Our first look at the family of 5

That evening the five of them all sat in the living room, gathered as a family for the first time. Susan sat in a reclining chair reading a book while the kids watched a movie, Sarah by herself on a loveseat, and Zayne on the middle of the couch, sandwiched by Amber and Brenna, one snuggled up on his right and the other on his left, both dressed decently by definition, but wearing skimpier clothes than Sarah was comfortable with, given the weekend’s events. She wished they would’ve put on bras, but at least they weren’t naked anymore.

Susan had had a talk with the four of them; the house they were in was not made for 5 people, so they each had to find new residence; it would be up to them to decide their living arrangements…but they were all adults now. She was more than happy for Zayne and Sarah to stay when it was just the three of them…their presence kept her from feeling too lonely, and they understood her better too.

Zayne, meanwhile, wasn’t focused on what was on tv at all, as he was pondering everything he had seen and heard. The two ‘Sarah clones’ had appeared after making physical contact, and they both had expressed desire to be pleasing to him. It made Zayne wonder if he were the cause, which naturally sparked the question, could he control it? Could he replicate it again? Based on his current situation, he might want to. He need to talk to someone about this…but who?

—---------------------------------------------

“Hey Mom?” Zayne approached his mother cautiously, unsure how she would feel about what he had to say.

“Yes dear?” Susan had just finished getting ready for bed when Zayne came to her room.

“I think… I think I’m the cause of my Sarah’s copies. I don’t have a lot to go on right now, other than their high level of comfort with me. Amber and Brenna seem drawn to me, not to Sarah. But I don’t know how it’s happening or why yet. I think that’s what Sarah’s struggling with too, not knowing how or why, but I’m starting to think I’m the source. Somehow.”

Susan listened as Zayne speculated. She was worried immensely about what was happening to her family and children, but knew she needed to be the calm anchor for them. She knew this was a trial unlike any other, and she needed to be there for her kids. And now Zayne was confiding in her because of it.

“It makes some sense, you’re right. They have seemed rather attached to you rather than your sister. What are you going to do?”

Zane was thoughtful with his response, but ultimately shared the questions he had, “I’d like to test it, to find out if it was a fluke, or if it’s controllable. I don’t want to just create random copies of people for no reason, but I want to know…more. I haven’t worked anything out beyond that.”

“And what’s going to happen tomorrow? You and Sarah have classes tomorrow, Amber and Brenna are not obligated to that. I assume then that they’ll be home alone? Do you trust them like that?”

“I think we can. If their behavior toward me is any indication, I think it’ll be fine to leave them here tomorrow alone.”

Susan considered her son's thoughts. “I'm going to hold you responsible for them tomorrow.”

—------------------

Amber and Brenna laid down together on the pull-out bed in the living room. Sarah was in her room, behind a locked door.

“She doesn't trust us.” Brenna said. “She had nearly come to accept your presence when I…appeared.”

“I know. But…I'm- we're- I'm not drawn to Sarah,” Amber whispered. “I- ….it's Zayne. That's who I'd do anything for. Even if he is my brother.”

Brenna looked at Amber curiously, but knowingly. “Anything? …Yeah I know what you mean. The way he looks at us, (or tries not to), when we're naked…it's exactly what I want.”

Amber smiled, glad she and her sister were on the and page.