63 Simulacrum

Paul let go of my hand accompanied with the sound of his standing up. "Are we finished??..." I asked opening my eyes looking at him.

He nodded looking at the mound of snow. The small mound of snow now sculpted into a human figure, slowly its appearance changed from the head working its way down. The surface changing from pristine white snow into a brown skinned human, its hair of snow magically becomes stands of real looking dark brown hair. Slowly it became a mirror image of myself wearing his trench coat.

"You wasn't joking.... about it being a clone...." I said in disbelief looking at a clone of myself standing in front of me.... "Wait why she is naked???!!!" I yelled at Paul.

"I forgot.... to bring an extra set of clothes..... Besides.... that's why I threw over my trench coat." he answered looking at me with a look of complete innocence.

"Paul???.." it suddenly spoke causing both of us to look back at it. "It is you!!! I've missed you so much!" it screamed jumping at him sending both of them to the ground it hugging him tightly.

Feeling awkward I turned to look for Scarlet and Ashley. Both of them also witness what just conversed stepped back in shock quickly turning their heads in different directions pretending they saw nothing.

"One second." Paul said pushing it off him.

"Sorry... I just got a little overwhelmed seeing you again after so many years..." it replied to him getting off him and standing up.

"It's alright..... I understand." he said getting up.

"Anyways..... I want you to meet everyone." he said pointing at everyone else and signalling Ashley and Scarlet go come over.

"I know who everyone else is! That's Emilia, Scarlet and Ashley." it replied as everyone got together.

"Hi...." I cautiously greeted is being unsure how to feel, looking at a clone of myself.

"Hi!" it replied back with a smile.

"Do you know....???..." I asked cautiously.

"A clone?.... yes of course." it smiled.

"Ummmm..... So what do we do now...??.." I asked Paul.

"Well.... it all depends if you want to stay here....or go...." he asked me.

"Can we go somewhere warmer??? It's abit chilly here....." the clone asked her voice began to quiver her hands wrapped around her arms to try and keep warm.

"Sure...." Paul answers it opening a portal which seemed to lead back to his room.

"Scarlet could you help Ashley retrieve his equipment??..." he asked her.

"Sure no worries." She answered with an amazing intense burst of speed she retrieved Ashley's equipment within a few seconds even though the poles were placed very far apart.

"Lets go." Scarlet said with a huge smile.

"...….So.... I'll return the equipment we borrowed." Ashley instantaneously said the moment we all stepped back into the room waving goodbye.

"Wait Ashley.. I need to give you the rods..." Scarlet yelled after him following him out the room.

Paul stood there back turned towards us staring at the door as it slowly closed with a click, the room now completely silent. We all stood there for a few minutes completely silent waiting for Paul to react, I wouldn't be surprised if a ball of tumbleweed rolled by.

"So.... Let's get started with the briefing." He said finally recuperating himself.

"Sure!" The clone replied with a giant smile.

"Okay....." I replied sounding and looking alot less jolly... 'I thought they said near perfect...'

"So... Emilia... do you want to stay here or go home?.." Paul asked.

"Ummm.....-" I hesitantly said.

"She would like to stay here." The clone interrupted me informing him.

I leaned back in shock as she interrupted me informing him how I felt.

"Ummmm... If you don't mind... can I maybe.... Hear it from the real Emilia?..." Paul hesitantly asked the clone without trying to sound too rude.

"Okay sure!" she answered him with a big smile.

"In the meantime go into my wardrobe and find something to wear." He ordered her.

"Okay!" she said walking to his wardrobe.

"So Emilia would you like to stay or go?.." He asked with a gentle smile.

Turning to the clone, "Are you gonna be okay?... you'll look after mum and dad right?.." I asked her.

"Yeah of course I miss mum and dad too." She replied to me as she ruffled through clothes to change into the wardrobe doors completely obscuring her.

Her reply reminded me how much I missed home, causing my eyes to being welling up. "I changed my mind I'll go home.." I turned to Paul.

"You sure?.." He asked me.

The clone walked back wearing a Paul's overly large shorts and shirt, "I know you miss home.... but I also know you really want to stay... don't worry your family will be in good hands I promise." She promised me. "So I'll go back... and you live your dream... Okay?.." She said trying to persuade me.

I pondered for a few minutes my feelings in complete conflict with one another, she placed her forehead on mine "Don't worry I'll take good care of everyone." She whispered to me.

"Okay..." I agreed, "Make sure Dad doesn't get too stressed, and make sure Mum doesn't work too hard.... and and..." I said scrambling for important things to remind her.

"It's going to be okay.... don't worry, remember I'm you!" she replied with a smile.

"Okay okay...." I broke away from her nodding. "Paul... I'll stay...." I said to him.

"You sure?.... you still look a little unsure…" He replied looking saddened.

"I am sure...." I replied to him

"So I'll brief Emilia Clone on what's gonna happen..... and the story with my contact on the other side, if you want to stay you can.... but it's getting late so I dunno if you wanna get back to your friends." Paul said.

"Can I stay a little to hear your plan?.." I asked.

"Sure of course you can.... Take a seat both of you, I'll go get some snacks." He said heading into the kitchen.

The clone wrapped her arms around my shoulder as we headed to the sofa taking a seat. Paul soon came out holding two bowls of crisps sweets and chocolates with a jug water and a few glass cups floating behind him. Placing it all on the table and pouring us a glass of water he took a seat opposite to us. The clone feeling comfortable with the situation began tucking into the snacks waiting for Paul to being. I couldn't help but stare at her..... Looking at a literal living breathing mirror copy of myself.

"So..... The plan is... I'll send you back home I have some contacts that I've paid off to do me this favour. Once on the other side you will meet my best mate Jaymesh, he will have a cover story prepped for you and everything you need." Paul explained to the clone, the clone nodded in understanding completely agreeing with him.

"Wait... Jaymesh... from college... your best friend?" I asked in shock recognizing his name.

"Yes... so... You will from now on be working for Jaymesh, in his Legal Department." Paul replied.

"He owns a company?.." I asked, remembering that I heard Jaymesh was doing well for himself.

"Yeah... he's the owner of a pretty big company." Paul answered.

"Ohhh that's nice!" I replied.

"Yes so once you get home... He will meet you and brief you." Paul said to the clone.

"Okay." The clone smiled at him.

"So Emilia…. anything else you would like to add?.." I asked.

"Umm just take care of Mum and Dad okay?.." She asked.

"Of course." The clone replied with an endearing smile.

"And of course... once Term is over and we get back.... She will switch places with you…. and you can stay with me so nothing crazy confusing happens." Paul added.

"Sure." She agreed.

"Right…. So once we are all good... I'll take you to my associate and we'll send you back home." Paul informed the clone.

"Sure." She replied again.

"So Emilia... we are all sorted now.... so we'll be making a move... stay as long as you want." Paul smiled at me.

"Okay..." I replied.

"Don't worry Mum and Dad will be completely fine." She said one last time giving me a hug before standing up.

"Don't worry Emilia Everything will be fine." Paul smiled also getting up, opening a portal to another building. "Shall we?.." He asked the clone, the clone nodded and giving me one last smile mouthing Goodbye walking into the portal.

"Take care Emilia everything back home will be fine there's nothing to worry about now." Paul informed me with a smile before walking into the portal shutting behind him leaving me alone in the room.