I stood stiffly in the lobby of some fancy restaurant down town, staring at my toes. My pink painted toenails peeked out from my red heels, the fanciest shoes I owned, and also the least comfortable.

"You look beautiful, by the way." I clenched my jaw as his words.

"You said that already." I looked up, meeting his intense gaze.

"Then it must be true." He smiled, and I wanted to vomit.

I didn't want to be here. I didn't want to go home and change into nice clothing, just to come to a restaurant with a man I don't know, who might possibly have useful information.

"If you compliment me again, I at least get to know your name." I practically growled, pinching the end of my black dress in anxious fingers.

"Smart and beautiful." He murmured, and I felt his fingers stroke my cheek. I slapped his hand away, and took a step towards the wall.

"You complimented me." I stared at him unforgivingly. "Tell me your name."

He sighed and slung his hands in his crisp jean pockets. After gazing around the lobby for a moment, he smiled at me. "It's Rye."

"Like the bread?"

"Like the whiskey."

I didn't reply, I just stared at him. I stared at his stupid cheeks, perfectly sculpted. Tadashi had better cheekbones. I stared at his stupid eyes, reflecting the lights like stars. Tadashi's eyes actually held warmth though. I stared at his stupid lips-

"When are you going to start telling me something worth my time?" I asked, tearing my eyes away from his face.

"When are you going to give up?" He countered. I snapped my eyes back to his face.

"Give up?" I laughed. "Give what up."

He didn't answer, and in that moment a waiter clad in black and white stepped up to us.

"Your table is ready, please follow me." Rye nodded curtly at the waiter, and held out an arm for me to take. I ignored it, and followed behind the waiter. Without missing a beat, Rye fell into step beside me, placing a hand on the small of my back.

I spun around, annoyed.

"If you touch me one more time, it'll be the last time you have fingers." I hissed through my teeth.

An elderly woman at the table directly to my right raised frightened eyebrows, and even held a hand to her chest. The old man across the table from her was nodding at me.

I turned back around, seeing the waiter up ahead at a secluded table in the corner. As I sat, I took in the long pillar candle in the middle of the table. With a wave of frustration, I blew it out.

"You like the dark more?" Rye smiled from across.

"I don't like the ambiance." My eyes flicked down to the menu in front of me. It read Le Chein Noir in beautiful cursive. "Doesn't this place have reservations?"

He nodded at me, his thumb nail in his mouth as he flipped through the menu.

I opened my mouth to say something but stopped. He knew I would say yes. This was all planned.

"Start talking or I'm leaving right now." I set the menu down carefully, aligning it with the white table cloth at the edge. "I'm not trying to play games."

"Who said I wanted to play a game?" He raised his eyebrows. "We haven't even eaten yet."

"I'm not hungry." I was proud of the steel in my voice. I thought of Tadashi, how betrayed he would feel if he saw me out with this utter tool. He didn't deserve this. I didn't deserve him.

"Your uncle wasn't the only one who genetically modified people." He started, and folded his arms.

"I know that. Children are modified already, preventing-"

"Alchzimers, hereditary diseases." He narrowed his eyes. "You know what kind of modification I'm talking about."

"I was the only successful one." I mumbled, touching my hair self consciously.

He hummed. "The pink hair was a nice touch."

"It was an accident."

"Yes, genes certainly are unpredictable." He leaned back in his chair, sliding his foot beside mine. "What we tell the world is that San Fransokyo is the lead city for genetic research in the world." I nodded at him to continue. "What we don't tell them, is that most of the actual results are underground."

"My uncle."

"Your uncle." He repeated. "He wasn't always underground you know."

"I know that, he worked with Crei tech for awhile."

"Why did he stop?" Rye was making me do the talking now, leading me to the conclusions.

"His tests were deemed inhumane." I whispered.

"You see, he wasn't the only one." Rye laughed. "And you're not the only one."

I felt my eyes widen. My uncle would want to know this-but why should I tell him?

"I thought the rest died, they wouldn't last a year." Without realizing it, I had been nervously playing with the fork.

"Most did. Turns out the key to survival is luck." Rye picked up his knife and I stiffened. "Did you know I'm very lucky?"

"You?" I murmured.

"Me."

I didn't have words. This whole time I had been looking at another genetically altered human.

"From what I can tell, I'm very similar to you." He spun his knife in his left hand, then flawlessly transferred it to his right. "I'm ambidextrous. And-" he paused as my phone lit up.

We both stared at it as Tadashi's name popped up on screen. It was 6:00, if the café hadn't been busy his Aunt Cass might have let him out early.

I picked up my phone, and stared at Rye, waiting for him to challenge me.

I clicked talk, and stood up, leaving the table.

"Hey!" My voice wavered slightly, and I squeezed my eyes shut.

"Hey Ellamire, did you get my message earlier?" His voice calmed me.

"Yeah, I just-I forgot to reply I'm sorry."

"It's no problem!" I heard a bell chime on his side. "My knucklehead of a brother broke a couple plates today so Aunt Cass is making him clean up tonight. Are you up for the picnic?"

I bit on my thumbnail. Tadashi's face came into my mind and I was torn. After a moment I replied.

"Yeah! Yes, I just have to get home and I'll put some stuff together."

"You're out?" I flinched. It was an innocent question.

"I bumped into an old friend of mine earlier, we were just catching up." I wrinkled my nose as the lie came easily to me. "I'll meet you at the park at 6:30?"

"That sounds awesome Ella, I'll see you then."

"Sweet!" I turned to face Rye, who sat at the table looking ticked off.

"Love you," he said, and I tightened my grip on my phone.

"Love you too." I hung up first.

"You don't love him." Rye said, staring at me.

"You don't know love." I spat back. I pushed in my chair, and began to walk away.

"You're just going to leave?" Rye called out, drawing the attention of some other customers. My eyes scanned the room.

"Yep." I continued to storm off, my heels sinking into the plush carpet.

When I stepped outside, a cool breeze hit me blissfully in the face. I inhaled, my mind in a turmoil.

"You're not going to see him tonight." Rye said, suddenly behind me.

I hate to admit it, but I jumped.

"Yes, I am." I bit back more rude things to say.

"You're going to come with me for a while, long enough for Tadashi to believe you're gone." My blood ran cold. "We've placed notes already, telling him if he searches or involves the police, that we will kill you."

"Who is we?" My voice was barely above a whisper.

"My father is still alive." He stepped forward, standing right beside me now. "And he has plans that are going to blow your Uncle's out of the water."

"Why are you involving Tadashi?" My eyes were misting over. I could run, theoretically, if I could get my heels off fast enough.

"Why involve Tadashi?" Rye belted out a laugh, throwing his head back. "He has the highest IQ in San Fransokyo. He's the smartest man here. And possibly the world." I shook my head at his words, but said nothing.

"He's putting his brain to shame with his stupid piece of shit helper robot thing." Rye looked down the street. I winced, suddenly getting chills.

"The funny thing is, it's because of you that we even considered Tadashi."

"What?" I breathed, feeling the weight of the blame increase.

"You uncle was doing a lecture on genetics. Tadashi bumped into you." Rye locked eyes with me. The grey slates seemed cold. "He wasn't even at the lecture, and he never would have looked into it if it hadn't been for your little honey pot act."

"He researched genetics?" My heart was being crushed with each word. Not only did I essentially curse Tadashi already because of my uncle, but I effectively set him up as an interest to whoever Rye worked with.

"He only worked on it for about a month." Rye grinned at me. "But you should see the progress he made. It's stunning." Rye got a faraway look in his eyes. "Altering genetics in an adult. With no consequence."

I didn't even open my mouth.

"Your gift was a waste on you." I recoiled as if his words had physically hit me.

"A gift?" I practically screeched. "My uncle is using me as if I'm some sort of toy robot!"

"That's what we are."

"Not me." I whispered.

Before he could respond, I kicked off my heels and ran in the opposite direction, down the busy street. A car honked from the highway stretched above me, and I sped up, my bare feet slapping the asphalt.

"You're making a mistake!" Rye called after me, and I could now hear his shoes hitting the side walk. His pace was faster than mine.

"Help!" I screamed, waving my arms at the cars flying by. One honked, and I cried out in exasperation. Glancing to my left, Rye was within reach. I dodged to the right as he reached for me, and I screamed again.

A bright red sports car veered to the side of the road, and a buff woman got out.

"Hey!" She yelled, striding purposefully towards us. Her hair was buzzed short but she was unmistakeably a girl, with an angular face and feminine figure barely consealed under her muscle.

Rye latched on to my arm and yanked, and I cried out. "Get off me you psycho!" I shouted, and now the lady ran to us.

"Back off, this doesn't involve you." Rye held me behind him and the woman stepped up to us. I writhed in his grip, wishing I was stronger.

"It does now." She said, and I wanted to leap into her arms. "Let her go."

"She's just my friend, she's had a little too much to drink-"

"He's lying please, he's crazy he's trying to take me somewhere." I bit his hand, my teeth sinking into his skin, but not puncturing. He let me go with a flinch and I hurried towards my saviour.

"Go home kid." She said, putting an arm in front of me, separating Rye and me.

"Ellamire, you're making a big mistake." Rye's eyes seemed to plead with me, but I was having none of it.

"Leave me alone before I call the police." I tried to sound strong, but my voice was flimsy. All I wanted to do was be in Tadashi's arms, and away from this mess.

Rye backed up, shaking his head, then turned and jogged off the way we had come.

I didn't realize my hands were shaking until the lady turned back to look at me.

"Did he hurt you?" Her gruff voice but kind eyes made me feel at home.

"Just mentally." I tried to laugh.

"Get in, I'll drive you home." I walked over to the passenger seat. I felt like I was in shock. With my uncle, I was a top dog. I was too useful to damage, and too high priority to piss off. This was like a cold slap in the face from reality. I wasn't special. I wasn't the only one. I probably wasn't even the first. And Tadashi was a target for two underground systems. I had to see him.

I slid into the leather seat, shakily putting my seatbelt on.

"Where should I drop you off?" I jumped at her voice.

"Can you-can you take me to the lucky cat cafe? My boyfriend-my boyfriend works there." She raised her eyebrows at me but shrugged.

"If you think that's a good idea." She pulled a swift U-turn, then turned onto a calmer street.

"Thank you," I whispered, but I wasn't sure if she heard.

"You did the right thing, getting someone's attention." I nodded stiffly. We turned once more, and I could see the cafe on the corner.

"My name is Ellamire, and if you ever need a favour-anything, I'll do my best." I picked up a napkin sitting in her cup holder and scrawled my number on it using a rusty pen that had been under my feet. "Seriously, anything." I tucked the napkin neatly back into the cup holder, and laid the pen with it. She stopped in front of the cafe.

I flew out the door at what felt like the speed of light, hearing her car drive off before I had even gotten the door open. In fact, the door wouldn't open. I stared at the handle, aghast. It was Sunday, of course. They closed at 6. I pressed my face against the glass, hoping to see Hiro's spiky head behind something.

"Ellamire?" I spun around at the sound of Tadashi's voice, and leapt into his arms. He braced himself on the cafe window, and dropped the basket he had been holding to catch me.

I heaved a breath, smushing my face into his chest.

"Hey, I missed you too." He laughed, but pulled away slightly to look at my face. My cheeks were damp.

"Ella-what's wrong?" He pulled me closer, but also dropped down a little so he was crouched, and I was hunched in a ball in his arms. "What happened?"

"A man, he-"

Tadashi's eyes went from kind to deadly in half a second flat. "Where is he?"

I blinked up at Tadashi. "No, no, please can we go inside?"

He scooped up the discarded basket, and held me close to him as we walked around to the back.

By the time we got inside and upstairs, I had calmed down enough to breathe normally.

Tadashi set me on his bed and threw his baseball cap off, totally missing his bookcase but not turning.

"A guy tried to kidnap me." I blinked rapidly, and Tadashi sat beside me and pulled me to him. "He-" I paused. How exactly was I supposed to say this? "He said he was kidnapping me and said he left you notes to not involve the police."

Tadashi stiffened. "Left me notes?"

I sniffed. "That's what he said."

"What did he want?" Tadashi had been rubbing my back, and I closed my eyes.

"He said you were researching genetics-" Tadashi suddenly stood up, practically launching me to the other side of the bed.

He stormed past the paper room divider, and booted up his computer.

"What are you doing?" I stood up, and walked to where he was furiously typing. He opened a file labeled Mendeleev, and I half smiled at the reference. Pages upon pages opened, some images easily recognizable as a double helix, others I had no words to explain. And pages upon pages of typed research, some pages half filled with what looked like jot notes, others packed with paragraphs.

"Tadashi, what is all this?" I already knew. I asked anyway.

The last page opened before he replied, and the white document showed only a paragraph of writing.

Let's make a deal. Ellamire doesn't have to die.

I read the first line, and it felt like a stone had hit the bottom of my heart, then broke through and proceeded to tear through my stomach too.

Tadashi's hand flew back, and gripped mine.

It's all quite simple. Do as we ask, and she lives. Don't, and we'll send you some encouragement.

Tadashi's jaw clenched. He was furious, and it was easy to tell.

Step one: don't call the police

Don't even whisper to the police.

We'll know.

And she'll die.

To read direct threats made to your life was eye opening. I was a pawn. Just a pretty piece of leverage.

Your work here is quite interesting, but could use a little extra. You have until Saturday to create a virus that targets certain genes. Good luck, Ellamire is waiting for you.

"This-" Tadashi cleared his throat. "I don't know what to do."

"Would you have done it?" I whispered. "If they had taken me, would you have done it?"

Tadashi stood up, but our hands stayed linked.

"Yes."

I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him as close as I could. His arms looped around my waist, and pulled me even closer. I buried my face in the side of his neck, and tried not to cry.

"Ellamire, I'm sorry." He murmured, his breath on my neck.

"It's not your fault." I started to say.

"You guys are in my way." Hiro's voice punched a hole in our conversation, and I half looked at him. Why didn't they take Hiro? The kid in a baggy sweater and uneven teeth seemed an easier target. Why not his aunt then, either?

"Hey bonehead, do me a favour and don't tell Aunt Cass but Ellamire is going to stay here tonight."

Hiro shrugged, and sat in the chair and spun. "What's in it for me?"

Tadashi sighed, and backed up from me a little. "2 bags of gummy bears."

"Make it 3 and we have a deal." Hiro grinned wickedly, totally oblivious to the situation.

"Alright, alright." Tadashi ruffled Hiro's hair, against his protests.

"Just don't do anything gross okay?" Hiro stretched, then flopped down onto his bed, sending a couple loose machinery parts flying.

Tadashi pulled me behind the paper wall, and pulled it closed. He rummaged through his night stand and pulled out one of his t-shirts.

"Here, change into this." He chucked it to me, and as I turned to lift the dress over my head I heard Hiro walk through the room, then pad down the stairs.

"Where are your shoes?" Tadashi asked as I pulled my dress over my head. The air felt cool on my skin.

"I kicked them off so I could run away." I muttered, not really wanting to expand on the subject.

Tadashi's hand touched my bare back and I stilled, my arms already in his shirt.

"Did you recognize him?" He asked quietly. I slipped the fabric down over me, breaking the connection between us.

"No, but I would if I saw him again." I took a step towards Tadashi, and he automatically hugged me.

"I hope you never have to." He kissed the top of my head, making me curl my toes against the floor.

"What do you say we get to bed early?" He suggested, and I nodded against his chest.

He set me down on his bed, then picked up a pair of plaid pyjama bottoms off the floor. He changed pants quickly, and I got under the covers as he did so. When he took off his shirt, I joked, "you should be shirtless more often."

He chuckled, but he definitely didn't laugh as much as he normally would have.

"I could say the same for you." He winked, and slid in beside me. The bed had lots of room, but I cuddled up beside him anyway.

I fell asleep to the sound of his heartbeat.