Chapter 2

Fallon Goode was bored. Toby was asleep, and Avery was mad at him. Fallon's two best friends in the world. And of course, his mentor and Uncle, Michael Goode, was busy kidnapping a prisoner. Some kid that the Circle had wanted for a long time. Fallon didn't know how he felt about the Circle. They had saved him from his parents. His Uncle Mike had told him that his parents hated him. He was rescued from that fate, so the Circle had done something right. But Fallon didn't like the kidnapping. Other then that, the Circle was great. It was home. Fallon remembered the day when he was old enough to be told about his past.

Flashback

He was brought into a room, the dungeon of the castle. He was 6 years old. It was the day he joined. His Uncle sat across the room, behind a table. Fallon took the empty chair. Michael opened his mouth, and told Fallon how his parents were deserters from the Circle of Cavan, and how they mistreated him. How the Circle saved him. After the briefing, Fallon was given a mentor. Michael. He was trained by his mentor. He made friends with Toby and Avery, his roommates. He truly became a member of the Circle. But what unnerved him the most was his memory. If he remembered the questioning, he should have remembered his parents. But he didn't.

Present Day

There was a knock on the door to Fallon's room. Michael opened the door. Fallon stood up.

"The prisoner is here, Fallon. I want you to meet her" he said, his voice laced with something that Fallon couldn't identify. Fallon walked over to the door, and followed his Uncle out. The pair walked to the highest tower of the castle, and Michael opened the door, after undoing five different locks. He said some words to the girl behind the door, and Fallon wondered who she was. She seemed to know his Uncle. In fact, she looked a little like Michael Goode. Then, Michael spoke.

"Oh, Nira Goode, this is your brother" he said, and the girl gasped. Fallon felt a rush of dizziness. He had a sister?

Avery Parker wanted to see the prisoner. After his friend Fallon had told him about a sister he never knew, Avery had to confirm. He snuck away from his room, with Toby and Fallon behind him. The three roommates utilized their years of training to sneak up to the highest tower. Fallon took the lead as they reached the door, and he quietly eased open each lock, using a key he had pocketed earlier. Finally, the door swung open. Avery and Fallon crept inside, and Toby stood guard. Avery saw the girl sleeping on her bed, and he felt a pang of something. He assumed it was pity, but when the girl leapt out of bed, he was struck by how beautiful she was.

"Who are you?" the girl said, and Avery put his hands up. Fallon stepped out from behind Avery, and the girl suddenly leapt at him. Avery sidestepped her, and stuck out his leg. She tripped, and Avery leaned over her.

"Don't do that again" he said, trying to remain cool. He stuck out his hand, but she ignored it, and pushed herself up.

"I don't need your help" she said, and Avery registered the venom in her words.

"We came to help you" said Fallon, and he handed her a warm bun. The girl took it, sniffed it, and then handed it back.

"Take a bite" she said. "I don't trust you." Fallon did. Then the girl snatched it back and ate it. Avery watched in fascination. She was starving!

When she had finished, the girl stuck out her hand.

"I'm called Nira" she said. Fallon shook.

"I'm Fallon" he said.

"I already knew that" Nira spat. Her voice shook as she said "Why? Why did you abandon Mom?"

Avery watched in quiet horror as his friend fumbled for words. Fallon looked lost and hopeless.

"I didn't know" he finally said. "They lied to me."

"Where's Dad?" asked Nira, a steely look in her eyes. Fallon looked confused.

"How should I know?" he replied, sounding confused. Nira frowned.

"He was captured at the same time as you" she said. "Mom saved me."

Avery watched a look cross Fallon's face. It was not a good look. Fallon looked angry at something, but not Nira.

"They lied" he said, and his anger at the Circle was evident. Avery felt his heart begin to pound.

"Come on, Fal, let's go" he said, and he grabbed his friend's arm roughly. Fallon wrenched his arm free.

"Not yet. I want answers" he said. Avery looked at Nira pleadingly. But she didn't look back at him.

"The Circle took you and Dad. When I was 6" she told Fallon.

Fallon gasped. "I was 6 when I came here!" he said.

"And you didn't remember?" asked Nira.

Fallon put his hand on his forehead. "They made me forget" he whispered.

"Fallon!" shouted Avery, and the siblings both turned to him with a finger to their lips.

"Shush!" said Fallon. He turned back to his sister.

"How old are you now?" he asked.

"16" she replied.

"Me too" said Fallon. Avery moved to grab Fallon again, but before he could, Toby's face appeared around the door.

"Guys, it's time to go" he said, and Avery walked towards the door. Fallon reluctantly followed, but before he stepped out of the door, he called to Nira.

"I'll be back" he said. Then Avery closed the door, and the friends walked back to their room.