FIVE

It had been a long two days for Phoebe. She had been fingerprinted, her DNA had been taken again, and she had been photographed, and even given a thorough physical. No one had mistreated her. But it was clear that none of the people she had come into contact with cared for her very much.

The collar, she discovered, was a combination bomb and restraint. Although she wasn't told how it worked, it apparently prevented a witch from user their powers. And she was told if she tried to remove it, it would detonate instantly. She was given a set of gray, non-descript clothes and told to change. When she finished, she was loaded into another panel van and had been driven for what seemed like hours.

Now she was stepping out of the van. She was inside some kind of camp. The internment camp Barger had mentioned, no doubt. Armed guards sat in towers spaced around the camp. A large barbed-wire fence apparently encircled the camp. A second fence similar to the first circled a smaller encampment inside the first. Dozens of people dressed in the same gray uniforms milled around inside the inner encampment.

Besides the towers, there were armed guards on the grounds. Some had dogs with them. Phoebe stood next to the van with three other women dressed as she was. Apparently they were also witches, since they word the same collar she did. As they stood looking around a man wearing the insignia of Lieutenant walked up to them.

"I'm Lieutenant Parris, the Assistant Commandant of camp Papa 3. This is where you will be living for the foreseeable future. The guards are for your protection but they are also here to make sure you don't try to leave. You would be in danger from the general populace and this camp is designed to keep you safe from harm.

"The rules are quite simple. You will be assigned a job in a few days. Once you've had a chance to acclimate to your new environment. Do your job and no one will bother you. Don't try to escape. Your collars are now programmed for this camp. If you move more than ten feet beyond the perimeter fence they will detonate automatically. Don't cause any trouble and your stay here should be a pleasant one. Do any of you have any questions?"

"There was a man with me," said Phoebe. "What happened to him?"

"That's not your concern. He'll be categorized and dealt with in whatever manner is prescribed by law. What's your name?"

"Phoebe Halliwell."

"Oh yes," said Parris, looking over a clipboard he was holding, "apparently you refuse to identify yourself. Caught in a restricted area. Well, behave yourself while you're here. Malcontents and disrupters are dealt with harshly. If you wish to come clean and divulge your true identity you may request to see the Commandant at any time."

"I've all ready told you the truth. Why won't anyone believe me?"

"Now," said Parris ignoring her question, "behave yourselves and your stay here will be tolerable. Act up or cause any trouble and you'll find that discipline is quick and harsh. We don't tolerate troublemakers. Just keep that in mind when you think about causing any.

"One other thing. The fence is electrified. I wouldn't suggest you try to climb it. It has a charge of more than a hundred thousand volts and if you even touch it you'll be killed instantly."

Phoebe and the others were escorted inside the inner compound. She stood around looking at the other denizens of the camp. She was completely confused. None of this was making any sense. And where were Piper, Paige, and Leo? Other than a passing remark from Garber, nothing had been said about them.

"Well, ain't you a pretty one?"

Phoebe spun around to see a man with long blonde hair standing behind her. Several of the other inhabitants of the camp had gathered behind him. He stood smiling at her with a smile that Phoebe had seen before. And she recognized the man.

"Aames," she said. "I thought we vanquished you years ago."

"You know me? I'm flattered. But as you can see I'm far from vanquished. Now, just who might you be?"

"I'm Phoebe Halliwell."

"Halliwell? Yeah, sure you are. Everyone knows there are only two Halliwell sisters. You don't want to tell me your real name, that's fine. It ain't your name I'm interested in."

The people gathered behind Aames all laughed. Phoebe was getting frightened. Apparently Aames was something of a ringleader in this camp. And she had no delusions what his intentions were. She took a couple of steps back to give herself some room. Well, whatever he had in mind she wouldn't go easily.