My fingers shake as I unclasp the box, and sure enough, there’s a flash drive. However, what’s different this time is the note neatly folded underneath it.

I open it and read the writing I would recognise even a hundred years from now. The neat writing and his way of curving his S’s and C’s are still the same from when he helped me with my homework.

Dear Claire,

You must’ve received similar packages to these in the past with Alicia’s voice on them. I have, too. Probably at the same time as you. That’s why I’m breaking my silence.

I dislike being shoved in a corner, just like I’m sure you do. Someone is after us, my little muse. If you want evidence, listen to my own recording of that day.

Then we’ll talk.

If I had any doubts, they vanish after reading Dad’s letter. He received Alicia’s messages, too? But why would he? They were directed at me.

It takes me a minute I don’t have to spare to plug the flash drive into my laptop. Soon after I hit Play, there’s a rustle of sounds, like a car revving to life or something. Then there’s the sound of a crash, a loud one that deafens my ears.

“Fuck.”

Dad. That’s Dad’s voice. The sound of a car door opening, then slamming shut echoes in the air. I assume it’s his truck.

The rustle of running and the harsh gliding against a surface is the only thing that can be heard. It’s like he’s sliding down dirt or a harsh surface.

More rustling comes through before Dad’s booming voice fills the air, “Alicia! Give me your hand!”

Alicia? My sister?

“Alicia!”

“N-no…” Her voice is brittle and she sounds far away and in pain. “You’re the reason behind this.”

“I’m fucking not. I would never hurt you or Clarissa.”

A small chuckle comes from her before she coughs, and her distant breathing catches as if she’s gurgling blood. “Why? Because we’re Mum’s daughters? Your original muse? I know, she left it for me in her will. She told me to cut all ties with Clarissa because of you. My own mother wanted her daughters apart because of no one other than you! She said that something unlocked inside of you after you met her and that she created a monster. You told her that you loved the challenge of killing people who looked like her because you couldn’t hurt her. You can’t hurt me and Claire either, because we look like her, but we inspire you to kill, don’t we?”

“And yet, you kept coming back.” Dad’s voice is stone cold. “You came to Leeds all the time when you could’ve stayed away.”

“I didn’t want you to use Clarissa as a muse instead of me.”

“Give me your fucking hand, Alicia. You’ll die in there.”

“Maybe it’s better if I do — just like Mum did. I thought she killed herself because of Dad, but it was because of you, Maxim,” she snarls. “She willingly left this world to not carry on your sins with her.”

“So you’ll leave your role for Clarissa?” His voice turns calm in an almost manic way.

A sob tears from her throat. “Leave her alone. She’s your daughter. At least she’s your daughter.”

“Which will make her a better muse than you and your mum ever were. After all, she shares my and Bridget’s DNA.”

“M-Maxim…leave her…”

“Then give me your fucking hand, Alicia. Take responsibility for both Bridget and her.”

“I can’t.” She sounds defeated, numb almost. “My own husband thinks I’m crazy, and even my son believes it sometimes. And now, he left me. Aiden and Clarissa are the only bright things in my life, but I’m not theirs.”

“You’re not crazy — you were made to believe that. I think I know who’s behind this.”

“I-is it Jonathan?”

“You don’t want it to be him?”

“Tell me. P-please.”

“Give me your fucking hand first.”

“Y-you’ll leave Claire alone?”

“I will.”

“And Aiden?”

“I couldn’t give two fucks about him. He looks nothing like you and Bridget.”

“F-fine.” There’s the sound of a pained moan as a rustle of clothes comes from Dad.

“Oh…” Alicia breathes heavily. “I c-can’t move. T-there’s so much blood…”

“Fuck! Fuck!”

“M-Maxim…I…I d-don’t feel so good…”

“Don’t you dare go!” he shouts at her, voice more enraged than worried.

“C-Claire… D-don’t do this to her… D-don’t make her me and Mum… P-please…please…”

“Shut the fuck up, Alicia.” More friction of clothes come from Dad’s side.

“T-tell Aiden and C-Claire that I love them so much and I-I’m sorry I couldn’t take them far away and p-protect them.” She’s full on crying now, her voice turning weaker with every second. “Tell J-Jonathan I forgive him if he did it. Tell him that he should pick up his life and move on.”

“I said shut the fuck up.” Dad groans as he seems to be trying to lift either the car or her.

“This must be how those women felt…” Her voice is far away, barely audible, but sounds serene. “The helplessness. The…end. I’m paying for staying silent and playing a part in their deaths. Isn’t it ironic that you, of all people, get to see me go? I-I’m cold, Maxim. S-so cold…”

Dad curses a few times more, but Alicia’s voice disappears, and soon enough, the recording ends.

Tears stream down my cheeks as I stare at the screen through blurry eyes.

The sound of Alicia’s voice plays in my head like a haunting song on repeat. Her words, her helplessness, her final moments.

That’s where Dad had been that morning. He was chasing Alicia before she crashed, then he returned to bury his seventh victim.

He was there with her as she spit out her last breaths.

I grab my bag, and I’m on autopilot as I leave the office.

This recording confirms a few things.

One, I’m not crazy. Alicia did say that Jonathan was poisoning her.

Two, this is a lot bigger than I thought.

And there’s only one way to figure it all out.

29

Aurora

This is the last place I ever expected to walk into with my own feet.

But now that I think about it, the reunion was meant to happen sooner or later.

There’s too much black water between us, and I was never going to move on without having this confrontation.

The security Jonathan has following me around is waiting outside. I have no doubt that they called him, so I don’t have much time before he barges in here and drags me back home.

The room I’m in is sterile with bland grey walls. A few armed guards stand at the corners and cameras blink from every angle possible. Prior to coming inside, I was searched thoroughly and even got sniffed at by dogs. This is what it feels like to be the offspring of a dangerous criminal and to carry his sins on my shoulders.