Disclaimer and other things that stop us from being sued in chapter one.

Author's Note: We hope you'll enjoy what we have so far. It's definately a challenge to write but not impossible. Blessings to YOU!

Chapter Two:

Angelo walked down the eerie halls and smiled when he stopped in front of a large door. "Sydney and Broots in trouble." Angelo said, then handed Miss Parker the flashlight.

Miss Parker gladly took the flashlight and looked into the little peephole on the door. It was too dark to see anything, she would have to go in. She looked over to say something to Angelo, but he was gone. Miss Parker took a deep breath, then opened the door.

~*~

Jarod felt excited and sad at the same time. How could he not have known? He was sure she had died! He saw it with his own eyes. He looked across the table at his long lost friend. "I was in a plane crash a few years back."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Jarod. Were you hurt?' The young woman asked.

"Yes, I was. I had a... vision when I was in the mountains. It was you, as a little child. You helped me fight. You saved my life."

Tears filled Faith's eyes as she spoke. "I was also in an accident a few years ago. I was hit by a drunk driver. I saw you and Miss Parker as children also. You two helped me survive that accident. By the way, how is Miss Parker?"

"She is doing as well as can be expected. She just found out that Mr. Parker isn't her real father. And I have no idea who is. Though I am trying to find out."

"And your parents?" Faith asked.

"I found my father, Charles. My sister, Emily. My brothers, Ethan and Kyle. And I saw my mother once. Her name is Margaret. I am still trying to find her."

"You have a large family! When can I meet them?"

"They are underground. As soon as I can contact them, I would love for you to meet them."

~*~

Miss Parker looked left and right but no one was in the room. "Why did Angelo lead me on a wild goose chase!" She walked farther into the room and saw a small spot on the floor. She was just about to turn and walk out when something told her to go take a look.

She soundlessly walked over to the spot and shone the flashlight right on it. Unbelief filled her eyes and she bent down for a closer look. "It can't be." Sure enough there was blood on the floor, and it was fresh.

~*~

Broots sat alone in a dark room. His hands were tied to the chair and a piece of duct tape was placed over his mouth. Whoever had Sydney did not want Broots. He made that obvious by leaving Broots here and taking only Sydney. Broots had tried to escape but the man pulled a gun on him. There was nothing Broots could do but surrender under forced will.

As he sat there he tried to think of who the man was. Nothing would spark his memory. But, of course, he did not get a very good look. He had stayed as close to the darkness as he could. Broots thought that to be queer because the only light that there was in the room was his flashlight. The man had made sure it didn't shine on his face or even near it. Yes, that was indeed weird.

~*~

Jarod walked Faith out of the diner and they started walking toward the park where they could talk freely.

Jarod wanted to know all the details of what happened when they were children but he didn't want to ask until she was ready to talk about it.

"Faith?"

"Yes, Jarod?" Faith slightly turned her head in Jarods direction.

"I was wondering..."

"Jarod, what is it?"

"Well, why did you appear all of a sudden?" He regretted that question the moment he asked it.

"Jarod, what made you ask that? I mean there are a dozen things that you could have asked. Why that one?" Faith looked off in the distance.

Jarod tried to look sincere but with all his practice and no matter how hard he tried it would not work. "Faith, I don't know how you found me. Or if you were even looking for me but it seemed as if you knew what you were doing when I spotted you in class this morning!"

Faith looked at Jarod. "You are a Pretender aren't you?" Traces of amusement could be heard in her voice. Jarod stopped in his tracks and slapped himself on the forehead. Faith was startled for a second. "Violent too, I see." She was still amused by his innocence. Jarod grabbed Faith and started running. Faith jerked free of his grasp and forced him to stop running. "Jarod, what is going on?"

Jarod turned to Faith and replied, "Sydney! I am supposed to meet him tonight!"

~*~

Miss Parker went from room to room but came up empty handed. There was no sign of Sydney. She was beginning to become worried. What had happened to the man she trusted? Or did she really trust him? Ever since she had found out that Sydney knew about her mother's fake death and he had not said a word to her about it in thirty years, she had often debated whether she still trusted him. Why? She knew that her mother didn't want her to know but still... Sydney should have told her about it.

Miss Parker's thoughts were interrupted by a males voice. She turned around and saw something in the corner of the room. She walked forward, pulling her gun out. When she was close enough to see who it was, she quickly ran to his side.

~*~

"What about your pretend?" Faith asked Jarod as they sped down the road.

"I already know who it is, Faith. I sent the information to the police early this morning before I came to work. I was getting out of the shower when it hit me. There was only one man who could have poisoned those children."

"Was it Alex Whitemore?" Faith asked.

"Do you know him?" Jarod asked with surprise.

"What do you know about me? I mean, you knew I was sick. But why did Mr. Parker adopt me?"

Jarod looked over at Faith. "No Faith. Don't tell me..."

"Yes, I was a Centre project. I have these abilities. I can sense things about people."

Jarod looked back at the road with a frown. "What kind of things can you sense in people?"

"I can sense what people are thinking." Faith said with a smile.

"How?" Jarod asked with anger. "How did the Centre find you? And what happened to your family?"

"They found me because of my family. When I was young, I could feel what my parents were feeling. I would know what to do before they asked me to do it. So, they experimented on me. They took me to the Centre to have tests. My parents sold me to them."

Jarod looked over at Faith with tears in his eyes. "I thought your parents were supposed to take care of you. When did they become so evil that they would give up their own daughter? You're flesh and blood!"

"Many parents do not care about their own children in this day and age. If they did, they would spend more time with them. They would take them out of that hell hole called, Public School' and teach them themselves. They wouldn't stay all night at work and come home early to say goodbye to them, if they even saw them. They wouldn't leave their children with strangers to watch over them. There still are a few families who do it the right way. Your parents are a good example. Your family has tried to pull together at the hard times and not run away. They are the true meaning of family. I wish my family would have loved me as much as yours loves you."

Jarod looked over at Faith with tears running down his cheeks. "How do you know so much about me?"

"I can sense your thoughts. I can feel your pain. How do you live with it, Jarod? Faith asked.

"Sometimes I have to remind myself that I live for the simple things. The snow, wind, the smell of paint, even the sunlight. Then when I help those families. You know, the ones that really need my help. I see the looks on their faces. That is how I can stand it. That's how I live each day. I will never give up on these people. They have so much to offer this world. And I would give my life to help any one of them."

Faith smiled at Jarod." I know, Jarod. I know you would. That's why I came to you. That's why I had to find you."

Jarod looked back at Faith. "What do you mean?"

Faith frowned. "Sydney is in trouble. We have to save him."

~*~

Sydney awoke to the overwhelming scent of blood. It seemed to come from everywhere. Was it his blood? He looked around the room. He was still in a dark and cold place. He remembered Broot's being there at one point. Or was it all in his imagination? He couldn't help but entertain that possibility.

Seeing that Broot's was a coward and would never do anything on his own. And if Parker was there, she would have got him out of here. But the question that got to him was why he had been grabbed? And where did this mystery man go? And did anyone know he was missing?

Sydney sat back and let his thoughts take control. It was the easiest way to keep his mind off of the pain. He remembered Jarod talking about the ways to keep your mind from being distracted by the pain. One was going deep down into the lowest recesses of your mind. To find the place that only you could find. And hope that you would be able to find a way out, in the end.

~*~

Miss Parker and Broot's stood outside talking to Sam. It had been hours since anyone had seen or heard from Sydney. She was wishing deep down that Jarod would call her and she could tell him. Jarod could and would do something about this whole situation. But Miss Parker let that thought leave her mind. Jarod hadn't called in months. They hadn't even been able to find a lead on him. Had he finally gone underground?

~*~

Jarod and Faith finally pulled up to the Centre. "Faith, I have to go in." Jarod said, turning to her.

"I understand, but I am afraid that this is where we part. I will find you again Jarod. I promise."

Jarod and Faith hugged and Jarod stepped out of the car leaving the keys.

"Please, take my car."

Faith looked at Jarod with a smile. "This is only the beginning of your journey. Please, you have to know this." Jarod stopped and looked at her. "You will save Sydney, but you will have to make a sacrifice to do so. But remember, Jarod. Stay strong. For everything will be okay and I will come back for you. And know this now... The sacrifice is great." With that said, Faith jumped into the drivers seat and pulled away.

~*~

TBC