Sebastian groans in pain as he straightens back up, cradling his jaw. "This is why I've always liked you, Delilah," he chuckles weakly. "You're tough."
My hands twitch, aching to strike him again. "Oh, that's all you've got to say? You just admitted it! All these years, you knew where he went. You knew what happened to him. You knew what happened to everyone who disappeared in this town while everyone else turned a blind eye!" My voice shakes, laced with rage. "It doesn't make any sense! You said they were just taking clones, so why are innocent people disappearing too?"
He shrugs, rubbing the back of his neck, his gaze dropping to the ground. "Well, that's a tough one. Honestly, I think it has to do with certain genetics—it helps with my family's research."
Disgust wells up in me, and I narrow my eyes. "It doesn't even bother you, does it? Sebastian, what they do to innocent people…"
He finally meets my gaze, his expression softening. "If they hadn't done what they did, Delilah, you'd be dead."
"I wish I was!" I spit back, my heart pounding. "I would rather be dead than live with this. And what about the visions I've been having? He's been visiting me, talking to me. How is that even possible?"
Sebastian looks at me, confusion flickering in his eyes. "To be honest, that's pretty new. We're still trying to understand how they develop these abilities. It's all part of the experiments—they're adapting, using survival instincts to reach out to those they love, trying to get help."
"Why was Kai taken so late?" My voice is edged with desperation.
His shoulders drop, and he hesitates before speaking. "I never told you, Delilah, but my health is declining. When my family discovered my condition, they took him. I didn't want them to, I honestly didn't, but I had no choice—and keeping it from you? It was suffocating. It crushed me…I care about you so much."
"You don't care about me, Sebastian! You don't even know me! You stole him from me!" My voice cracks. He looked at me with a flash of anger over his face
"I did all I could to keep you two together!." Desperation was seeping from his voice as he started to pace around the room.
"I was the only reason he had a chance to be with you. My family wanted to lock him away until I might of needed him. I convinced them I'd be healthy, that he deserved a life. And when I saw how happy he was with you, I pushed harder for them to leave him alone. But when they found out about my illness, they wouldn't listen. They took him and began experimenting. I never wanted this!"
I stayed utterly still as I watched his chest heave up and down, a tempest of anger and desperation. "He was a brother to me! Years we spent together!" Pain etched across his features as he looked at me, his eyes pleading for belief.
"Delilah," he said, his voice rough. "He's different. He has abilities none of the other clones possess, and my father wants to harvest those to create new clones—so we'll never have to endure any of this again. But I want to stop him. I can't let anyone else suffer like this." He stepped closer, his hands enveloping mine in a tender embrace. Sweat dripped from his brow as he leaned his forehead against mine, grounding us both amidst the chaos. "I don't know what to say."
And honestly, I didn't either. I was still reeling from everything I'd just heard. "You don't need to say anything, Delilah," he assured, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race. "I'll help you get him back. I'll be there for you, whatever it takes."
My gaze searched his, swirling with uncertainty. "Why? Why would you do that? How can I trust you?" The weight of my doubts hung heavy in the air between us.
"Because," he breathed, his tone raw with emotion, "I fucking love you." And with that, he crushed his soft lips against mine, pouring every ounce of his heart into that single, stolen moment.
I stood frozen for a moment, the weight of his words crashing over me like a tidal wave. "What the hell was that?" I demanded, as I push him away. "You're part of an organization that clones and kidnaps people, and you think you can just confess you're in love with and kiss me?"
" Are you absolutely insane!". I yell, trying to put some distance between us.
He took a step back, hands raised in defense. "Well, technically I haven't done anything—I just know about it. But you feel something for me, Delilah. You know you do. Why wouldn't you? You're in love with my clone."
"No," I snapped, my heart racing. "Kai doesn't look anything like you… He's nothing like you."
"He's exactly like me," he insisted, his voice steady despite the storm swirling between us. "Besides the hair, we're basically twins. You may not have noticed because you never paid attention to me when we were teenagers. But if you love him... it's inevitable that you feel something for me."
I shook my head, my emotions swirling. "No, that's not how it works."
"Mmm." He hummed " I don't know about that darling, but don't worry," he said softly, lowering his hands. "Your secret is safe with me."