Chapter 17

The streets were always crowded in the city, but tonight they seemed to be bursting at the seams. People rushed to and fro, their faces lit up by the glow of streetlights and neon signs. Daniela and Charles were pushing through the crowds, their eyes scanning the sea of faces for any sign of Emily or Alexander. They had lost them in the chaos of the interrogation room, and now they were determined to track them down. As they turned a corner, Daniela's eyes landed on a figure that made her heart skip a beat. It was a woman with long, curly brown hair and piercing green eyes. She was dressed in a black leather jacket and ripped jeans, and she looked like she had just stepped out of a punk rock concert. But it was her face that caught Daniela's attention. It was a face she had seen before. "Diana?" Daniela whispered, her eyes locked onto the woman's face. The woman turned, her eyes locking onto Daniela's. And then, in an instant, she was gone, disappearing into the crowds like a ghost. "What just happened?" Charles demanded, his eyes scanning the crowds frantically. Daniela's eyes were still locked onto the spot where the woman had disappeared. "I think I just saw Diana or a someone who looked exactly liked her," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Charles's eyes snapped back to hers, his face pale. "What do you mean?" he demanded. Daniela took a deep breath, her mind racing with possibilities. "I mean that the woman I just saw looked exactly like Diana. But it can't be her. Diana's dead." Charles's eyes locked onto hers, his expression grim. "Then who was that woman?" he demanded. Daniela's eyes dropped, her mind racing with possibilities. She didn't know, but she was determined to find out... After some while, she brought out her phone and texted Diana, ' what are you doing outside, Diana, its too risky', she hit the send button, after some seconds message popped into her phone, ' what do you mean, I've been home since, haven't stepped foot outside, anything wrong', Daniela read the text her eyes opened in shocked, this means there is a clone of Diana out there. Daniela's phone buzzed, breaking her out of her reverie. She pulled it out, her eyes scanning the screen. It was a text from an unknown number. And the message made her blood run cold: "I know what you saw. Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight if you want to know the truth." Daniela's heart was racing. Who was behind the text? Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. She spun around, her heart racing. It was Charles. His eyes were locked onto hers, his expression grim. "What's wrong?" Daniela demanded, her voice barely above a whisper. Charles's eyes dropped to her phone. "You got a text, didn't you?" he asked, his voice low. Daniela nodded, her heart still racing. "What does it mean?" she asked. Charles's eyes locked onto hers. "I think it means we're getting close to the truth," he said, his voice firm. Daniela's eyes narrowed. "And what truth is that?" she demanded. Charles's expression was grim. "I think it's high time we find out," he said...Daniela was walking home from the library, lost in thought, when she saw the woman again. This time, she was walking down the street, just a few feet away.Daniela's heart skipped a beat as she quickly pulled out her phone and dialed a number."Diana, it's me," Daniela said, trying to keep her voice low. "I need to talk to you."There was a pause on the other end of the line. "What's going on, Daniela? I'm still in my apartment."Daniela's eyes never left the woman's face as she walked down the street. "I saw you again," Daniela said, trying to keep her voice steady. "You're not supposed to be out in public."There was another pause on the other end of the line. "Daniela, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm still in my apartment, just like I've been for weeks."Daniela's eyes narrowed as she watched the woman disappear into a nearby coffee shop. "Diana, I saw you. You're not fooling me."There was a sigh on the other end of the line. "Daniela, I think you're mistaken. Maybe you saw someone who looks like me and besides we all have look alike."Daniela's grip on her phone tightened. "I know what I saw, Diana. And I know it was you."There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Daniela wondered if Diana had hung up on her. But then Diana's voice came back on the line."Okay, Daniela. I think we need to talk. Can you come to my apartment?"Daniela's eyes never left the coffee shop as she tried to process what was going on. "Diana, I don't know if that's a good idea," she said slowly."Why not?" Diana's voice was cautious."Because...I don't know if I can trust you right now," Daniela said honestly.There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Daniela, I understand that you're confused and scared. But I promise you, I'm telling the truth. I'm still in my apartment, just like I've been for weeks."Daniela sighed, feeling a headache coming on. She didn't know what to believe anymore."Okay, fine," she said finally. "I'll come to your apartment. But if I find out you're lying to me, Diana...there will be consequences.""I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Daniela," Diana said dryly.Daniela rolled her eyes. "I'll be there in 20 minutes.""See you then," Diana said, and hung up the phone.Daniela stood there for a moment, staring at the coffee shop. She had a feeling that she was in over her head, but she was determined to get to the bottom of things.Taking a deep breath, she started walking towards Diana's apartment, her heart pounding in her chest.As Daniela walked into Diana's apartment, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Something didn't feel right.Diana was sitting on the couch, a calm and collected expression on her face. "Hey, Daniela. Thanks for coming."Daniela's eyes narrowed as she walked over to the couch. "So, you're telling me that you're still in hiding, but I saw you out in public twice today?"Diana shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you, Daniela. Maybe you saw someone who looks like me."Daniela raised an eyebrow. "Twice?"Diana sighed. "Look, Daniela, I don't know what's going on. But I do know that I'm in danger. And I think you might be too."Daniela's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"Diana leaned forward, her eyes locked on Daniela's. "I think someone is trying to manipulate us, Daniela. Someone who wants us to think that I'm still alive. "Daniela's mind was racing. "But why?" Diana's expression was grim. "I don't know. But I think we're about to find out."Just then, there was a loud knock at the door. Daniela's heart skipped a beat as Diana's eyes locked on hers. "Who is it?" Daniela whispered. Diana's expression was grim. "I don't know. But I think we're about to find out. "And with that, Diana slowly got up and walked to the door. Daniela's heart pounded as she watched Diana slowly turn the handle and open the door. As the door creaked open, Daniela's eyes widened in shock. Standing in the doorway, with a sinister smile spreading across his face, was Alexander. Diana's eyes flashed with anger, but she remained calm. "What do you want, Alexander?" Alexander stepped forward, his eyes locked on Daniela. "I think it's time we had a little chat, don't you, Daniela and Diana?"Daniela's heart skipped a beat as she realized she was in grave danger. She tried to step back, but her feet felt rooted to the spot.And then, just as suddenly as it had started, everything went black.