A/N: haha! An up-date! Aren't you all happy? Man, I hope I still got some readers out there!

Alice bolted the door behind her as she pushed the Twins inside. She turned back to them and watched as incredulous looks were
plastered onto their faces. They shared a glance, and Jeanette stepped forward. "Alice?" she asked quietly. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Alice replied, finally catching her breath. "But I really need to tell you guys something extremely important."

"What would that be?" Jonathan piped up.

Alice side-smirked at his reaction. "Well, it's a little bit far-fetched, but I'm gonna need you guys to keep it to yourselves and tell no one about what I'm about to say! It's a secret, just between me and you guys, okay?"

"Okay, we get it," Jeanette said, smiling now. Maybe this visit wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Yeah! What's the big mystery?" Jonathan asked. Only now did Alice take the time to realize that both Twins looked like they hadn't gotten much sleep. Jeanette's attire looked as if it was hastily put on, her usually perfect black skirt a bit wrinkled on the right. Not to mention it looked like she hadn't spent enough time on her hair, it thrown into a simple pony-tail. Jonathan just looked a bit less energetic than usual. And it was always apparent when he didn't get enough sleep because his eyes always looked tired and his shoulders were usually a bit slumped. But Alice made no comment on her conclusion and walked over to her bed.

"You guys better sit down for this," she said, taking a seat onto her bed and scooting over towards the center where she crossed her legs. The Twins walked over and Jeanette took a seat on the right edge whereas Jonathan took a seat towards the left.

"I have a feeling this'll be pretty interesting," Jonathan remarked.

"Shhh!" Jeanette snapped. Jonathan shifted his glance from his sister towards Alice and grinned sheepishly. Alice smiled and took a deep breath.

"Okay, like I said, this may sound a bit far-fetched at first, but I assure, I totally know what I'm talking about," Alice started.

"All right! Now what's the story?" Jonathan asked, putting on his reporter-like charm.

Alice hesitated, but began the story. "The other day, when we were at the school, remember what happened?"

"Yes."

"Well, I don't remember a thing. All the memory I had left are a couple of strange visions that I have no clue where they came from. And, also, I don't exactly know how I ended up in my bed the next morning."

Jeanette and Jonathan shared a glance, but looked back at Alice uncertainly.

"My dad, when I asked him in the morning said that he didn't recall me leaving my room at all. Do you guys know what happened?" she asked.

"Well..." Jeanette started.

"We don't know what you're talking about. You left for home soon after we found out the binder was missing," Jonathan said quickly.

Jeanette looked at her brother and Jonathan shot her look. She frowned and nodded towards Alice, whom was having trouble figuring out what was going on. What's with the exchanging of glances?

"He's right," Jeanette said quietly. "You walked home afterwards. You must have just knotted off or something and that's why you can't remember anything."

"Exactly. It seemed like you were a bit out of it anyway," Jonathan agreed.

"If you guys say so..." Alice mumbled uncertainly.

"We do," they chorused, then glared at each other. Alice smiled at that. Ah, sweet normalcy. It was good to have the Twins back to normal.

"But back to my main point," Alice said, cutting their glaring contest short. She leaned forward and the Twins closed in too as Alice began to whisper.

"Joseph, you must go back," Vlad repeated. They were sitting in his lab talking. They'd been talking a lot actually.

"Are you kidding me? My dad won't be exactly Mr. Nice Guy when we get there!" Joseph disagreed. He crossed his arms. In one of his hands was a small screw-driver, in the other what looked like a cell phone battery.

"It is necessary for my plan to prevail," Vlad said calmly. "You must face your father, lead him into the wrong direction. Make it seem like you were a victim. Then in the end, betray them."

Joseph's teeth clenched and his eyes widened in horror. "You are one seriously crazed up fruit loop..." he mumbled quietly.

"Now, Joseph, I may a crazed up fruit loop, but you are beneath my control now. And you will do as I say!" Vlad said.

"You have no control over me," Joseph disagreed. "You can't do anything to me! I can easily quit and-"

"And go help Alice and the rest?" Vlad mocked him. He laughed evilly and smiled wickedly. "But you will not," he objected. He stood from his chair and took a couple of steps forward. "Will you?" he asked.

"Don't be so sure," Joseph said.

Vlad grinned. "Believe it or not, boy, I saw this coming," Vlad said.

"Oh?" Joseph asked, taking a step backward, afraid the old-aged man would hurt him. He could easily escape him, but even he wasn't above hurting someone who isn't in his best condition. He wouldn't fight and old man like Vlad even if he knew the guy had supernatural powers.

"Of course," Vlad responded, hiding something behind his back that sent chills down Joseph's spine. "An old trick I used back when young Daniel was only a few years older than you are now." Vlad reveal a black and red remote with a red button on it.

"What's that gonna do?" Joseph asked.

"They are called blood stream nano-bots, and they are running through your system as we speak," Vlad explained.

Joseph smiled weakly. "You're not serious right? What are blood stream nano-bots gonna prove?"

"That if you don't do as I say, then you will be...how do the kids say it? Bread?" Vlad asked, backing off a step and pondering.

"Actually, it's toast," Joseph corrected.

"Oh? Well, that can't be right..." Vlad said. Joseph cleared his throat and after getting Vlad's attention, pointed at the control in his hands. "Oh, right, where was I? Ah yes! If you do not do as I say, you'll be doomed."

Joseph's eyes widened and he sucked in a large breath.

That's not good!

E/N: Ah, the return of the nano-bots. -evil grin-

--Airamé Phantom