Four

Limits

Serena hummed to herself, trying to keep her spirits up in this prison. A prison it was to her, because a prison is simply a place you don't want to be in, and you can't escape.

She opened her mouth, and began to sing, listening to her voice bouncing off of the concrete walls, a tear rolling down her cheek as she thought of her sister. Dear Maggie, her only friend.

The door opened a crack, and Elle poked her head through. "You awake? "

"Yes. " Seri sat up now, suspicious.

Elle slipped through the door, shutting it silently as she turned to face the younger girl, electricity jumping from her fingers to the doorknob. "I thought you looked kind of lonely earlier, and came to see if you needed anything. "

"My sister. But, you can't do that, can you? "

"Bring an ordinary person here? No. But if she has an ability, then... "

"Not that I know of. "

Both were quiet for a while. Elle turned around, and as she left, called over her shoulders, "Sleep tight, darling. You'll need it for tomorrow. "

I X I X I X I X I X I

An empty bottle flew across the alleyway, shattering on the graffiti covered brick. Sylar flexed his fingers, a nightmare of a smile slowly spreading across his face. Mohinder had been right about the blood of the cheerleader. He felt as good as new.

Now, to investigate Elle's friend.

I X I X I X I X I X I

Several police officers sat up, dazed, and with terrible headaches. Thanks to the Haitian, however, they had no memory of the death they had been investigating. The entire scene had been covered up, with money and a gun in the hand of the man, bullets in his back to give the illusion of a robbery gone wrong.

A safe distance away, the Haitian viewed the scene with satisfaction.

So did Sylar.

I X I X I X I X I X I

Sylar dusted off his clothes, and slipped around the corner into a convenience store. A teenager was working the checkout, watching a man flipping through his wallet for money to pay for his beef jerky. The girl's short brown hair hung just above her shoulder, calloused fingers tapping buttons on the register, flashing a halfhearted at smile at the man as he left.

"Can I help you, sir? " The teenager was looking at him curiously. Sylar faked a innocently curious expression, and leaned up against the counter.

"Yes. I'm looking for a friend of mine. Does the name Mr. Bennet ring a bell? "

He heard the girl's heart speed up. "No, sir. I am sorry. Is there anything else I can help you with? "

"No. That's all. " Sylar left, disappointment on his face, joy and greed in his mind.

I X I X I X I X I X I

Angela Petrelli stared out the window as Bob continued to talk. "This girl is amazing, Angela. Lot's of potential. We can't afford to lose her. Besides, with Sylar on the loose, we shouldn't take the risk. "

"Bob, more stress is the last thing my son needs right now. Just keep the girl there. She'll be safe there. "

"And her family? They could be in danger. "

"That's a risk we will have to take. " Angela closed the cell phone. With a sigh, she turned and left the room.

Peter shimmered into visibility, still sitting on the couch where he had been listening to his mother's mind and conversation. His mind, clear for the first time in weeks, fairly buzzed with plans. But, first things first. Time to pay the Bennets a visit.

I X I X I X I X I X I

Seri concentrated, her throat raw from constant use, still determined to do her best. She let out a low tone this time, closing her eyes and trying to feel the sound waves bouncing off of items in the room to 'build a map in her mind,' as Bob had suggested.

She opened her eyes, and turned to face the camera and shook her head. Nothing.

Bob's jaw tightened slightly. "Try a different frequency. " He had taken over for Mohinder on account of his unwillingness to push the girl harder.

The girl tried a high tone, with the same effect.

"You're not trying hard enough! You can do this! "

Seri, tears standing in her eyes, opened her mouth to try once more. Instead, a powerful shock wave of sound ripped out of her throat, sending cracks up the concrete walls and bouncing back into Seri.

The girl gasped in pain and collapsed on the ground, unconscious.