My father stumbled backwards into the chairs as Ryder fell on him. The device he was holding flipped into the air.
My mind snapped puzzle pieces together. Ryder must have switched places with her doppelganger! And the only way she could have done that was if my sister had been helping her …
The men surrounding me ran to protect my father. I staggered back and scanned the floor. I spotted the thin piece of metal, twirling on the marble tiles by the stage. I lunged for it, snapping it up, before someone could knock it away.
I jumped to my feet.
Ryder battled the men, striking out with everything she had. She was holding them off—had downed a few—but I could see it wouldn’t be enough. Her movements were too slow, weak. Just as I had the thought, I watched one of the men on the security team pull out a taser.
‘No!’
It was too late. A flash of blue electricity blasted out from the man’s hand. Ryder collapsed to the floor.
‘Enough!’ my father shouted.
My eyes darted about the room, trying to spot Jenny. I saw doppelganger Ryder’s body crumpled in a heap at the top of the aquarium. Jenny had gotten her out! But where had she gone? A flash of movement caught my eye. The exits. My sister’s blurred form flew from door to door, smashing them all open—the panicked spectators rushing through the openings. ‘Take her to the top,’ I heard my father order. ‘Put her in the restraint.’
‘No!’ I shouted. ‘It’s done. Everyone’s leaving, Dad! It’s over!’
My father wiped his silk handkerchief over his face. ‘No, Brianna. It isn’t.’ He followed his men up the stairs as I ran for the exit where I had last seen Jenny. She was Ryder’s only hope now. Just I as made it to the door, she ran back through. ‘Come on,’ she said. ‘Let’s go!’
I shook my head. ‘We can’t.’
‘Come on!’
I pulled away from her. ‘He’s got Ryder.’
Jenny’s eyes flashed back up to the top of the aquarium. Ryder, the real Ryder, was already being fitted into the restraint.
‘Please Jenny.’
‘We need to help her,’ she said. It wasn’t a question, but it wasn’t quite a statement either. It sounded more like a plea. Jenny trying to convince herself that it needed to be done.
‘We can do this,’ I said. ‘You … you are amazing. You saved everyone here.’ I moved my hand around the now empty auditorium. ‘You’re better than him. Than all of us. You’re a hero, Jenny.’
She searched my eyes, as though not quite sure she could believe me.
‘Girls!’ my father’s voice echoed over the glass walls. Both of us snapped our faces up to look at our father.
‘Would you please join me?’
My sister and I looked at one another again. I saw the fear in Jenny’s face, sadness too … and worst of all, something that looked a lot like resignation. It didn’t matter if I thought she was a hero. She didn’t believe it. I couldn’t help but wonder what she saw looking at me.
‘Now,’ my father ordered.
I sighed. ‘We are in so much trouble.’