A/N: Phew! Finally! I can upload! Yay! Anyway, this chapter is some stuff alright. Anyway, the enxt chapter will be up real soon. Enjoy!



Max and Theo stood in the doorway and watched Ire pace. She was mumbling and wringing her hands. Max and Theo slowly and cautiously walked inside.

"Ire." Max said gently.

Ire's whole body snapped like a whip and she looked at both of them. She got on her knees and walked over to Max.

"Lannie! Did they find you? Are you all right?" Ire asked.

"I'm Max."

Ire turned to Theo.

"Gavin, how are you? Did you make it past the fence alright?" Ire asked.

"Ire, please." Theo begged. Ire stood and began pacing again.

"You know Rain, you've got to stop eating like you do. They'll throw you to the nomalies one of these days for it." Ire said.

"Ire, Rain isn't here." Theo said.

"Trina, did you ever figure out those puzzles? They were hard, but you've gotta try." Ire rambled. She wasn't even looking at Max or Theo, she was just pacing back and forth, talking to herself and talking to people who weren't there.

"Ire, please. Snap out of it." Max begged.

"Did they ever fix your spine Frankie? It looked like it hurt." Ire said, still ignoring Max and Theo. Theo had enough and walked forward. He grabbed Ire by the arms and shook her.

"Ire!" he screamed. "Ire! Snap out of this!"

Ire just blinked and stared at him. It was as if everyone was frozen because none of them moved at all.

"570184071618." Ire said.

"What?" Max asked.

"It's her barcode number." Theo said and walked away from Ire."

"685371937916." Ire said.

"That's my barcode number." Theo said and leaned against the wall. He wiped his eyes and looked at the ceiling.

"945846251729." Ire said.

"Frankie." Theo said.

"849595905494." Ire said.

"Trina." Theo said.

"283403938484." Ire said.

"Rain." Theo said.

Max looked from Ire to Theo. They were both in a trancelike state, Ire spouting out numbers and Theo spouting out names.

"394948547869." Ire said.

"Gavin." Theo said.

"628483929548." Ire said.

"Lannie." Theo said.

"Enough!" Max exclaimed.

Theo and Ire both looked at her. Max felt very uncomfortable.

"Look Ire," Max said, looking at Ire. "You've got to get better. If not for yourself, for me. For Theo."

"He says I'm fine." Ire said.

"Who says your fine?" Max asked. "Who is he?"

"Ben." Ire said and began rocking back and forth on her heels.

"Ben?" Max asked quietly.

"Ever since I had my operation and the DNA transfers, I heard a voice. He said he was Ben. I didn't talk to him long. They gave me pills and he went away." Ire said.

"Why is he... why is Ben back?" Max asked.

"I escaped and didn't have any pills." Ire said. "He came back and taught me destiny."

"Taught you destiny?" Max asked. Max heard Theo groan and slide down the wall.

"Yes, he taught me that the destiny of all Manticore-borns was to kill." Ire said. "I don't like it, but I get mad and then when I get really mad, Ben will talk to me and well... you know my anger."

"It blinds you." Max said quietly.

"Yep, I lose control." Ire said.

"Ire -" Max started, but Ire interrupted her.

"570184071618."

"Help her." Theo begged from the corner. Max turned and looked at him. "I can't do it. I'm just Theo."

"Theo, stop it!" Max exclaimed. "You need to help me help her!"

"Stop fighting!" Ire said and covered her ears. "You're making me sad!"

"We're sorry, we're sorry." Max said soothingly.

"570184071618."

"Ire, we want to help you. Please, come back to us." Max begged.

"XS-618."

"Ire..." Theo said quietly from the corner.

"XS-618, do you believe in destiny?" Ire asked. She was reliving a memory.

"Ire, please." Max begged.

"I believe in destiny now sir." Ire said and pulled her gun out from her jacket.

"Ire, what are you doing?" Theo asked and stood up, then walked over near Max.

"Destiny." Ire said and put the gun to her temple.

"Ire, please, don't do it." Max said, tears in her eyes.

"Ire, I'm your brother. I care for you. Max is your friend, she cares for you." Theo said.

"Please Ire... please..." Max begged.

"XS-618. Rejected." Ire said.

Then Ire pulled the trigger.