The Next Reminder

Chapter XVII || Charlotte.

*Henry's POV*

I start to wonder if I actually want to keep laying on this bed, figuring out this is Clay's room. I sigh, looking around the room. It's quite spacious, and so is the bed. I sprawl out onto the mattress. With being six foot, it's hard to find mattresses that don't make your feet go off the end of the bed. The door knob clicks, and the door swings open. Micheal walks in.

His piercing blue eyes and his dark hair make him look like his father when we were in college. "What happened, dude?" He asks, sitting down on the bed beside me. I fiddle with the sheets trying to come up with an answer.

"Your sister and your father happened." I say plainly.

"Holy shit..." Micheal frown, "What kind of antics did they get into this time?"

I explain my situation again, and Micheal nods as a way to tell me to keep going. "...and that is how I got this." I pull down the sleeve of my flannel, showing the purple scars covering the top of my arm.

"We're in the same boat..dad used to use me as his test dummy." Micheal sighs, hugging himself. "It's a shame he's still alive, you know?"

"He should've been dead when we threw him in that fire last spring." I say, remembering when Elizabeth threw him in that fire, and then set the place on fire, somehow, he lived. I sigh, getting up and looking out the window.

"We're ending him this time. I know it." Micheal says hopefully.

*William's POV*

"Help me up, will you?" I ask Elizabeth as she walks into the room, cackling.

"Oh! That was HILARIOUS!" She laughs, holding out a robotic hand. "That was my idea, actually. I didn't think he'd actually go through with it."

"What?! Your idea?" I demand answers, as she goes to get my cane.

"Clay and I suggested Henry seduces you, because we both know you're very fond of him." Elizabeth crosses her arms, and I struggle to find my footing again. "You aren't an old man, hurry it up!!"

I groan, "Why did I ever agree to let you help me again? From all this swapping back and forth, you aren't exactly reliable."

"Because I'm your daughter, duh!" Elizabeth smiles, walking over to the cabinet filled with bottles of remnant, leaning on the counter.

I shake my head, "remember those adoption papers? Technically, you're Henry's daughter now, Elizabeth Emily. I look down at her, her robot fake Charlie form a few inches shorter than I am. "Speaking of Henry...I have an idea." I grin.

"What is that?" Elizabeth narrows her eyes, looking up at me.

"You pretend to be Charlie. That will destroy him." I sneer, and Elizabeth warps into actual Charlie form, the metal that used to show on her face was no more. She wore a purple shirt, with a dark green jacket and dark blue jeans, paired with black leather combat boots.

"And then, you test if the remnant actually worked. With all of those symptoms, he should live, but I just want to know for sure." Elizabeth nods, understanding.

"I won't disappoint you." Elizabeth smiles, running out of the room to begin her mission.

*"Charlotte's" POV*

I knock on the door of the Burke household. I know he is here. I'm not sure why, but something tells me he certainly wouldn't want to go back to his house after what happened yesterday.

"He-" Clay answers the door, a mug in his hands. It falls to the ground, and his jaw hangs open. "No.. you're supposed to be dead. I watched you die."

"What are you talking about?" I raise my eyebrow, hoping I was acting some-what in character. I fiddle with the sleeves of my jacket, looking up at Clay. "I want to talk to my dad."

Clay nods, moving out of the way, I step over the broken mug, and he grumbles to himself before bending down and picking up the pieces. "Your dad should be upstairs, Carlton can lead you there." Clay yells for his son, and Carlton's face goes pale when he sees me.

"Oh my god, Charlie!" Carlton runs up to me and hugs me tight, and I hug him back. He lets me go, and jumps up and down, "So," he calms down, "you're trying to find Henry? I can do that." Carlton walks up the stairs, waving at me to follow. I struggle walking up the stairs in my chunky combat boots, wishing I was still in my heels. Carlton leads me to a bigger bedroom, and inside, Henry sits on the bed. His face darkens as he notices me. He doesn't trust me, I think. Carlton shuts the door behind me, leaving Henry and I alone.

"No. You aren't real, this isn't real, you are DEAD." Henry says, standing up. He points at me, and his hands shake. Fear is in his eyes, and using his other hand, he pushes his dirty blond hair out of his eyes.

"Dad..." I say, my lip quivering, my tone as if I am about to cry. "It is me, I know you might not believe it right now, but I'm telling the truth! How could you not trust your own daughter?"

He looks into my eyes for a moment, running up to me and sweeping me in a hug. He holds the back of my head as if I'm a baby, and he sobs. "Charlotte..."

"I love you so much, dad.." I hug him back, almost being lifted off the floor.

"I love you, too, Charlotte.." he releases the hug, tears streaming down his face. "What happened? Whatever happened to you?" He asks, sitting down on the bed, waiting for an answer.

"Well.. I don't really remember what happened. I know William stabbed me, and the last thing I saw was your horrified face in the window. I think I was taken away by someone? I'm not sure, it's all a blur." I say, scratching my head as if that will make me remember. "I'm sorry, dad."

"It's okay.. it's good to know that you're still here with me-actually! I have something for you." Henry smiles, hopping off of the bed and turning around. This is the perfect moment to strike, but I want to spend a few more days leading him on before I put my plan into action. My feet hit the floor as I get off the bed, following Henry, lagging behind. He turns around, holding Theodore in his hands. "Theodore. I'm not entirely sure if his audio still works, but I haven't tried." He shrugs, handing Theodore over to me.

I squeeze Theodore, and the audio of my dad's voice plays, "I lo- y- Ch-rlo-e" It's practically begging to be put out of it's misery, and I sadly smile. "Thank you, dad.. I've missed Theodore all this time." I smile, holding Theodore close.