Chapter 27 · The Flawed Mirror

"Get the hell away from him, Lyra!"

Kane didn't need to look back to know Lyra was screaming. He felt the blow before he saw the attacker—a blur of motion that slammed into his ribs with the force of a runaway freight train. He flew backward, crashing through a rusted partition wall, shards of corrugated metal slicing into his shoulder.

He rolled, coughing up a mouthful of copper-tasting grit, and sprang to his feet. That's when he saw it.

Standing in the center of the wreckage was a mirror image. Same height. Same jagged scar across the jaw. Same dead, void-black eyes. The only difference was the expression: the thing looking back at him wasn't angry or confused. It was empty. A blank slate with a killer's instinct.

"What the hell is this?" Kane spat, wiping blood from his lip. "A twin? A bad joke?"

The clone didn't answer. It lunged.

Kane caught the strike with his forearm, the impact vibrating through his bones. It wasn't just strength; it was the exact same fighting style, the same weight distribution. It was like fighting his own shadow, only the shadow had teeth.

"Kane!