Ashes of Our Flame
by RapwizzyDebaron
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Episode 77: "The Devil Wears Her Face"
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Thunder cracked across the bruised sky as the van sped toward the city limits. Kara stared out the window, her reflection lost in the smear of rain and firelight. Beneath her calm mask, something darker brewed—rage, sorrow, purpose. They were one now.
Adrian's voice broke the silence. "According to Ronan's intel, Selene's forces will breach downtown by nightfall."
"And what about the prototype we saw in that pod?" Kara asked.
Tessa, eyes on her device, responded grimly. "She's active. But she's not like the others. No emotion. No hesitation. Just raw code."
Kara whispered, "Then she's exactly what Selene thinks I should've been."
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Lazarus HQ – Central Core
Inside the high-security core of the Lazarus facility, Selene stood before the golden-eyed clone, now dressed in sleek black armor. Unlike Pandora, this one didn't flinch. Didn't blink.
"She doesn't need a name," Vane said flatly. "She is the mission."
"No," Selene said with a cruel smile. "She's more than that now."
She walked toward the clone and reached out to touch her cheek — the same face, the same eyes as Kara's.
"You are everything the original failed to be. No fear. No love. No limits. You are Nemesis."
The clone spoke for the first time, voice devoid of warmth:
"Objective: eliminate Subject Zero."
"Good girl," Selene whispered.
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Back in the City – Gathering Storm
The rebel team had split into two: Ronan and Tessa hacking the defense grid, while Kara and Adrian scouted the inbound Lazarus convoy.
They found them near the edge of the old industrial district — ten trucks, soldiers in matte black armor, heavy artillery.
"Too many for a head-on fight," Adrian murmured.
Kara's eyes narrowed. "Then we don't fight head-on."
Using the shadows and the storm as cover, they slipped close, placing EMP charges beneath the lead vehicles. Each wire they clipped. Each fuse they lit. It felt like slicing deeper into Lazarus's lies.
But Kara paused suddenly.
Her breath caught.
She felt it.
Her.
Somewhere close… the clone with her heartbeat.
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Collision Course
Back at the safehouse, alarms blared.
Ronan yelled, "They've found us!"
Tessa pulled up surveillance—Nemesis was already inside the perimeter, moving like a wraith through walls, guards dropping behind her like shadows being snuffed out.
"She's inside. Kara has to know."
But before they could call out, Nemesis stood before the camera—looking directly into the lens.
She smiled.
Then the screen went black.
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The Confrontation Begins
Kara and Adrian returned too late. The building was scorched. Doors torn off. Blood on the walls.
"Tessa!" Adrian shouted.
A weak voice answered. "Down… basement…"
They raced below. Tessa was injured, arm torn, but alive.
"She didn't kill me," she gasped. "She could've—but she didn't. She wanted to leave a message…"
Kara knelt beside her, eyes like steel. "What message?"
Tessa looked up, blood staining her lips.
"She said… 'Tell her I'm waiting where it all began.'"
Adrian's voice dropped. "The old orphanage."
Kara stood slowly.
"That's where I was first found…"
Her fists clenched.
"That's where I'll end this."
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Somewhere Else
Nemesis sat on the crumbling steps of the abandoned orphanage, head tilted toward the wind.
No fear. No questions.
Only instinct.
She touched the locket around her neck—the one stolen from Kara's past.
Inside was a photo.
Two children. One smile.
One life stolen.
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To be continued…
🔥 When shadows wear your face, will you choose to fight… or fall?
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The truth is circling back — and it's wearing Kara's skin.