The mirror was lying.
Because when Rhea turned away from it—she still saw her reflection smirking behind her.
And deep inside her chest… something smiled back.
Skyspire – Isolation Bay, Level -4
Rhea backed away from the mirror slowly, her breath catching in her throat.
It didn't blink.
Didn't move when she did.
The surface of the glass stayed smooth—but her reflection tilted its head.
The same way RHEA-2 used to.
"Kairo," she whispered, activating her earpiece. "Are the isolation rooms secured?"
"All containment seals are stable. Why?"
"I think I'm being haunted. Digitally."
Kairo hesitated.
"The merge might have left behind shadow data… residual programming from the clone's neural imprint. But it shouldn't be active."
"Tell that to the glass."
Minutes Later – Lucien's Quarters
Lucien opened the door before she knocked.
He didn't ask. Just pulled her into his arms.
"Couldn't sleep," she muttered into his chest.
"Nightmares?"
"Worse. Mirrors."
He cupped her face, thumbs brushing the edge of her jaw.
"You're safe here."
"I'm not scared of her," Rhea said, stepping back, fierce. "I'm scared of liking the part she left behind."
Lucien frowned. "What do you mean?"
"She was ruthless. Brilliant. Unapologetic. She didn't hesitate. I do."
Lucien stepped closer. His hand found her waist like it belonged there.
"You hesitate because you care. That doesn't make you weak. That makes you human."
She looked up at him, eyes glassy.
"But what if the system made me too human? What if that's the weakness she warned me about?"
"Then we weaponize it."
And he kissed her like a vow.
It was softer this time. Not rushed. Not desperate. But deep. Intentional.
His lips brushed against hers with the kind of reverence usually reserved for prayers.
"I'm not losing you to code," he said. "Not again."
System Core – Hidden Layer Detected
While they slept tangled in each other's warmth, somewhere deep inside the network…
A sequence began to unravel.
[RHEA-2 Echo File Reconstructing…]
[Emotional Override Unstable]
[Launching: Reflection Protocol]
And in the stillness of a dark mirror across the hall…
A figure smiled.
"Let's see how much of me she really absorbed."
Morning After --
Rhea woke up to Lucien's steady breathing against her neck, sunlight brushing over their tangled limbs like the world hadn't nearly ended.
But the moment she sat up—
Every screen in the room flashed white.
[SYSTEM ALERT: REFLECTION PROTOCOL ACTIVE]
Lucien blinked awake. "Rhea?"
She was already on her feet.
Heart pounding. Hands shaking.
Because from the center of the screen…
Her own face stared back at her.
Only this time, it spoke.
"Good morning, Rhea. Let's finish what we started."
[To be continued…]