Chapter 9 - The New Ally

Ben's eyes locked onto the figure, and he saw a glimmer of recognition in their eyes.

It was a young man, a young man who Ben had never seen before.

The young man smiled, and Ben saw a glint of hope in their eyes.

"Ben," they said. "I've been watching you. I've been watching you escape."

Ben's eyes widened in surprise as he realized that the young man was a rebel.

Ben had heard of rebels, but he had never met one before.

The young man took a step forward, and Ben saw that they were holding a small device.

"A tool," they said. "A tool that will help us escape the System."

Ben's eyes locked onto the device, and he saw a glimmer of hope in their eyes.

"Ben, I'm glad you're here," they said. "I've been searching for you. We need to work together to take down the System."

Ben's heart racing, he tried to think of a way to work with the young man.

He had never met a rebel before, but he knew that he had to trust them.

As they stood there, Ben saw something that made his heart sink.

The System's mark on the young man's wrist was the same as the one on his mother's wrist.

Ben's eyes locked onto the young man's, and he saw a glimmer of fear in their eyes.

"We have to be careful," they said. "The System will stop at nothing to keep us in line."

Ben nodded, and the young man smiled.

"Good," they said. "We have a lot to do."

As they stood there, Ben realized that he had found a new ally.

A new partner in the fight against the System.

Ben's heart racing, he tried to think of a way to work with the young man.

But as he looked into their eyes, he saw something that made his blood run cold.

They were not just allies. They were the System's new puppet.

Ben's mind racing, he tried to think of a way to escape.

But as he looked at the young man, he saw something that made his heart sink.

They were not just a rebel. They were a clone.

A clone of the System's original design.

Ben's eyes locked onto the young man's, and he saw a glimmer of hope in their eyes.

But then, he saw something that made his heart sink.

They were not just a rebel. They were a threat.

Chapter end