Chapter 12 · The Copy Takes the Stand

"You don't get to stare at me like I'm the killer while you keep a gun on my chest."

Eli's pistol didn't move.

Neither did the hand locked around my wrist. His thumb pressed over my pulse, counting every beat like he expected one of them to betray me.

The train had stopped less than a minute ago, but the emergency brakes still screamed through the car. Red lights flashed over his face.

My face.

Every working screen showed the same headline.

MARA VALE CONFESSES TO MAYORAL ASSASSINATION.

MARA VALE ACCEPTS CIVILIAN LOSSES.

MARA VALE DESIGNS CITYWIDE BLACKOUT.

The recording looped behind us.

"I failed—"

Static tore through the rest.

Then it started again.

Eli leaned closer. His coat brushed my arm. Warm breath touched my jaw, but his grip stayed hard enough to hurt.

"Tell me that wasn't you."

"It wasn't me."

"That voice was yours."

"I know what my voice sounds like."

"Do you?" His eyes dropped to my mouth for half a second, then snapped back to mine. "Because right now, I can't tell if you're Mara or another version wearing her face."

That hit harder than the gun.

I yanked against his grip.