Natalie Pov

Natalie was awakened from her sleep.

"What?" she asked groggily.

"I'm bored!" Ian whispered.

"Why are you bothering me?" Natalie hissed.

"Because Ma and Pa are gone."

Natalie sat up straight. "Gone?" Usually her parents were here, especially when it was night time. They wanted to make sure their children were safe.

The only reason they would be gone is if they showed up.

"Yeah, I heard their car leave a few minutes ago." Ian sat down on her duvet.

"Ian… are the alarms on?"

Ian snorted, "Yeah, and the security guards are guarding our front door. Can you believe it? They're so paranoid."

Natalie forced a smile.

Something's wrong.

The next day….

Natalie woke up, and rubbed her eyes. She had spent the whole night tossing and turning. She wondered where her parents could be.

Natalie went to check their room, their bed was made, no indication that anyone had slept in it. She looked out the window, their car was still gone.

Natalie grabbed her phone. She quickly dialed Amy, Vye, and Sinead.

"Hey, girl," Amy answered sounding alert.

"Morning chicas," Vye chirped.

"Hey," Sinead said sleepily.

"Hey girls… Sinead, you sound dead tired," Natalie said.

"Yeah… someone tried to break into our house. Lucky for us the alarms went off."

A chorus of Ohmigods were uttered by Amy and Vye.

Natalie froze. Is that why Ma and Pa aren't home? Natalie knew that her parents were probably chasing down the "robber". But Natalie knew it wasn't a robber, it was one of them. They almost reached us, Natalie thought. They got past our security…

"….And now my parents are all freaked out. They won't let me leave the house!" Sinead whined.

For a good reason.

"That sucks," Amy said, "Well, I'm jogging right now. I don't want to drop my phone! Cya!"

Natalie gasped. Amy was alone.

Before Natalie could ask where Amy was, Amy had hung up.

"Yeah, I have to go to," Vye said, "I have a family reunion."

"Ugh, fine leave me bored in my house…" Sinead fake sniffed, "Haha, just kidding, I'll see you tomorrow Nat!"

"Bye." Natalie said softly.

Natalie's head swam with thoughts.

Their all alone… except for Vye.

Natalie ran to Ian's room, maybe she would tell him.

But his room was empty.

"JESSICA!" Natalie called for her nanny.

The old woman rushed into Ian's room. Her hair was in a tight bun and she was still wearing her night gown.

"What dear?"

"Where's Ian?"

"He just left to go for his morning run. Why?"

Natalie looked at the clock, it was already nine a.m.

"Oh, how about my parents…?"

"They were gone this morning," Jessica answered.

"So they're not back yet?"

"Nope, not yet."

Natalie groaned. "I'll be getting ready for my gymnastics training…."

I have a bad feeling about today.

AMY POV

Amy hung up her phone and slipped it into the pocket of her Nike shorts. She began jogging again.

Poor Sinead, I hope her family is okay. Maybe I'll stop by later. I wonder why Natalie was acting so strange on the phone.

Amy frowned, Natalie was acting strange lately. She was always missing out on plans, and she seemed paranoid sometimes. Vye had noticed as well. Natalie was acting rather oddly. Sometimes she, during long talks, would get distracted and look out into the distance as if she were waiting for something to jump out and eat them.

Maybe I should stop by and see if she's okay. After all I'm only a few blocks away from there.

Jogging with renewed energy Amy picked up her pace.

That's when she heard it: foot steps. At first, it didn't worry her. It was probably another jogger. She turned corners, the foot steps continued.

Amy was confused, the only place this road led to was the Kabra estate, and it was highly unlikely that a visitor would be coming on foot.

Amy ignored the feeling of worry that was beginning to grow. She continued to jog, the foot steps continued to follow.

What is this person doing? Following me?

Amy's heart jumped, she was being followed. She looked down, she saw a tall shadow. Fear gripped her stomach.

What am I going to do?

Her cell phone was in her pocket, if she could reach it then maybe….

That wouldn't work though, what if this person saw her phone and began to run after her.

Amy drew a breath, On the count of three I will burst into a full-on sprint.

One…..two… three!

Amy began running faster than she ever had before. She heard a small gasp escape from the unknown follower. Then suddenly the foot steps behind her increased.

Amy didn't dare look back. Instead she looked head-on while reviewing important karate moves in her head.

She made a sharp turn at the corner, and suddenly BAM!

She slammed into someone. Holding her head she began to apologize. That is until she saw who she ran into.

"Ian!" Amy said, she was actually happy to see him.

"Cahill," Ian sneered.

Amy instantly glared at him, then she remembered why she was running.

"Ian! There's someone following me!"

Ian narrowed his eyes. "What?"

Amy stood up and offered Ian an arm. Ian took it.

Amy looked around. There was no one to be found. She looked behind her… no one. What in the world?

"Ian…. There was someone following me!" Amy exclaimed, she knew she wasn't crazy.

Ian grimaced, "C'mon, back to the house. I presume that's where you were going?"

Amy nodded. For once she didn't resent Ian, in fact, she felt grateful that he was there.

Well, there's a first for everything.

IAN POV

Ian knew something was wrong. First off, Amy wasn't trying to kill him. Second, there was someone following her.

Ian walked into the kitchen with Amy. He knew Natalie would be amazed at the fact that he and Amy were actually on good terms. For now anyway, this would only last until Amy got over being freaked out.

He sighed.

"Ian!" Natalie burst into the kitchen wearing her gymnastics uniform. "I have to tell you some-." She immediately stopped when she saw Amy.

"Amy!" Natalie ran over to hug her best friend.

"Nat! Oh my god! I was almost killed!" Amy exaggerated.

Ian rolled his eyes and coughed. "You weren't 'almost killed' you were being followed."

Natalie's eyes went wide. "What!"

Ian looked at Amy. Amy rolled her eyes and began to tell her story.

"I was jogging, right? And then I was like 'Hey, maybe I should see how Natalie is doing!' So I picked up my pace and started going to your house. Then I began hearing foot-steps." Amy paused and shuddered. "I knew I was being followed because this person was going in the direction of your estate. And no one would do that… except for me of course… but I would normally have a car! So then I began to sprint, I heard the person gasp and then a split-second later they started to run after me. Thank god I did cross country all those years; I managed to get a good meter ahead of them. Then when I turned a corner I ran into Ian. After running into Ian, my follower disappeared. It was so scary!" Amy finally finished and ran to the fridge to get some water.

Natalie's face was hard. It was impossible to read her emotions. Ian looked at her quizzically. Natalie looked at her brother. Her face was still hard but her eyes conveyed something different all-together. Her eyes were filled with worry, and horror. Then was a lot of guilt, like she was hiding something from Ian.

Ian looked back with the same intensity, but his eyes said "What are you hiding?"

Natalie blinked back, her eyes were filled with secrets.

And in an instant it all made sense.

Ian gripped the table. How could he have missed that?

The person following Amy. It wasn't a random act, it was someone who was as deadly as poison. Someone who is part of the most dangerous criminal group in the world. Someone who, until now, Ian thought had been inactive, eliminated by his parents.

It was them.

His parents weren't retired! The training they were put through wasn't just to keep fit. It was to actually train!

Ian felt dizzy. Natalie cleared her throat and looked at Ian, worried.

Ian looked back, How could she hide that from me?

Amy walked back. Ian barely noticed her. He was too busy hate-glaring at his sister.

"So," Amy started, "What do you think I should do?"

Ian glared at Natalie, "I think you should tell someone. If you want we can tell the police for you."

Natalie instantly glared back, her piercing eyes practically shouted "NO!"

"Really, Ian? I think her parents should be the ones to be told."

Amy looked confused. "Yeah… I think I'll just tell my parents to pick me up…."

"That's a good idea," Natalie said and then walked out of the room.

Ian groaned and put his hands over his face.

Suddenly he heard Amy's soft voice.

"Um, I wanted to say thanks… for, you know, believing me.. and not cracking any jokes.. you know?" Ian looked up, Amy was shuffling her feet with a pained look on her face.

Ian raised an eyebrow, "Is it really that difficult to thank me?"

Amy smiled a little, "Yes. I'm surprised; you're a little less jerky today than usual." She paused. "By the way, I haven't forgotten about yesterday. I still am plotting to kill you." And with that Amy walked out of the kitchen.

Ian looked at the spot she was standing and chuckled. She's a piece of work….

VYE POV

Ugh. Vye was bored out of her mind. So far this family reunion was draining her. There was nothing interesting to do.

Right now she was listening to her cousin, Jim, drone on and on.

"And then in math I had an 'A' but I think the teacher purposely.."

Vye looked around; she was looking for her grandfather who had yet to show up. She wanted to ask him about his twin. She tried asking her dad… let's just say it went badly.

Flashback:

"Dad?" Vye asked.

"Yes?"

"What happened to grandpa's twin?"

Silence.

"Dad?"

"Oh. Um, how'd you find out about that?"

"Well, it was in the library…"

"Oh. Uh, your grandfathers' twin lives in Korea now…"

"It said he disappeared... in a fire."

"He didn't. He lives in Korea."

"Dad, you're a bad liar."

"No I am NOT! Now go clean your room."

"I already did."

"Go clean your bathroom."

"Stop changing subjects."

"I am not. My uncle lives in Korea."

"Dad…."

"What?"

At this point her mom came in and told them to get in the car. Alistair took this as an opportunity and ran. Once they reached the reunion site he vanished.

So Vye was going to look for the next best thing. Her grandfather. He wouldn't lie to her.

Finally Vye spotted him, he was sitting down, alone at a table.

Perfect.

"Well Tim, it was nice talking to you. Gtg!"

"Gtg? What? And my name is Jim!"

Vye ignored him and pushed through the crowd and tried to make her way towards grandpa. She managed to get there in one piece.

"Harabujee!" Vye greeted.

"Hello, how is my granddaughter?" he replied in Korean.

"Fine." Vye responded.

She took a seat. "So grandpa, I heard that you had a twin… his name was Bae."

Her grandpa's wrinkled face looked surprised. "Did your father tell you that?"

Vye bit her lip. "Yeah," she lied.

"Oh… that's strange, well any way, yes Bae was a talented. However, I always outshined him in everything. He was always bitter about that."

"You mean even when you guys worked for the FBI?" Vye asked.

Her grandfather looked surprised again, "You mean your parents told you everything?"

"Everything? You mean there's more?" Vye asked, widening her eyes.

"Well it depends, what do you know?"

"I know that he disappeared in a fire. A fire that most likely wasn't an accident."

Her grandpa's face grew grave. "Yes. That fire was no accident."

"So it's true: Bae is dead? And who set the fire?" She was hesitant with the word 'dead'.

Her grandpa looked up and met her eyes, "I don't know. A body was never discovered. And it was most likely our most devious enemies."

Silence. Enemies? Vye was amazed, her family was actually interesting.

"I'm so sorry…" Vye said.

"Ah… it's okay. The past is the past…" her grandpa looked up thoughtfully.

"Grandpa… did you really just stop working for the FBI when you met grandma?"

"Of course!" her grandpa said, a little too quickly.

Vye knew he was lying. "Are you-" but she was interrupted by a man in a suit and sunglasses. His hair was slicked back into a ponytail, and judging by his skin tone and looks, he was definitely Korean. Though, Vye didn't recognize him from any family pictures.

"May I speak to your grandfather alone?" the mysterious man asked in Korean.

Her grandfather suddenly became stiff; he looked like he didn't like this guy.

"Ah, Lee, how are you? You do know this is a family reunion. Don't you?" her grandpa spoke in a Korean monotone.

Lee looked at Vye, indicating that she should leave. Vye glared back before saying "Excuse me, I'll see you later grandpa." She got up from the table and walked away. Her mind focusing on one thing.

How rude!

DAN POV

Dan awoke to yelling. Amy and her Mom were having a rather loud argument.

"MOM! YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"

"YES I CAN I'M YOUR MOTHER!"

"YOU'RE BEING SO UNFAIR!"

"AMY IT'S FOR THE BEST!"

"MOM! YOU'RE NOT EVEN GIVING ME A GOOD ENOUGH REASON!" "YOU MEAN THE GUY FOLLOWING YOU WASN'T REASON ENOUGH?"

Guy? What guy?

"NOTHING HAPPENED!"

"AMY! I MEAN IT. LISTEN TO ME. STAY HERE. DON'T GO OUTSIDE UNLESS I SAY IT'S OKAY!"

"BUT MOM! I WAS GONNA HANG WITH SOME PEOPLE TODAY!"

"NOT ANY MORE!"

Dan groaned and covered his ears. Aunt Hope's voice was quite loud.

He heard a knock on his door. "Come in."

Uncle Arthur entered in quietly. "Good morning, eh?" he said smiling.

Dan rolled his eyes and said sarcastically, "Oh, yeah, it's that best."

"You should probably stay home too… so Amy won't think that she is being treated unfairly."

Dan nodded his head; he would do anything for Hope and Arthur.. they were almost like his parents.

"Thanks," Arthur said and ruffled Dan's hair before exiting.

Dan quickly took a shower and brushed his teeth. After that he changed into jeans and a shirt.

He went downstairs, Aunt Hope seemed to have gone upstairs already.

"Woah." Was all Dan said when he saw Amy.

Amy was all red, like tomato. She was still wearing her jogging outfit. Her eyes showed no evidence of tears.

"So, care to tell me what happened?"

Amy looked at him. Suddenly she whipped out her phone and began texting at top speed. She then shut her phone and continued to sit.

"Okay…" Dan said.

Then his phone dinged. There was a text message from Amy.

He read it. It explained everything that happened.

"Oh…." Dan said.

Amy was still silent.

"Uh, well that doesn't mean people can't come over."

Amy smiled a little. But then frowned. She got her phone out again.

Seconds later Dan was reading a text message from Amy.

"Oh. Um, well you can always order clothes online."

Another message.

"We have a gym here Amy."

Another message.

"I'm not allowed to go any where either."

Amy looked shocked.

"What?" she asked, finally speaking.

"I'm not allowed to go out."

"Why?"

Dan, paused, he didn't want Amy to feel bad. After all, it was her fault he couldn't leave.

So he shrugged.

Amy raised an eyebrow, "That doesn't make any sense you weren't the one being stalked."

"Maybe they think that it wasn't a coincidence that you were being followed."

Amy frowned. "So that would put you in danger too? That doesn't seem right."

Dan shrugged again. Where is she going with this?

"Maybe they know something that we don't!" Amy exclaimed.

Dan rolled his eyes, "Amy, they're art dealers."

"So? It doesn't mean they can't have secrets."

Dan contemplated whether it was worth it to argue with her.

He shrugged again.

Amy drew a breath and marched upstairs.

Soon he heard her bathroom door slam.

Dan breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly Aunt Hope popped in, "Dan… tomorrow Arthur and I are going on a…trip. With the Oh's and Starlings, you know the whole gang. Um, we thought it was best if all the kids stayed here for the night tomorrow. Of course there will be nannies to make sure you kids don't do anything… we don't want you too. Can you pass that message along to Amy?"

Dan grinned, "Sure!"

"Aw," Hope smiled at him, "Thank you for being such a sweet child. Stay safe, okay?"

"Well, I don't think staying safe is going to be a problem. We live on a suburb far away from the city…." Dan said.

Hope smiled at him, but there was something in her eyes. What was it? Worry, hurt?

"Just be safe, okay?"

Dan stood up and gave his Aunt a hug, "No problem."

A/N: So this was kind of like a filler, to get you hyped I suppose… the next chapter is where the story actually starts!