Kate fidgeted anxiously on her bed, hardly daring to breathe. The people would come to take her to the institute at 3 that afternoon. She checked her watch for the millionth time. 1.53 1 hour and 7 minutes left. Her father had told her that they'd be coming for her, he'd been distant and hadn't looked directly into her eyes as he'd spoken. Kate knew that there was nothing she could say to change anything now. She had held her tongue and focused hard on not crying. His words had echoed dizzily around her head trying to make sense and failing, but she'd taken in enough to understand. She was petrified. 1 hour and 7 precious minutes left. She had something that vaguely resembled a plan, it wasn't much, but it was all she had and there was no time left to begin from scratch. A small click made Kate jump badly, still not used to her enhanced hearing. Her eyes flicked to the door as the source of the sound. "Kate? Kate, it's me." The tentative whisper finding Kate's ears. Edmund slipped through the door. He perched on the other end of Kate's bed and began in an agitated voice "Kate, I think I've got an idea. I know it would be hard depending on how many there is but I bet you and me together could take down at least a few of them, and maybe if you just ..." "Edmund..." Kate found her voice was unsteady. Her brother's innocence touched her, but she had to do this alone. Edmund had stopped speaking and looked up expectantly at Kate, he was hiding his fear well but the bitter smell of it betrayed him. "Edmund, we couldn't. There's a way, I think, but you have to let me do this by myself." Kate looked across at Edmund, she looked scared too. As Kate told him what she was going to do his face adjusted into one of shock and he shook his head involuntary. But Kate was resolute. She was alone in this. There was nothing left to be said and so Edmund slouched dejectedly back to his own room. Another glance at her watch.

2.32 Just under half an hour left.

James Tenson bit his nails savagely, a habit he had given up years ago. He kept telling himself that he had no choice, this would make everything better, he was doing the right thing. But if he was doing the right thing, why did he hate himself so intensely right now? Why did he keep reaching for the phone and wanting to tell the institute that they wouldn't need to prepare another cell for tonight, only to pull his hand back hastily. He felt as though the guilt would rot him away at him from the inside, but this wasn't in his hands anymore.

Jessica Vanilla Tenson sat tight-lipped, next to her eldest daughter. Neither of them spoke, but they felt a closeness they'd never had before. They both wanted this to be over. Jessica was trying desperately to appear calm and composed but there was no denying the tension penetrating her thin frame. She glanced at the clock, they should be here any minute. She shot Shannon a taut smile, this would be over soon. Shannon mirrored the expression.

The doorbell's cheery tones broke the silence of the house. There were footsteps, clicks and the door opened.

Mrs Tenson sighed and visibly relaxed, if only slightly. She was very grateful that it wasn't her letting them in. Her husband was good at dealing with things like this. It would soon be over.

In his office, Mr Tenson looked up as he heard the doorbell. The house was quiet enough to hear the door being opened. He still felt disgusted with himself, but at least if his wife had decided to deal with this he wouldn't.

Downstairs, Kate forced her breathing to return to normal. She had been right so far, and this had to work, there would only be one chance. She reached for the handle and opened the door.

The institute workers that were stood at the doorstep were greeted by a teenage girl. She spoke quietly and her pace was measured but there was fear in her voice.

"You're here for my sister, aren't you." Nods. "The freak is upstairs, I can't wait for her to be out of my house." Kate prayed desperately that she didn't seem too panicky, prayed that these two believed her.

The two men looked down at the girl, the older one looked towards the other, and shook his head. This girl was scared, scared of her mutant sister who was waiting upstairs. He felt a wave of pride, this is why he did this. Getting rid of these dangerous abnormalities was the only thing to do. "It's ok, don't worry. We'll have this sorted out." Kate almost smiled, these two were buying it. The man saw this girl relax slightly at his words. Happy in the knowledge that he would be returning security to this girl today, he motioned to his partner to go in. "Upstairs did you say?" "Yes, 3rd room on the right, I'd show you but..." Kate managed to make her last gaze back at her home look like a fearful glance upstairs to where the supposed mutant was. The man gave her a reassuring smile. "I know, we'll deal with this."

Kate watched the men make their way upstairs. Steeling herself to stay still, she had to give herself enough time. Not now.

Wait.

Wait.

Go! Go! Go! Kate swung the small bag she had been holding over her shoulder and sprinted for all she was worth.

From his window, Edmund saw his sister bolt suddenly out of the front door and run like he'd never seen anyone run. There was a shout from downstairs and soon after the men were running too. Kate had a good headstart, but these guys were fast. 30 seconds later, his mum, followed in quick succession by his dad, had appeared outside. His dad started off after them but slowed to a halt as the 3 people ahead disappeared from sight. Edmund realised he hadn't been breathing and took a huge gulp of air before sliding to the floor and praying silently.

Run Kate! Run!

And run Kate did, her feet pounding time and again on the uneven surface of the pavement. Her breath came in shallow pants, threatening to tear her chest to pieces and her muscles were screaming at her to take a break, but she couldn't stop. Not now. Behind her the men were still recovering from this revelation, however, the initial shock had worn off and it had become clear what was happening. How could they have been so stupid? If they didn't catch this mutant, they would pay big-time. Both the dashing parties were running with desperation at their heels, but Kate had the advantage of having knowledge of the area. The mutation had given her extra agility and made her acutely aware of her surroundings. She weaved frenziedly between small back streets and dived into the milling crowd outside the shopping centre. Her thin frame was quickly lost from sight behind shopping bags and gossiping teenagers. The two men stopped, breathing heavily, sweating. They had lost her.

Kate was still running minutes later, she had never felt panic like this. She could no longer hear their footsteps but she had to be sure. Risking her first backward glance, she realised that she had, at last, lost them. She had done it. She was free. Kate came to a small alley and collapsed, tonight she would be sleeping rough, but she didn't care.

When the men had returned, wheezing and empty handed, Edmund had come close to crying with relief, he just prayed Kate could keep going, there was nothing left that he could do to help her.

For the first time in her sheltered life, Kate would be sleeping with no roof over her head. But as she looked up into the infinite majestic blue of the darkening sky, she thought of the grey concrete of a prison that could so easily have been there in its place, and thought she had never seen anything so beautiful.