Born Again
By K. D. Wentworth, first published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
In a society where Jesus clones are commonplace, a group of Jesus clones try to awaken their holy powers by attempting to kill a teenage girl and raise her from the dead.
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Plot Summary
In an undetermined time, a teenage girl, Bailee, and her friend, Harmony, do homework and bicker with her Jesus clone. Jesus clones are commonplace, and they are sold to families to help them feel closer to God. Her Jesus clone, however, has been trying fruitlessly to perform miracles. She and Harmony go shopping, and they bring their Jesus clone with them. Harmony and the clone grow closer together when Jesus pays for Harmony's clothes out of "charity". Each week, Jesus attends a group meeting with other Jesus clones where they discuss their progress in becoming like the original Jesus. Later that night, the Jesus clone leaves the house, refusing to tell Bailee where he's going. Bailee sneaks out to follow him, and realizes that he and a group of Jesus clones have gathered together to kill Harmony in order to try to raise her back from the dead. She tries to stop them, but they don't listen. However, her Jesus clone has a change of heart and distracts them by burning bushes before they can harm her best friend. The three of them go back home and try to press charges, but drop them because the clones are indistinguishable. The clones drop the idea and start a football league. Her Jesus clone is grounded for a month.
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