirt, who hurried off, whimpering as soon as Sarah let go.
Felix stood back, astonished and looking around as if there were any more lookalikes about to jump out and scare him.
"We need to get my shit." Sarah trudged back, pulling Fe along with her. "What the hell were you doing here?"
But before Felix could answer, they rounded the corner, and yet another twin appeared, holding Sarah's belongings. "Holy shit." Felix muttered, as they both pulled up short in front of the dreadlocked woman.
"Hey, you need this?" She asked in a thick west coast accent. "You just broke the first rule of Clone Club,"
"What? Never tell anyone about Clone Club?" Sarah asked, unimpressed.
Sarah's lookalike cocked her head out to the side to see around Sarah at Felix and smiled slightly, lifting her free hand up to give a little wave, "Hi, err, awkward, I'm Cosima."
Felix attempted to wave back, but in his shocked stupor, it looked more like he was trying to swat a fly away.
Cosima turned back to Sarah, "You want answers, I want the briefcase. Seriously, it's life or death." She said, handing Sarah her phones.
"Holy shite!" Felix exclaimed back in his apartment as he stared at the birth certificates of women identical to his sister. "Clones! Clones?"
"They're not me, they're not. They're completely different people," Sarah explained determinedly, pouring herself another drink.
"Soccer mom Sarah. Science geek Sarah! Last time I checked, human cloning was illegal, let alone impossible!" Felix started.
"Yeah, leave it out! Okay? It doesn't matter!"
"It does matter! Dead Beth, dead German, three other Euros, those two, you. That's eight! And, dreadlocks is going on about a blood sample, saying it's life or death. You can't just ignore it!"
"Yes I can! I'm just me, okay?" Sarah argued back, her voice wavering a little before she controlled herself, "The song remains the same: we get the 75 grand back from Beth's partner, we get Kira, and we get as far away from this as possible!"
"And what about Em? What, you're just going to up and disappear, leave her again?" Fe questioned.
"I can't take her, kidnap her from Mrs S. She's still legally Em's guardian." Sarah throws her hands up, "In a few months, she'll turn 18 and then she can come with us. But do not tell her about any of this! Okay? Mrs S either."