Hello! To answer your question, no, I am not dead. School has gotten so busy that I have had very little time to write, with schoolwork, volleyball, basketball, band, theater, and extracurriculars crowding up my schedule. I apologize for this, and hope you will forgive me.

Dedicated to the amazing WeepingWings. I promised I would write her a Lab Rats fic back in July, and I always keep my promises, even if it takes 5 months. The other story is on it's way. Enjoy!

Elusive

I recoil as Adam strikes me yet again. I collapse to the floor, placing my fingertips to the tender, red mark that my older brother has left on my cheek. What have I done to deserve a beating? I told Adam that he needed to gain some maturity after he lost one of Mr. Davenport's valuable prototypes. It hurts to know that he only gets this angry around me. After I told him- well, I suppose that I should mention that most of his friends were present when I chewed him out, and that they laughed when I said,"Adam, it's clear that you are as stupid and forgetful as a hamster- and even they are smarter than you." HIs cheeks burned red with anger and embarrassment. His friends were doubled over with laughter that I, Adam Davenport's tiny, wimpy little brother, could humiliate him that badly.

Adam advances, his fists clenched. He slams them into my stomach and legs. I gasp for breath, regretting that I had ever said anything. He had hunted me down after his friends had left, and Tasha, Mr. Davenport, and Leo had gone to the movies. Bree had left for the mall. I groan as his fist connects with my cheek. He kicks me in the ribs for good measure. "Good riddance," he growls, and heads for the elevator at the back of the lab.

After he has gone, and my bionic hearing detects the front door slamming as he leaves the house, I sit up and take a painful, rattling deep breath. I wish Bree were here, though I doubt she would have stuck up for me. The last thing she had told me before disappearing with Caitlyn was,"Later, nerd. Enjoy being alone." I take it back. I don't wish Bree were here. She would just help Adam put me down.

I slowly stand up and make my way over to my capsule. After setting the control board to medical attention, I step inside the glass tube and wait as the system does it's job. I step out, my arm in a sling, and my cuts and bruises tended to. These aren't going anywhere soon.

I am startled out of my thoughts by a loud piercing alarm that rattles my skull. The mission alarm! I suddenly remember that Tasha made Leo and Mr. Davenport leave their phones at home because of their tendency to take selfies during movies and get them kicked out. Only Tasha has her cell, and it's not programmed to alert her when a new mission comes up. Bree's phone is with her, but she won't answer if she sees it's me. Her phone only alerts her when Davenport sends the alert to her Wait! I might have Caitlyn's number… but I got rid of it when she set up a prank with Adam and hacked into my phone with Davenport's help. Tasha is my only hope now. I glance at my smartphone and reach for it, but my heart leaps into my throat when I see what the mission is.

A roaring fire encircles an enormous warehouse. The buildings around it are in flames as well. Bree could fix this problem instantly by creating a vortex that would put out the fire faster than the blink of an eye. I send a text to Bree telling her to get back home, but she doesn't answer. I figured she wouldn't. I try Tasha, but she doesn't reply either. I swallow nervously. Looks like this mission's mine.

I shut off the alarm, then quickly change into my gear, wincing as I slip off the sling and flexing my arm tensely. It seems okay, and the throbs and stings of my cuts and bruises have faded into the background. I nod determinedly. I can do this.

I slip out the mission door- and suddenly remember I need transportation. Duh! Adam would laugh if he were here. The thought fills me with anger, and I head up to on of Mr. Davenport's garages. Among the clutter of awesome, energy saving vehicles, I spot one that is exactly what I need- a bike, small, but fast, with many compartments and notches. I see the name of the vehicle and roll my eyes- the Davenspeeder? Really? At least it is full of fuel, though covered in a fine layer of dust. Clearly it hasn't been used in a long while, so no one will miss it. I check my phone one last time, but still no answer from Tasha or Bree. I turn off my GPS signal, but my powers still work- ever since the time Adam, Bree, and I had disappeared onto that freighter and almost been killed, I had been working on a way to block my signal, but still be able to use all of my abilities to their full extent. I had finally cracked it a few weeks ago, but I had never told anyone.

I suddenly realize that once the mission is over, I will have to come home to the teasing, bullying, and anger that is my life. The thought fills me with depression, and in that moment, I know I am never coming back. I am so tired of constantly being on guard against Adam, Bree, and Mr. Davenport. They are my family! Why do they put me down so much? It is all so sudden, but I am determined to never see this mansion again. Sure, I love them- but I refuse to be around them because of the way they treat me.

I throw my cell phone against the wall with such force that it shatters. Good riddance. I can and will willingly live without contact with my family for the rest of my life. I switch on the Davenspeeder and lead it out a side door. I look back into the garage, and seeing all of those vehicles named after my egomaniacal father fills me with such anger that I slam the door shut with a rumbling CRACK. The Davenspeeder will not be known by that name anymore. Now, it will be know as the Rumbler. No way will I keep any connection to my dad. Otherwise, I will be found.

I stand, staring at my former home. The only thing I regret is leaving Tasha and Leo. They were the only ones who didn't put me down constantly. Finally, I turn and mount the bike. I speed off to the mission site and don't look back.

So, this might seem a little sudden, but I've had this idea since September and have been wanting to write it down. I hope you enjoyed this!

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