Chapter 1

I couldn't breathe.

There was darkness all around with sounds of scratching and scurrying of what could have been mice. A thousand frantic thoughts flooded my mind in the single space of a heart-beat. Everything was then silent and I knew, my worst nightmares had come true. 

Where am I? What am I doing here?

My eyes were open yet I couldn't see. I was breathing but I was being smothered by the thickness of the air. A sudden sensation of something tugging my right arm with such abrupt force caused me to shriek. Everything went silent.

The tug came again but this time stronger. My only thought was to fight it but I couldn't seem to move, I had no choice. It was happening. Out of all my choices in my head of what to do just went away. Finally the tug came again and I was awake. 

I could feel someone's hand over my mouth and another on my arm where I felt the tugging. I looked around the dark room until my eyes rested upon my brother. I stilled my thrashing, confused. He let me go and took a step back, regarding me with content. I slowly sat up in my bed, my heart still pounding. 

"Leo?"

"You were talking in your sleep again Andy."

This was his way of an apology for scaring me to death?

"Andy you said this would stop", he continued. "That this would be different. It hasn't changed and I'm worried." 

I sighed putting my hand on my forehead to feel beads of sweat. I wanted to explain to him that it was going to get better but what's the use. "Sorry Leo."

"Don't let this happen again Andy." He turned to face the door, and I protested.

"Leo." I exclaimed. "I can't control it and you know that."

"Shh," he chastised. "You'll wake everyone up. And I know, but you need to learn how to."

He left shutting the door without another word, leaving me frustrated. The memory of the darkness of my dream that had subsided came back. How can I control something when I'm not awake? A late-night wake-up meant it was one of my bad episodes. It usually meant constant thrashing, occasional talking- which was the norm. Normally something like that would just be ignored but what was I doing? A long time ago my parents put me in an institution for my delusions, I was let out on the idea I had been cured. Was Leo thinking the same thing? What if he's getting tired of this and wants to put me back?

For a moment, the world swam itself around me, and I held my hands out to the edges of my bed to steady myself. Mental Institutions or any institutions. They are every child's nightmare to visit or be put in like me, for seeing things and speaking to myself along with the episodes. I never want to experience that torment again. While I was there I remember the "brainwashing" forming me into their perfect study puppet they controlled. I knew only one other person who was put in the facility and honestly, I I believe he's never made it out. He was the closest thing to a "friend" I can think of. He too was "brainwashed" making him develop a different personality. After that he and I never really got to speak to each other again. Poor guy.

My brother's command to control whatever it is that I was doing echoed in the back of my head, and I tried to shake it off my fears. Remembering the threat-like demeanor in his voice, my heart started to race. Leo was right about one thing, everything was different now our parents were gone. And I'm sure Leo wasn't taking kindly to watching after me 24/7. Ever since the passing and bringing me back home from the loony-bin, the house has held all the warmth of a prison camp. Arguments had gone on between Leo and residents next door had me tiptoeing around.

Leo.

What id Leo really thinking?

The questioned burned through me as I sat there cooling off. I knew he was at his breaking point and this meant terrible things. I made haste getting out of bed I threw on an over shirt over my silk tank-top. A change from little PJ bottoms to sweats went right after. 

My hair was slightly a problem. Even if I only laid down for 30 minutes it would stick up in all places, well I slept for four hours. Instead of going through the hassle of tangles, I opted for a messy bun. Quick and easy without much preparation for anything.

I quickly made my way down the stairs in perfect silence, careful, again, to avoid hurting myself. The den was dark, but light spilled out from the kitchen. Curious, I walked in. A light sigh was made at my entrance. My brother was leaning against the counter casually with a cup of tea, an image I know best: by being stressed.

"Andy," He said quietly. "I believe you remember Valentine Danvers?"

Our past has finally caught up with us as the man stood by the kitchen window, arms crossed, looking tough and lean as I remembered. I would hardly say we were friends- especially since certain actions at the institute putting us under some sort of "house-arrest." He nodded to me in a polite greeting, his face playful and coy.

Three other people were there as well, all men. They were not introduced to me but identified as assistance. They all seemed to be very young in complexion but their ages were in their 30's. All of them were dressed in business attire of course, black suits with pink, white, and or red ties. I'm sure their attire was to attract attention, they weren't exactly bad looking. 

Again, my unease grew. Was this some sore of trick? Another dream? I crossed my arms over my chest and schooled my face to neutrality, hoping I looked in control. 

No one uttered a word until my brother stood strait and set his tea cup down. He seemed uneasy as I was. I watched him take in the scene around him, I knew he felt trapped without another way out. I met with his eyes and tried to send a silent message of sympathy. He just looked away from me to the men in out kitchen.

"Andy," said my brother. He let my name hang in the air in this way he had, making it clear to everyone that he was defeated.

"I don't understand, Theodore," said Valentine. "Why have you called upon my company?"

"Well, that's the problem," my brother said. "Andy-Miranda was requested... but I swear she's not ready. In fact, I know she isn't. She's suffering major episodes still. You can see for yourself... can you just..."

My mind immediately began piecing everything together. First, and most importantly, it seemed I wasn't going to be going back to an institution. Not yet, at least. This was about something else, something bigger. My brother was right, whatever it was they wanted, obviously I wasn't ready for it. 

I stepped forward, not knowing what I was going to say until I spoke. The only thing I knew for sure was that I could not let Leo get sucked into something I was apart of. I feared for his safety over anything else. "I'm not sure whatever Leo is trying to protect me from. I assure you, I am fully qualified to serve in whatever way you need-- much more so than any other."

"A little too much assurance for something you have no idea about, if memory serves," said Valentine. "I'm not thrilled about tossing a half-tainted girl out there, but I also find it hard to believe someone who is also having current episodes to be fully qualified."

I smiled pleasantly, masking my anger. If I showed my true emotions, it wouldn't help my case. The other men shared equally condescending looks, even my brother. Only Valentine looked doubtful, but then he gave his famous coy smirk.

My brother glanced among the others, waiting for further comment. When none came, he shrugged. "If no one has any objections, I'd rather we train Miranda. Not that I entirely understand what you need her for." There was a slightly accusing tone in his voice over not having been filled in yet. Leo Jacobs didn't like being left out of the loop.

"As you said Theodore, she's not ready." Valentine had made his way past me to the front door, pursued by his pose. He was on his way out when he turned back. "Besides, she doesn't appear to have the mark we're looking for so she can't be the one." He left but not before winking at me.

Silence fell among-st Leo and I once again, confusion being my state. "Leo, what was that about?" 

Leo opened the fridge and removed four small vials, each filled with light blue and green speckled liquid. Labels that I couldn't read marked each one. With a steady hand and practiced eyes, Leo poured precise amounts from each vial into a larger bottle. When he used all four, he produced a tiny packet of powder that he emptied into the rest of the mix. The bottled contents turned into a light purple. He held the bottle with a needle ready in his other hand.

I obediently turned around and lifted the back of my shirt to expose my bare back. "How much has it spread?" I kept my head down, looking made it worse.

"This will sting a little, but nothing like when we first did it. It's just a touch-up," he explained kindly.

"I know," I said. This was a temporary cure. "Thanks."

The needle pricked my skin, and I tried not to wince. It did sting, but like he said, this wasn't as bad as the first time. Leo was simply injecting me with small amounts of serum into me. It helped slow down the spread of a mark that was developing ever since I was born, also the side effects like the episodes. 

"Don't tense," said Leo gently.

I hand't realized I had been. "Sorry."

"There you are," Leo told me, stepping back. "You can move now."

I obeyed and resisted the urge to scratch at my back. The things I felt from this was the pain from the serum and the urge to scratch at the injection site afterwards. Leo did a great job of keeping me in hiding for the most part but hiding this mark was going to be harder. The mark was white and it grew up my neck to the back of my left ear, down to my left fore-arm. 

"Leo," I said turning back around to him. "Can we talk about this?"

He regarded me coldly. "Talk about what Andy? There's nothing to talk about."

I crossed my arms over my chest again, anger refueling me. At least I can show my emotions to him. "Leo please."

"Andy," he said as he gritted his teeth. "That's enough for tonight please-- go back to bed. Leave it for tomorrow. We have to move so they con't find us again. They'll be back."

And like that he was gone back up the stairs. I was left alone now, confused and angry. What was it about tonight? Who were those people I agreed to work for? What was this mark? SO many questions filled my head, walking back up to my room.

Finally in my bed, shutting my eyes I drifted to darkness again.