“Ready?” The doctor asked.
Karina shrugged. “I guess.” She’d spent time mentally preparing for the therapy.
A door opened at the end of the hallway and a figure stepped out. Her hair was blonde like Karina’s, her clothing matched Karina’s… Her eyes, her skin, her frame…
Karina raised the gun and pointed it at the clone.
“Don’t.” The clone squeaked.
But Karina didn’t listen. A shot rang through the room and the clone fell to the floor, dead.
The therapist looked mildly impressed. “Most people aren’t able to kill the first one.”
“I knew what I was signing up for.” Karina said coolly.
A trapdoor beneath the body opened, then closed. The hall was clean once more.
The door opened again and a second clone stepped out. She looked around but was killed before she could say anything.
“Instantly deprived of life. Did she deserve it?” The therapist asked.
Karina’s lower jaw quivered briefly, but she collected herself. “She was me… So yes.”
The third clone stepped into the hallway. Karina raised the gun. The clone looked shocked. “What… Are you… Me?”
She was quickly dispensed.
“A lot of resentment for someone who never caused you any harm.” The therapist said.
Karina said nothing.
“But I suppose that since she is you, she deserved it?”
Karina could only nod.
The door opened and Karina fired before she could see the clone’s face. The clone fell forward in pain before a second shot finished the job.
“All that potential…Gone in an instant.”
Karina watched the trapdoor open… The dead clone disappeared forever.
The door opened again and a fifth clone stepped out. Karina raised the gun. The clone looked toward her in shock and fear.
A tear ran down Karina’s cheek.
She dropped the gun.
She ran forward.
The clone looked surprised as Karina wrapped her arms around her, hugging her tight, crying.
“I’m sorry!” She wailed. “I’m so, so, so sorry!”
The clone embraced her original. “It’s okay!” She comforted, still obviously confused. “It’s okay!”
“I’m a terrible person.”
“No! You’re great!”
“No, you are.” Karina said through sobs. “You’re here supporting a total stranger.”
“But I am no stranger.” The clone said. “I’m you… And you’d do the same.”
“It’s a bit hard to feel self hatred when you’re forced to direct that feeling outward.” The therapist said. “In truth, if you met yourself, you’d love who you are and see all the wonderful qualities you so often ignore.”
Karina couldn’t speak. She merely hugged her clone, sobbing.