Authors Note: One more chapter to go and this baby is done. And for those of you who don't know, this story is the first in a trilogy. The second story is titled The Black Files and picks up right where this one leaves off, you can access The Black Files via my profile. After the Black files is a one shot story titled Idle hands that takes place a few weeks where The Black Files leaves off. And Last but not least is Exodus the story that I've recently started posting. Exodus takes place about six to seven years after The Black Files.

K- I plan on it I only have one more chapter left and I'm done with this story, but I still have Exodus to complete.

Phi4858- yeah life sucks for these poor kids, but it will get better, grated they will have more baggage than an airport but they get their happy ending. And the kids inner sense did warn them about the sweepers just not quite as soon as they need, mostly because this chapter plays a big role in Alex's character so the kids had to be caught.

Erikstrulove- Yes Project Shadow and just so you know it does in a way relate to Markus and that's all I'm telling you or else you'll figure it all out, and I want for you to be shocked. Although if you go back to the last chapter you just maybe able to figure it out.

You're right Syd does seem to be missing. I swear I have got to keep a better eye on these characters. But really Syd didn't have that much of a role to play in this story.

LJP- Okay I'll be nice to Jerry, I didn't mean to pick on him so much but I was rereading the Black Files and realized that during some point in time I alluded to some pretty bad things happening to Jerry. But that's it I swear no more. Now it's Alex's turn. As for a Tony for my play, I wish. But the critic did seem to think we did a exceptional job.

Pretender Fanatic- Yes I know I'm evil. I put these poor kids through such hell. And yes Angel season five was quite lovely, now if they would just make that Spike movie I keep hearing about.


CHAPTER 56

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED


May 6, 2001

2:09am

Blue Cove, Delaware

The Centre

"You're going to brand me?" Jake asked incredulously.

"Oh not you Jacob," Lyle replied. "Her."

Thirteen pairs of eyes shifted to look at Alex.

"No!" all of the boys yelled.

"Look Miller, chivalry isn't dead," Lyle smirked. Miller let out a low chuckle.

"Please not her," Aaron begged tears beginning to fall down his face. Alex had been hurt enough at the hands of Lyle, Aaron wanted to spare his sister. "Pick me instead, just not her."

"I've made my decision Aaron-Daniel," Lyle told the boy.

"It wasn't her idea. It was mine, please, please don't punish her for my idea," Jake pleaded.

"Or me. Alex wanted to go back," Marc spoke.

"I'll do it. Just not Alex," Tobias volunteered.

"Let her be, just this once please Mr. Lyle," Greg begged.

"You can hurt me instead, just not my sister. Haven't you done enough to her as it is?" Andros asked through tears.

"What about you Jeremiah. You've remained quite this whole time. Are you not willing to lay down your life for her?" Lyle asked.

"I'd die for her, for any of us," Jeremiah spoke softly. "It's what family does for one another, but you wouldn't know anything about that would you?"

Lyle's face turned an interesting shade of red as Jeremiah continued.

"Alex is my sister just as much as Melissa is, just as much as Michelle is, or Terra, or Cassie or Rachael. Aaron, Andros, Michael, Marc, and Jake are my brothers, just as Greg is my brother. So yeah I'm willing to lay down my life for her."

"Such a lovely speech Jeremiah," Lyle sneered. "To bad it won't help her."

Lyle nodded to Miller, and the sweeper unchained a struggling Alex from her chair. Alex did her best to fight, but it was all in vain. Miller removed Alex's shirt and then strapped the girl stomach down on to a metal table. All the while the other children were begging, screaming, and crying for Lyle and Miller to stop.

Ignoring their pleas Lyle sauntered over to the where Miller had placed the branding iron and the metal bin that was roaring with fire. Lyle placed the iron in the fire waiting for it to glow red, satisfied Lyle pulled it out and turned.

"I won't lie to you Alexandra, this will hurt," Lyle said Alex could detect the joy in Lyle's voice.

"Go to hell," Alex said between tears.

"You are truly your mother's daughter. The both of you are so beautiful when you're angry," Lyle said and then placed the branding iron in the small of Alex's back. Alex let out a blood curdling scream. But she was not the only one, as Lyle placed the iron on Alex's back Aaron, Andros, Mike, and Maddie felt their own skin blister and burn. Their screams mixed with Alex's screams and the protest of the rest of the children.

Lyle pulled back the iron, and on Alex's back was an angry red circle formed out of fourteen stars, in the center of the circle were the words 'CENTRE PROPERTY'. Lyle repeated the process thirteen more times until there were fourteen circles that formed a larger circle. Each brand represented each Black File.

When he was finally done, Lyle had Miller douse the fire and remove the metal trash bin and branding iron. Lyle then had Miller release each of the children. As soon as they were free the thirteen older Black Files -including Aaron, Andros, Mike, and Maddie who were almost in as much pain as Alex- ran over to the youngest Black File.

She had tears streaming down her face, her voice was to strained from screaming to even make a sound other than whimpering.

"I'm so sorry, baby sister. I'm so sorry," Jake repeated over and over, as he cradled Alex in his lap.

"I will do it again," Lyle warned Jake and the other children. "And if Sam or Jen learns about this I will have them killed." Lyle and Miller then left the children locked in the room.

"Jake we need to get them help," Rachael said as she lifted up the back of Aaron's shirt. Thanks to the bond he shared with Alex, Andros, Mike, and Maddie, Aaron too had fourteen brands on his back. But Aaron, Andros, Mike and Maddie were the lucky ones, with in the next year or two their brands would completely fade away, where as Alex would carry hers for life.

"Who are we going to ask for help. You heard Lyle we can't tell Sam or Jen," Greg said panic evident in his voice.

Jeremiah began to contemplate on who the children could call on for help. The first person who came to mind was the girl- "Winifred, but you can call me Fred," She had told him. Only later to tell him that her name was Alley- he had seen the night Alex, Andros, Aaron, Mike and Maddie had been in a coma. But Jeremiah was unsure if the girl -if Alley- was actually real or if she was a dream. And even if she wasn't a dream Lyle said she was dead. But then again Lyle was known for his lies. The only other person Jeremiah could think of for help was Angelo.

"I'll be back," Jeremiah said softly.

"Jer where are you going?" Jake asked the younger boy.

"For help," Jeremiah said as he pulled off the cover for the air-vent and went to find Angelo. Jeremiah found the empath in his lair, but Angelo wasn't alone. With Angelo was a boy five years Jeremiah's senior.

"Angelo," Jeremiah called out to the Centre savant as he entered the room. "We need your help. Lyle hurt Alex."

"What," the boy said turning around to face Jeremiah. Jeremiah green eyes grew clouded with confusion, for a split second Jeremiah thought the boy was the Alley.

"Who are you," Jeremiah asked the boy.

"That doesn't matter," The boy replied. "You said that Alex was hurt, are the others okay?"

"Yes. No. Air, Andy, Mike and Maddie are hurt too because of their telepathic bond. They don't know how to turn it off yet." Jeremiah answered. "How do you know about the others? Who are you."

"Tell," Angelo said placing a hand on the older boy's arm. "Loves them too. Die for them."

"Fine," The boy sighed. "My name is Will. And that is more than you need to know. Now take me to them."

trust him

The voice of his mother told Jeremiah. "Fine, follow me," Jeremiah told Will.

"Wait a second. I need some things," Will said grabbing a few simple medical supplies.

"Hurry," Jeremiah said impatiently.

"Hold your horses kid," Will replied.

"I'm not a kid," Jeremiah said.

"Yeah you're more than that aren't you," Will said his blue eyes meeting Jeremiah's green ones.

"Get out of my head," Jeremiah snapped.

"You're a borrower," Will gasped. "I didn't even know the Centre had any of you."

"There's three of us," Jeremiah said leading Will to where the other Black Files were.

"So how does that work exactly?" Will asked. "Is it like the whole Rouge from X-men thing?"

"No. I just have to focus on a person and I get their abilities," Jeremiah said.

"How'd you know I was a telepath?"

"She told me," Jeremiah whispered.

"Who?" Will asked "Jen?"

"No my Mom," Jeremiah replied as he and Will entered the room.

"Jer you're back," Jake stated. "And I see you brought help."

"Jake what's going on?" Will asked.

"You two know each other?" Greg asked but his question was ignored.

"We tried to escape. We were caught. Lyle..." Jake faltered as he saw Will's eyes go red.

"Cool dude's a pyro," Marc muttered.

"What did Lyle do?" Will growled.

"He branded Alex. And because of their bond. Air, Andy, Mike and Maddie felt it too," Rachael answered.

Will didn't know who he was angrier with the most at that moment. Jake or Lyle. Jake was going to leave taking Will's baby brothers and sister with him. Will knew Jake well enough to know that Jake had no intentions of telling Will of the escape.

Will pushed aside his anger and walked over to where Alex, Maddie and the boys all laid on their stomachs, their shirts removed. Will winced at the brands that decorated the five children's backs. He felt tears well in his eyes but like the anger he forced it way.

The five children were bordering on unconsciousness. The only thing they were aware of was pain. Will wanted so bad to comfort them, to tell them that everything would be alright, but he was too frightened to reveal who he was. He didn't want to place his siblings in danger by revealing who he was. Will crouched down and dug through his bag and pulled out some paracetamol, that would help the children with the pain they were in.

"Hey kid, Jeremiah. Take a few of you to the cafeteria get me some ice, some water and some bowls. You two what are your names?" Will said as he filled the syringe.

"Tobias and Terra," Tobias answered.

"Find on of the linen rooms I need towels." The twins set off along with Jeremiah, Greg and Melissa to do Will's biding.

"What can I do?" Jake asked.

"You've done enough," Will snapped.

"I didn't think..." Jake began

"Obviously," Will said.

"Take it easy Will," Rachael said.

"Take it easy. Lyle branded m-them," Will hissed.

"That's right Lyle branded them. Not Jake. Right now you need to focus on them. They need you right now." Rachael told the older boy.

"Hey anyone here get that feeling that they're missing a big part of the puzzle?" Marc asked.

"All the time," Cassie replied as Jeremiah and the other four children returned with the items Will asked for.

"Kid, fill the bowls with water and ice. Dampen the towels and place them on their backs okay?" Will told Jeremiah.

"Sam's your sweeper," Jeremiah commented.

"You go rooting around in my head?" Will asked.

"No. You talk like Sam when you get scared. Here's a question why are you so scared?" Jeremiah asked.

"I'm not," Will said tapping the syringe to get rid of the air bubbles so that he could inject Alex with the paracetamol.

"Really because your shaking hands say otherwise," Jeremiah replied.

"Shit," Will muttered.

"Here let me," Jeremiah said taking the syringe from Will, and injecting Alex with the drug.

"You're good at this," Will commented filling another syringe and passing it to Jeremiah.

"I've watched Jen," Jeremiah stated.

"Me too," Will said, and found himself trusting the younger boy. He realized that Angelo was right Jeremiah did love the others as much as Will did. As Jeremiah administered the drug to the five children, Will placed cool damp cloths on the children's backs.

"Greg, Lissa, help Will out," Jeremiah called over his shoulder to his brother and sister. Greg and Melissa slowly approached Will, unsure what to think of the older boy.

"What do we do?" Greg asked.

"Keep their backs cool, for the next fifteen minutes or so. After that we'll cover it with some cling film to keep the area dry," Will told the children.

"We aren't going to put any sort of salve over the burns?" Tobias asked.

"No," Will replied. "They just need paracetamol for the pain."

"Are you going to leave?" Jeremiah asked, he was shocked to find that he didn't want Will to leave.

"Yeah. I'm not suppose to be around you guys," Will said as he carefully dabbed the damp towel along Alex's back.

"Why not?" Jeremiah asked.

"Lyle doesn't know I know about you guys," Will replied.

"What's your connection to us?"

"Jer let it go," Jake said firmly, knowing that Will did not want to reveal his identity.

"Listen I need to go ," Will said ten minutes later. "I have a sim to perform in front of the triumvirate at eight, and I haven't prepared yet."

"Will you be back?" Jake asked.

"Maybe, to check on them," Will whispered brushing a stand of hair out of Alex's face. She and the others had finally passed out due to a combination of pain and the drug.

"I'll look after them don't worry," Jeremiah said.

"I know you will," Will replied he then quickly pressed a kiss to Alex, Andros, and Aaron's foreheads, whispered into their ears and left.


Will crawled as fast as he could through the air-vents he needed to get away from the smell of burnt flesh, from the emotions radiating off of the other children. He had tried to push away the emotions he felt from the Black Files but Will had spent most of his energy keeping Jeremiah and the others from realizing that he was Alex, Aaron, and Andros' brother.

Will was emotionally and physically sick as tears streamed down his face. Lyle would pay for what he had done, he was certain of that. Will burst through the air vent through his room and fell to the floor, he crawled his way to the toilet and began to retch until he had nothing left in his stomach. And when everything in his stomach was gone Will proceeded to dry heave for the next ten minutes.


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Up Next: The final chapter, which is just the beginning. Alex, Aaron, and Andros keep having dreams of a boy who looks remarkably like them. Jake comes to the conclusion that if he can't get the kids out on his own it's time to set every thing in motion.