Chapter 11-
3rd Person POV-
Josh sighs as he stands outside of his room. He can hear the fake Nalin snoring inside. It was just yesterday when he realized that he, Izzy, and Claire were fakes. After taking a day to think it over, he told the others the plan. They were to split up into teams and grab the fakes. Perhaps they could figure out where the real ones were by questioning the fakes.
"Ready?" Sera asks, taking a huge breath. Caralynn nods behind her, slightly bouncing up and down. Josh sets his mouth into a firm line before nodding too. He holds up hid fingers, counting down. Three... Two... One.
Josh throws open the door and jumps into the darkness, grabbing the fake Nalin. Nalin yells out, trying to wiggle free as Sera pulls a rope around him. He lashes out in frustration, his hand connecting with someone's face. Josh is knocked backwards in surprise as Nalin springs off the bed. Sera and Josh look around the dark room, trying to find him as a startled yell sounds. A second later, the lights flip on, illuminating the situation. Caralynn stands with her arms crossed, smirking proudly at the fake Nalin, who is frozen. They blink. The lower half of his body is actually frozen to the floor.
"Why did you freeze him? The plan was to tie him up."
Caralynn shrugs. "Not as much fun. Why do things the normal way when you can use your powers?"
Sera sighs while Josh rubs his red cheek. "Well, can you unstick him? We still have to meet the others."
Caralynn unsticks the fake Nalin enough for Josh to drag him by his feet to the gym where everyone was supposed to meet up. They're the first people there so they have to wait. Soon, Samantha, Andy, and Luke walk in, dragging the fake Claire along. Josh has to remind himself that this Izzy's fake as Ellie, Lexi, and Jonah pull her in fighting. Finally, she gives up, sits on the floor, and glares at Lexi.
"Um, was the rope not enough?" Jonah asks, raising an eyebrow at Nalin struggling to get unfrozen on the floor.
"Caralynn decided this would be much quicker." Sera shrugs.
"Well, I wish Caralynn could have come with us, then." Ellie blows a piece of hair out of her face before glaring at Izzy. "Izzy put up a good fight. Punched me in the stomach."
"She deserved it too, for attacking me. So, what are you all doing with us?" Izzy asks, looking around at us. Her eyes settle on Josh. "Josh finally ready to get rid of his girlfriend?"
"Save it. We know you're fakes. What have you done with our friends?"
"Fakes? What if those others were really the fakes all along? What if we're real?"
"The real Nalin would never act this way," Sera almost growls.
"Or would he?" Izzy smirks. She smiles as she turns back to Josh. "And how do you know he's not fake? Telling you all lies to get you to attack us."
A few eyes shift to Josh. His face turns red as he gets angry.
"Stop it! She's trying to manipulate us. Tell us where they are or else-"
"Or else what?" Claire laughs, sitting on the floor next to Izzy. "You'll kill us? Go ahead. We're just clones."
"Tell me where my sister is!" Jonah grabs the fake Claire by the collar, lifting her up off the floor. Her expression switches from sinister to scared in a heartbeat.
"Please don't hurt me, Jonah. I'm your sister." Jonah blinks before dropping her. He shakes his head as if to clear it. Claire's evil expression is back.
"She's a fake, Jonah. Remember that." Samantha whispers to him as Izzy starts laughing.
"It doesn't matter if we're fakes. You'd never be able to hurt us anyway." Izzy smiles.
"We'll let you live if you tell us where they are." Sera says.
"Didn't you hear us? We're n-"
"Far far away from here. Another state." Nalin speaks up from behind them. Everyone turns, but he is staring blankly at the floor. "The building is called Rowan Industries."
Everyone stares open-mouthed at him. Including Izzy and Claire.
"Traitor!" Calire hisses at him. "Traitor!"
Sera crouches down next to him, her eyes red. "Which state?"
"Florida." He says, his face still blank. All of the sudden, almost like a switch being flipped, he stops breathing. Just like that, the fake Nalin dies. Sera lets out a strangled gasp as the tears fall down her face. Jonah gasps as Claire falls down dead, too.
"You will all suffer. Draco Rowan will have no pity." The fake Izzy hisses as she too falls dead.
Josh closes his eyes as he bangs his fists against the wall.
***
Josh grabs his bag and slings it over his shoulder. He tries not to imagine the fake Izzy dying. It felt too much like the real Izzy had died. As he walks out the front of the school, he pulls his jacket closer against the cold. Sera is already sitting against the wall. Her eyes are red as she stares determinedly at her backpack. The large coat on her belongs to Nalin. She doesn't look up as Josh sits next to her without a word. One by one, the others show up, all carrying backpacks and wearing determined expressions on their faces. When Lexi finally shows up last, Josh stands up.
"Ready?" Is all he says. Everyone nods, standing up and starting down the steps. Flurries of snowflakes get caught in their hair as they walk away from Raven Academy. Once they get to the gate, they all take one last look at the school. Somewhere in the distance, a clock chimes midnight.
"Merry Christmas, everyone." Josh says as they walk away, not looking back.
