Previously on Nothing Stays the Same:

It was boring. But I was a little bit thankful I didn't have lots of powers. They seem like such a big deal, making you crazy for more power. I didn't want the burden of having to always keep them in control, and always having to worry about them.

I liked the simpleness of my speed.

And now:

The day finally came when we would put out plan into action. We had, finally, agreed that Rain would have to go in because they haven't seen her in about 10 years as opposed to me who they saw a few months ago.

I would be flying above the building and break into one of the higher levels. She would work on getting to the basement. Once we were in we wouldn't be able to communicate because they A) probably had outside transmission trackers and B) we didn't have any coms.

"Is your watch set?" Rain asked. I glanced at her.

"For the ninth time now; yes. Our one hour will start as soon as we're in."

"Right."

"Are you nervous?" I watched as she frowned.

"Not exactly nervous, more like apprehensive. This is so much pressure, I don't know how you've done it."

I shrugged. "Skill, practice…my awesomeness."

She cracked a smile. "You ready?"

I nodded and she went stiff. For a second nothing happened, and then fog started to spread across the street making it impossible to see much. When I was positive no one was around, I snapped out my wings and took to the sky.

I circled the building twice, having to double check through the fog, then landed. The second I touched down, my timer started. I climbed over the edge of the building and began walking on the small jut out. The fog was slowly clearing, telling me Rain was inside. I crept beside a window, making sure no was inside before I pried it up.

51 minutes 28 seconds.

The office was big. It clearly belonged to someone high up on the food chain. Which is exactly what I wanted, a big office that was sure to have every file I needed.

Itex wasn't stupid. 75% of their records, the important ones, were paper records. They weren't willing to risk being hacked and having people find out about their illegal activities, so they kept records.

File cabinet, after file cabinet. They looked never ending, overwhelming, and like they could kick my ass. They almost did. It took me about 10 minutes to find layouts of some of their other buildings, including places like the School. Another 5 minutes passed before I found something really interesting.

Rain may have escaped 10 years ago, but they never forgot her.

Her file took up half a drawer, next to it was another large file. I didn't have time to read either I stuffed them in my duffle along with the layout plans. I started leafing through the other cabinets; most files were labeled with a successful experiments identification number. The next cabinet I went through was better than Rain's file.

It was the Erasers and Flyboys files. With detailed explanations, notes, and formulas explaining how to make them. There were pictures, explaining each process. Disgusting couldn't even begin to describe it.

Finally, I found the file I wanted but didn't actually think would be there. Mine. The Flock. Jeb. And in the very back, was my moms. I wanted it all, and managed to squish them in next to the Erasers.

10 minutes 41 seconds.

They had a file on Mr. Chu and Bridget Dwyer. Though they were only filled with basic information because, besides the fact that Mr. Chu kidnapped my mom, they two of them posed a very low threat for Itex.

5 minutes 7 seconds.

I stuffed other random files in my bag, something about powers and abilities, another thing about the workers, a couple of experiments. I had two minutes left and a bag that weighed way more than half my body weight. I dragged the bag to the window as if it was weighed nothing though—

Sorry to interrupt, but I would like to remind everyone that if they remembered the last time I was in Germany when the Director was trying to sell us to the Chinese that she said we could carry half of our own weight. By this she meant when we're flying. Most, if not all, experiments are stronger and faster than normal people. Which means a bag that weight about 75 pounds, is like a 5 pound weight. Okay, now back to what I was saying.

I managed to prop it against the wall as I waited, my body hanging half in half out of the window. What a sight it would be if anyone saw. For a second I wondered if Rain would be able through. Was she caught? Did she get held up? And then on the road, I saw a truck busting ass down the street. I pulled the duffle through the window then pushed it over the edge.

It fell with me jumping after it; I grabbed the handle as we free fell guiding it enough where it would land perfectly in the bed of the truck. With a hundred feet left, I snapped my wings open and watched as the duffle landed in the truck with a loud thump.

The truck wasted no time in getting the hell out of there. I trailed it, high in the sky, as a real grin stretched across my face for the first time in a long time.

The driver of the truck was obviously Rain. Our plan was simple. I got the files, she checked for experiments. Failed experiments I guess, if they were in Germany. Back at the hotel, she said there were only a few. A truck came threw a few days prior to collect the rest. The truck was…yeah.

The few that were there were undergoing final testing, testing their worthiness. Once Rain got them out, they bolted and to this day we still haven't heard from them.

Rain was more than shocked when she saw her file. She played it cool, though she read the entire thing multiple times. It had all kinds of information. To what her blood type was compatible with (powers wise), to the family that would have adopted her. They even had notes about what she would be capable to do now.

I didn't read my file. Or the Flocks. It was just something I couldn't bring myself to do. I had thought I knew everything about them, besides the fact that they thought I was a traitor, and I wasn't interested in being crushed with more information I didn't know about them. For example: their parent's names.

I couldn't do it, and didn't for many years.

I think I was because, even though they hurt me, I felt like I was betraying them. Betraying one of the good memories I had with them, when we were set out to find their parents. Now their files sit collecting dust in a hidden place that I won't be telling you about, with the names of people who thought they were dead, didn't want them, or didn't care.

But Rain memorized her file. I disregarded mine. The third was a girl who was going to change our lives more than they already had.

Her name was Talia Ranch, but eventually we would come to call her Teddy.