Chapter 2: DUDE, WHERE’S MY IDENTITY?

LIAM'S POV

I ran as fast as I could, my heart pounding against my chest.

Something in me screamed that they were going to catch me. I was already getting tired. My legs burned, and my breath came in short gasps, but I couldn’t stop.

Then I saw the crowd.

People were moving along the street, dressed in all kinds of costumes— witches, vampires, superheroes. That’s when it hit me.

Today was Halloween.

I didn’t think twice. I pulled my hood over my head, slowed down, and blended in with them. If anyone had been chasing me, they would lose me in this crowd.

And just like that, I escaped.

But my mind was still a mess.

I couldn’t process what had just happened.

I had seen someone. Someone who looked exactly like me. Not just a little bit— like a twin. But I don’t have a twin.

What the hell did I just see?

I shook my head. I needed to go home and rest. Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me.

...

When I reached the front of my apartment building, I felt a small sense of relief. Home. At least here, I could breathe.

I walked up to my door and reached into my pocket for my keys.

But my fingers found nothing.

A chill ran down my spine. I checked my other pocket.

Still nothing.

No keys. No ID.

Panic started to creep in.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Maybe I dropped them somewhere. Maybe—

The door suddenly opened.

A woman stepped out.

I froze.

She was casually dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, holding a set of keys in her hand.

My keys?

“What the fuck?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

The woman turned to look at me with a confused expression. “Is there a problem?” she asked.

I stared at her. This was my apartment. My home. What was she doing here?

I forced a small smile, even though my mind was racing. “Not at all,” I muttered.

She gave me one last strange look before she turned and started walking away.

A wild thought entered my mind.

Maybe she knew something. Maybe she could explain what the hell was going on.

“Do you know me?” I asked.

She turned slightly, her eyes studying me for a second.

“Nope,” she replied, then walked away.

I stood there, my whole body stiff.

She didn’t know me.

But this was my apartment. I had lived here for years.

Right?

A wave of fear crashed over me.

I had no keys. No ID.

It was like I didn’t exist.

Nowhere to Go

My first instinct was to go to my parents’ house in Brooklyn.

But it was too far.

And I didn’t have money.

The train was an option, but the thought of sitting in a closed space with people while my mind was spiraling out of control made me feel sick.

So I walked.

I walked until my legs gave up, and when I couldn’t go any further, I found a spot under a bridge and sat there.

Cold. Hungry. Confused.

That night, I slept under the bridge.

...

“Hey! Wake up!”

I groaned, my body aching as I opened my eyes.

A police officer was standing over me, looking down with suspicion.

“You okay, kid? You passed out here last night. You drunk?”

I sat up quickly, rubbing my face.

“No, I just…” I had no idea how to finish that sentence.

The officer gave me a long look. “Got any ID on you?”

My stomach twisted.

I didn’t.

I had nothing.

I hesitated, and that was all the answer he needed.

“Alright, let’s go,” he said, motioning for me to get up.

I wanted to protest, but what could I say? I had no proof of who I was.

They took me to the station.

Inside, they sat me down.

“Give us a contact,” one of the officers said. “Someone who can confirm who you are.”

My heart pounded.

What if this went wrong?

What if—

I took a deep breath.

The supernatural didn’t exactly do what she promised to do.

That was the only explanation for all this.

Then a name popped into my head.

Marcus.

I gave them his number.

Fifteen minutes later, Marcus walked in.

The moment I saw him, everything in me relaxed. He looked the same. The same deep brown eyes. The same sharp jawline. The same warmth I always felt when he was around.

I moved to hug him automatically—

The officer stopped me. “Calm down.”

I huffed, stepping back.

Marcus was frowning. He looked at me carefully, like he was trying to figure something out.

Then he sighed. “How come the NYPD arrested you—” he paused, then smirked slightly, “—the devil of Hell’s Kitchen?”

My stomach dropped.

My mouth went dry.

“What?” I whispered.

Marcus scoffed. “Come on, Daniel. I just met you, and you’re already giving me issues. Didn’t I tell you to leave me alone?”

Daniel.

That guy from last night.

That was his name.

Marcus thought I was him.

I went quiet. My brain was spinning, trying to catch up, trying to process what the hell was happening.

Marcus sighed again. “Whatever. Let’s go.”

I followed him out, but inside, I was panicking.

Nothing made sense.

I had come here to save Marcus. To rewrite the past. But this wasn’t my past.

And worst of all?

The person who looked exactly like me…

Was someone Marcus already knew.