Rebecca had told him that she demolished his house, but that didn't stop him from being surprised when he saw it in person. When looking at the rubble through a television screen, he could almost trick himself into believing it was computer generated. Stupid or not, it made him feel better.

Connor stood outside the fence that the town had put up around the rubble of what used to be his home. He wanted to go in, but he was rooted to the spot. There was nothing for him in there. Or anywhere, really.

If he was lucky, the Dread Doctors would hold off just a little longer before they came back for him. He raised one hand, lacing his fingers through the links of the fence and staring at the rubble. Night had finally fallen and he could barely see, but still he watched.

It was at that point that Mrs. Lovelace's car pulled into the driveway of her home, her movements slow and dazed. She held herself up against her car, taking a deep breath. Connor, tucked away in the shadows of another house, watched her struggle to calm her no doubt racing mind. Then, she straightened and marched toward her front door.

Connor was no expert, but he had witnessed the aftermath of Mr. Otsuka's abilities, and his victims never acted like that. That wasn't his problem, though. His problem was currently sneaking out of the side door of the house, closing it softly behind him. He hesitated in the shadows before he would eventually go to his truck parked around the corner of the street.

Connor moved from his hiding place and stepped out onto the street at the same time the person at the side of Kamilla's house started to creep down the driveway. Connor wiped his hands off on his jeans as the person froze, recognition and anger painting a tense line over their shoulders.

Connor took a deep breath. The person could definitely smell his nerves. They took a menacing step toward him, intent clear on their face. Instead of heading straight to them, Connor sprinted off at an angle, aiming for a path that lead to the forest behind Kamilla's house. His breaths were heavy by the time he finally traded the concrete path for the dirt in the forest, but the pursuing footsteps were heavier.

He couldn't run forever, so he ducked off of the main path and hid behind a tree, using it as a feeble shield between him and his pursuer. His breathing still hadn't evened out by the time his pursuer slowed to a halt by the tree, letting out a laugh almost as cold as the night air.

"Come on, Connor," his pursuer said. "I can hear you…"

Connor snarled then pounced from his hiding place and onto his pursuer. He held the other person's limbs with all of his strength, but they weren't fighting him. They just laughed again, shaking their head and baring their teeth in a smile.

"Come on, get off," they said slowly, as if talking to a small child. Connor snarled again, grabbing their wrists and slamming them into the dirt. "Final warning. Get off."

Connor let his eyes go white as he stared them down. It wasn't something that they hadn't seen before, but if Connor didn't at least try to bite Theo Raeken's head off, then he was more of a failure than he thought. So he opened his mouth into a yawning void, showing sharp teeth that were descending upon Theo in no time.

Theo grunted and shook his hands free, then smacked Connor in the head with an open palm, which only rerouted his descent. Connor bit Theo's shoulder and though hearing Theo's screech of pain was satisfying, he lost control of the situation far too quickly.

Theo groped the ground until he grabbed a stick that was suitably thick. He then proceeded to raise it above Connor's head and stab it into his back. As Connor released Theo and howled in agony, Theo all but tossed Connor off of him, sitting up on his elbows and regarding his shoulder warily.

"You're a real piece of work, you know that?" Theo panted, gingerly touching the wound with his other hand before growling and hauling himself to his feet. Connor brought himself to his knees, face twisted in agony and looking completely human. "Rebecca isn't here to save you this time."

Connor didn't respond, trying to contort his body so he could reach the stick lodged in his back. He let out a cry of pain, then finally reached over his shoulder and got a firm handle on it.

"I bet it's gonna hurt her when you die," Theo said, still breathing heavily but trying to hide the fact that his shoulder was throbbing. "She seems to like you. I don't know why…"

With that comment, Connor rips the stick out of him in one swift tug, and after a second spent catching his breath, he staggered to his feet. "I'm not dead yet. I'll kill you for…"

Theo cut him off with an ugly laugh, one that sent a shiver up Connor's spine. Or maybe that was because of the blood trickling down his back.

"You? You're not half as strong as you used to be," Theo said, taking a few unsteady steps closer to Connor. He rolled his bad shoulder back and tilted his neck to the side so it would crack. "You're a failure. You can't even help yourself."

Connor was too dizzy to realize what was happening until Theo punched him in the gut. Keeling over in pain with all of the wind knocked out of him, Connor took a shaky breath then started coughing.

It was not a healthy sound by any means. Connor pressed a hand over his chest as blood and mercury sputtered out of his parted mouth. Theo grimaced and took a few steps back.

"That doesn't look too good," Theo said, whistling through his teeth as Connor struggled to breathe. Turning away from the sight, Theo rubbed his shoulder and squinted at the tops of the trees. His form was an unnervingly still silhouette against the black tree trunks. Connor wiped his mouth but stayed on his knees. "You know what happened don't you? Last spring?"

"What?" Connor said, a mixture of surprise and worry in his voice. How did he know…?

"It's what brought them here in the first place," Theo said. He still hadn't turned around. "The Dread Doctors."

"Don't you … dare," Connor said, gagging on more blood. Theo tapped his foot against the path then spun around, focused on a dismal point above Connor.

"You know, I don't know what she is," Theo thought aloud, ignoring Connor as he wandered closer. "But I think that they think she has some kind of mixed DNA in her." The shock and the lack of confusion on Connor's expression made a twisted smile settle on Theo's face. "Perfect to be a chimera, huh?"

Connor lunged forward, snarling and swiping with his hand. Unbothered, Theo sidestepped the attack, then stomped Connor's hand into the ground. Theo rubbed his top lip as Connor screamed in agony.

"Hey, it's not me!" Theo said, putting both of his hands on his chest and backing up as if he were being framed for a heinous crime. "It's them! If it were up to me, Rebecca would be doing better things." He snorted, a crude sound. "Like me, for instance."

When Connor opened his mouth, he meant to say something scathing, but another wave of blood and mercury rose in his throat. He was forced to awkwardly pull himself up onto his elbows and sit up to not be sick on himself.

"Where are you staying these days?" Theo asked, hands shoved in his pockets. He waited until Connor stopped vomiting to speak again. "In the woods? Like a dirty animal? Or with your folks at your old place … oh, nevermind."

The venom in Connor's expression would have terrified anyone else. Yet Theo knew that he held all of the cards and was no stranger to cutting loose ends - and he knew that Connor knew that too. So what else could Connor say? If Theo wanted him dead, he'd probably be dead…

"Rebecca's," Connor said with a lopsided smile, blood dribbling down his chin.

Theo's arrogant smirk wavered. "God, you're pathetic."

"I'm serious."

"Sure. She'd let you stay at her house," Theo snorted, but there was a trickle of doubt in the way he looked over Connor. "Where'd you get those clothes?"

"Rebecca," Connor said, enjoying the way Theo's face darkened.

"You're a funny guy, you know that, Connor?"

"Who's laughing?" Connor said with a triumphantly raised brow. "You can probably smell her on me too. If you were paying attention."

Judging by the way Theo scowled, Connor suspected he had caught her scent beforehand, but rationalized it out of mind.

Theo looked to the side, breathing in through his nose very slowly. Since Connor was privy to his profile, he could see the ticking in Theo's jaw. This really bothered him.

"She'll never like you," Connor said, stoking the flames. Theo stilled. "She'll kill you for what you've done …"

"Well," Theo hissed, his mouth lilting upward. "It's a good thing she'll never know."

Connor struggled to his feet and took an instinctive step backward at the coldness in Theo's eyes. Those eyes, unblinking and apathetic to Connor's flinching, narrowed.

"Right, Connor?" Theo asked, his voice deceptively calm. "Right? You remember what happens if you open your mouth, right?"

Connor looked at the ground and tried to steady himself, but he couldn't keep his balance. Meanwhile Theo was taking even strides, closing the distance between them.

"Kamilla and Ren. Dead. Myriam Virk. Dead," Theo said. When he was standing in front of Connor, he grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and hauled him upright, holding him close to his face so he wouldn't have to raise his voice. "Gus, and hell, Ren's family can join the fun too."

Connor dropped his gaze, but Theo dipped his head to keep his attention.

"She'll be so upset," Theo said, adjusting his hold on Connor's collar. "She'll be wrecked. I'd hate to see her cry, but it won't be my fault, will it, Connor?"

Connor stayed quiet. Until Theo shook him and spoke with a voice so biting it made Connor recoil.

"So, were gonna keep our mouths shut, right?" Theo shook him again. "Right?!"

"Yes," Connor mumbled, feeling all of his injuries throb under the rapid beating of his heart. Theo waited a second, scanning his face, before shoving Connor to the ground and leaving the clearing without another word.

Connor stayed there, turning occasionally to hack up a glob of blood. The stars became streaked and blurred as he blinked away tears.


Kamilla's face fell. Her stomach dropped. No, it couldn't be… "You did not just…"

"I did," Rebecca whispered, pulling her hand away so Kamilla could get a clear look at the draw four card. She then leaned all the way back in her chair, so she could prop her feet up on the seat beside her. "Uno."

With a slack jaw and slumped shoulders, Kamilla eyed the two cards in her hand, then the card that demanded she pick up four more. She reached for the card deck with no small amount of frustration in her eyes. "You're Satan, you know that?"

"Yep," Rebecca said, watching Kamilla accept her imminent defeat with a smug smile.

"Hey!" Myriam barked, startling Rebecca and Kamilla both. "You better get your little paws off of my coffee table!" Hands on her hips, Myriam pointed the tongs in her hand at Bailey through the kitchen doorway. "Don't you whine at me!"

"Bailey, you little shit," Kamilla called, then slapped a hand over her mouth when Myriam turned to narrow her eyes at her. Rebecca pulled a face and tried to hide her giggling behind her only card. "Sorry, Myriam…"

"I don't care how old you are, Milla," Myriam said, shaking her tongs in Kamilla's direction. "This is my roof."

"I'm sorry!" Kamilla said through a smile, leaping off of her chair to wrangle Bailey into submission. "Come on, Mutt. You want to go outside? Is that your issue?"

"Becks, clean up the cards," Myriam said while walking back over to the frying pan on the stove. "Then set the table."

Kamilla let Bailey lope around the Virks' fenced in yard as Rebecca cleared off the table. While walking to the cupboards, Rebecca stole a piece of pita from the big bowl of fattoush on the counter, earning a scowl and a smack on the bum from her mother.

Rebecca squeaked and Kamilla laughed. Myriam emptied the contents of the frying pan onto a plate then raised her eyebrows at Kamilla.

"Something funny, Milla?" Myriam said, her tone not a note above playful.

"No Ma'am," Kamilla said, herding Bailey back into the kitchen, lovingly scratching behind her ear. Rebecca gasped.

"Ma'am?" Myriam echoed. "I thought you wanted to eat tonight."

"Of course, you're the best cook in town, Myriam," Kamilla said. Rebecca, placing utensils beside each positioned plate, snorted. "I dream of having the privilege of eating here sometimes, and it's always…"

"Okay, okay," Myriam said, raising a hand before continuing to portion out the kibbeh. The alluring smell of garlic, sumac, and onions was making Rebecca's mouth water, and she wasn't the only one. Bailey was becoming restless, even under Kamilla's constant petting. "You should get Bailey's food ready. You brought her bowl, right?"

"Yes," Kamilla said, drawing out the word while reaching for her bag. Her tone became frantic as she searched her pockets in vain. "Uh… no."

"What are we gonna do with you?" Myriam tsked, nodding toward the cupboards. "Grab an old plastic one."

Positioning a container of juice in the middle of the table, Rebecca smiled. With her back turned to her mom, she could pretend that the tension between them was getting better and not just being ignored. One night of normality wouldn't hurt.

She jumped when he mom spoke. "Becks, anything from Ren?"

"Um?" Rebecca said, slipping her hand into her pocket to retrieve her phone. To her dismay, Ren had called her twenty minutes ago. "Yeah, he just called me back. One sec."

Kamilla watched her leave the room, ducking into the crevice a the bottom of the stairs for the illusion of privacy. Kamilla would eavesdrop if she wanted to.

Rebecca dialed his number then placed the phone by her ear while her other hand tucked under her armpit. It rang four times before he picked up.

"Hey," Rebecca said, unsure whether to be relieved or concerned.

"Hey!" Ren said quickly, his voice no louder than a whisper. "I just got your message about dinner. Can't come, sorry."

"That's alright," Rebecca said, peaking around the corner as Bailey howled, earning a firm scolding from Myriam. Rebecca huffed, then took the stairs two at a time, heading for her room. Connor still was who knows where, but she still checked her closet for him before continuing. It was a habit, she told herself. "Sorry. Where are you?"

"I … um," Ren said, shifting and cursing under his breath. Rebecca swore she heard the rustling of papers and the squeak of his sneakers against the floor. "Just at home."

"You have linolelum in your house now?" Rebecca asked, eyebrows creeping upward in disbelief. "Come on, you don't have to lie."

"You really want to know?" Ren asked after a pause.

"No shit," Rebecca said, rolling her eyes. "I thought you were too sick to do anything but sleep?"

"Yeah…" Ren said. Rebecca squinted at her shoes, straining her ears to identify the sound on the other end of the line.

"Where are you going?" Rebecca demanded. If she wasn't mistaken, he was slowly opening a door.

"Look, Rebecca, this isn't a good time," Ren said.

"I'll call your mom," Rebecca threatened. Hasty? Maybe. Would Ren threaten something like this? Never, but if Kyou Otsuka was freaking out over Ren's condition, maybe Ren shouldn't be sneaking around by himself. By her logic, if it was so top secret that he couldn't tell her, then it was absolutely no good.

Another breath of silence. "Seriously?" He sounded flabbergasted.

"Yeah, seriously," Rebecca said. "What are you doing? Is it illegal?"

"Uh…" Ren said, then spoke quickly before Rebecca could. "Not really? I'm at the school. In the main office…"

"Why?" Rebecca asked, turning. Myriam was calling her name. She pressed the phone against her shoulder momentarily. "One second, Mom."

"Just checking some things," Ren said. Rebecca and him lapsed into silence. One that said she was not impressed by that answer. "Okay, fine. I'm looking at Theo's transfer papers."

"What?!" Rebecca shouted, then reeled back her surprise into a controlled seethe. "Why? What? You aren't serious…"

"Yeah, I am," Ren said, his voice rushing as fast as his mind was spinning. "I went to the police station the other day and found a speeding ticket from Theo's dad. Have you ever heard of the criminal tremor? It's this thing when people are writing, and it's shaky because they're guilty. Theo's parents have it in both forms. The speeding ticket is more concise, which means they're getting better…"

"Ren, hang on," Rebecca said, holding up a hand as if he could see it. The anger in her voice made his tirade come to an abrupt halt. "You broke into the police station? For … to see Theo's parents' records? Ren, that is very illegal, for absolutely nothing."

"Okay, one," Ren said defensively, betraying his own doubts about the situation he was in. "I know it's illegal, but I changed their memories…"

"Are you?" Rebecca started, then sighed heavily, rubbing the back of her neck. "You can't just do that, Ren. It isn't right."

"My dad does it all the time," Ren said. "What, it's only a problem when I do it?"

"Your dad does it for good reasons," Rebecca said, then thought of Mrs. Lovelace. "Most of the time."

Ren said nothing. She heard more shifting papers, and her annoyance spiked.

"C'mon, Ren. Go home," Rebecca said, switching tack. "Put back whatever you took and go rest. Promise me you'll go home? And stop messing with innocent people?"

"Sometimes it's necessary," Ren said. Rebecca blew out a loud breath of air from her nose. She swore she heard someone coming up the stairs.

"Yeah? You know what isn't necessary? This. Sneaking around and breaking into places just because Theo's mom and dad have messy handwriting," Rebecca said with a surprising amount of venom. "Go home. Text me when you are."

She hung up just when Kamilla opened the door. There was a curious look on her face and although Rebecca didn't know how much of the conversation that Kamilla caught, it was enough to get the gist.

"Is he..." Kamilla said.

"An idiot? Yeah," Rebecca said, suddenly exhausted. She rubbed her eyes, then slipped her phone back into her pocket with a sigh. Kamilla stepped aside, physically and metaphorically backing off. "Let's just go eat."


The only light in Mieko's room came from her desk lamp. Her laptop had died and even though her charger was in her bag by her bed, she couldn't find the motivation to stand up and get it.

She stared at her reflection on the black screen. The bags under her eyes and perpetual frown on her face weren't commented on by her friends or parents; after all, Travis' funeral was last week. That wound was oozing into every part of her life, but there was a deeper tug that left her confused as well.

Nothing her friends did or said hinted at ulterior emotions, but she knew. When they looked at her, they were waiting impatiently for her to break. Break down, break something. There was no way to explain it, but the feelings were absolute and they definitely weren't coming from her.

Of course, that served only to make her even more confused.

She had moved the picture of her and Travis to her desk, and she picked it up. Why had Rebecca and Ren gone looking for him? Why had he acted so strangely before he died? Why did he have to die?

With enough questions to cause a headache, she put her head in her hands and started to cry for the millionth time.


A quick update? (ish, lol.) Who am I, right?

I remember when I first was writing this story and updated every Friday. Sigh, the good old days. Anywho!

pinkdoughtnuts - It has, hasn't it? This is a quicker update, though!

Mad-Man-With-A-Snogbox - Theo's my favourite too! In that case, I'm very honoured that you're emotionally invested! Here's to another chapter, and thanks very much!