"They captured me while we were crossing Siberia. We were in a...delicate situation, and in the confusion I was knocked unconscious. When I woke up, all I could feel was pain. Everything was a blur, I don't think I woke up much during the first four years. The-I'm assuming-last year was the year I was awake the most. I learned through snippets that they had started out with around four hundred other people, with as many neurological variations as possible; mainly every form of neurodivergency possible. I also learned that over the four years, most of them had died off due to complications, leaving three of us left. Me, a woman who was autistic, and a man who had severe ADHD. The woman shortly died, as her mind and body rejected whatever they did to her. To us."

I had to stop for a moment, the memories bringing back echos of pain. They watched in silence. With an intake of breath, I continued.

"The other man had it much worse than I did. You remember I told you I was given telekinesis- or at least a form of it?"

They both nodded.

"Well, it turned out he got telepathy. It was evidently too much for him and he eventually killed himself. Which left only me. I don't know why I endured or how long. When I escaped, I remember it was dark, cold." Pause. "When I fully regained my senses, I was in a city. I left the country as soon as I could."

Finished, I waited for their reactions. David didn't take long.

"That's...messed up, I—" He stopped himself.

I glanced at him. Cassandra stared at her papers; maybe lost in thought? Perhaps. Regardless, both of them were just sitting there. Then David stood up.

"Well, Hank, it's getting late; so unless you want to spend the night in a cell, I suggest you find some accommodations." I frowned at him.

"Oh, he can stay at my place; the house has a spare bedroom he can use." Both of us turned to face her-David with surprise.

"It'll be easier to keep an eye on him," she explained, and he nodded in understanding, sitting back down.

"If you two don't object, I would like my personal effects before we leave." If they think I'll leave the complex without my clothes...

"Yes, we can pick them up as we go."

I nodded and sat back. Good. It took a few seconds, but Cassandra soon finished putting everything away. She stood up and beckoned me to follow her.

As we left the office, she said "Good night Colonel," and closed the door behind us. He was left still sitting at his desk looking...overwhelmed, perhaps?

We made a quick stop to pick up my clothes, and thankfully I was allowed to change. I was getting tired of walking around barefoot.

We managed to get to her vehicle without me being unjustly gunned down and made it out of the complex unscathed. I would have been content with a silent ride, but Cassandra insisted on continuing the interrogation.

"Do you know Russian?"

"No...?" Kind of out of the blue, but okay.

"Those scientists would have been speaking Russian, so how you have understood them?" she asked.

"I-I don't know. I understand speech well enough, but the writing required help...hm. Interesting."

She glanced at me. "Interesting?"

"How could I know what they were saying if I didn't..." I stopped.

"Well, they would have been talking while you were unconscious, so perhaps your subconscious was listening and got four, five years complete immersion. It could have been enough."

"Immersion."

"Yes, it's how I learned English."

Really?

"You also- at the beginning you said something- you said 'we'. What- who were you with?"

"No."

"Uh, I'm sorry?"

"That has nothing to do with your current investigation. I do not want to talk about it."

Her brow furrowed at this statement. She didn't speak again until we arrived at our destination.

"Alright," she said as she parked the car. "We're here."

"I can see that, given that you've parked."

She gave me an annoyed look and got out of the car. "I'm going to have my hands full with you."

Unsure at how to respond to this, I got out of the car and followed her to the house.

"You live here?"

"For the time being, while I'm stationed here."

"You rent it?"

"The Agency does. It has deals with homeowners across the country. Anyway, we probably won't be staying here for very long; when I send my report in, they'll likely want us to fly down to D.C."

"D.C.? Are you sure I'm allowed in D.C.?"

"With a federal agent, you will be."

Inside the house was spacious and airy. The main part of the house spanned two floors and on the right side, I could see a small balcony linked to what I assumed was the master bedroom. Late evening light was streaming in through the large windows at the other end of the house. All in all, it could be summed up by a few words.

"I could get used to this."

"Well, don't get too attached; we may be moving out soon."

"Hmm. Pity."

She pointed to the right. "You room will be up the stairs and to the...left? when you get up there." She was spinning around to try and make sense of the directions she was giving. "To the right now but to the left when you get up there..."

I raised an eyebrow, watching her now mumble to herself, and decided to leave her and find my room.

The room - as I did find it to the left 'when I got up there' as she said-was spacious as well. The large window on the far wall was open slightly, letting a cool breeze ruffle the curtains and dance around the room. The breeze quickly found me and danced through my coat and darted in and out of my hair.

For the first time in years, I felt truly calm. I closed my eyes to savor the moment; to enjoy the feeling. Has it really been that long? Almost seventeen long years since that day, the day our childhood ended, the day I-

"Hank?"

I started. So much for my serene moment. I hadn't even noticed her behind me. I turned towards her.

"Yes?"

Her brows were furrowed and her eyes filled with concern. "Are you alright?"

I turned back to the room. "Yes, I believe."

"You believe?"

"Yes."

I heard her sniff behind me. "Well, when you're done, we can go get you some more clothes and whatever else you may need. Since, well, you don't have much."

When I didn't move or answer, she laid a hand on my shoulder. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Mm. "Yes. It's just been a while since I felt...well, safe really. Calm." I gently shrugged her hand off.

"And when was the last time?" she asked softly.

I looked at her. "Almost two decades ago". And with that, I breezed past her out of the room and started to descend the stairs. I called back up to her. "Shouldn't we be going to get what I need? After all, I don't have much."

I heard her sigh behind me and I couldn't help but think; this is going to be interesting.