"What-what did you see?" Said Caine.

"First of all...there was nothing and then...pain...and laughter." Mina said.

"I think maybe you should go into town tomorrow." Said Diana, looking at Mina after she had finished explaining what had happened.

"It would probably be the best idea...we've wasted rather a lot of time." Said Caine, not quite thinking about Mina but about her uses.

Mina frowned slightly, hearing his thoughts and said a little stiffly "Yes, it'd be better." Mina paused and said "you know...there's someone...um, here."

"What?" Said Caine

"I mean, I can hear their thoughts...there's someone in this room right now that we can't see." Mina carried on before Caine could say anything "his name's Bug." Caine heard a small whimper behind him and shot out his hand and grabbed the air. Bug materialized with Caine clutching his arm. "Explain. Now." Caine said, scowling.

"I didn't mean anything by it. I was just here!"

"Thought I'd be angry with you? Well you were right! I'm angry with you for staying away for the past week!"

"I-I"

"Thought you'd join Sam, did you? Did you really think you could do that? I sent you to spy on him, not to live with him! But then when things got tough, you came crawling back to me!"

"No, Caine, it wasn't like that! Please," whimpered Bug.

"Well, it doesn't matter anyway." Said Caine, throwing Bug loosely against the wall, where he crumpled to the floor. "I've got a new spy so, if you want, you can go and join Sam. See if I care." Bug stood up carefully and said "but...but...so you don't need me anymore?"

"I didn't say that. You could still be useful Bug. We could still be friends." Caine grinned "remember, if you join Sam...you'll be my enemy and you know what I do to my enemies." Bug hastily retreated out of the room, just to be away from Caine and his evil smile.

Mina stood a little way off from Perdido beach wondering what exactly she was doing. It was a little cold that morning and Mina shivered as an icy wind brushed passed her. She rubbed her bare arms and continued walking towards the buildings she could see. Alright Mina, get in, read some minds and get out. Then tell Caine...tell Caine some things. Enough to keep him happy but...not everything. He shouldn't know everything. The advantage of knowing when people are lying means that you get to be a good liar. Nobody can tell when I'm lying. Caine will never know. Mina thought this as she walked past several dilapidated shops and a few starved children who didn't even spare her a glance. She looked at their thin arms and legs, their sunken cheeks and hungry eyes. They reminded her of mistreated animals. Those scrawny cats and dogs that wandered the streets aimlessly without a home...without someone to love them. Mina was a bit of a loner as it was, she never really had many close friends. You can't make friends easily when you can see inside people's heads...know what they're thinking. Find things you didn't want to know. But now, in this empty place, with only children who were waging wars on each other, Mina longed for friends. For just someone to talk to. Just so it wouldn't seem so quiet...so empty...so dead.

Mina was just thinking about where to start when a voice sounded behind her. "Who are you? I've not seen you around before." Mina turned around to see Sam. The Sam. The Sam Caine had told her to look for. Mina took him in, looking him up and down. He had a tired face with rings underneath his eyes. He looked stressed and deprived of sleep. His thoughts confirmed her theories and she thought wow, that's way too much to put on a boy's shoulders. Way too much. Nobody should have to bear that burden. All of that...she shook her head and said "I'm Mina. I've been up in the forest, living on my own. I've not really been here but I thought I'd come and...check it out." Sam nodded slightly and said "a bit dangerous up there now isn't it? Mutated animals and things?"

"There's a few." Said Mina, shrugging.

"Well, if you ever want to come and live here then you can. I'm sure there's an empty house around here somewhere."

"Thanks, but I'm ok at the moment."

"You been eating?"

"Yeah, nothing gourmet standard but I've been getting by. I eat...leaves and things. In the forest. Not very nice and...well, I'd have to eat a lot of them to actually get anything out of them." Sam pulled a face at the mention of leaves, obviously imagining eating them himself. "Well, as you've probably noticed, food is quite scarce at the moment and I can't really offer you much. Looks like you're doing alright with your leaves. Take what you find, you don't know when you might eat again."

"Thanks."

"Well, I'll be off then. Things to do...places to be." Sam went off slowly, buried in his thoughts. What a sorry sight. Thought Mina Caine has nothing to be worried about, the poor boy's just thinking about how to feed everyone. Seeing as I'm here, I may as well have a look around, meet some other people, Caine won't miss me and if he does...tough.

Mina wandered around, not speaking to anyone or looking at anyone in particular but listening to their thoughts. By the end of the day, she felt as if she'd met most people in Perdido beach, their worries, hopes, dreams all filed away in Mina's mind. She sighed and walked back to Coates Academy, dragging her feet slightly. Mina was bored. She wanted to do something. Wanted to talk to someone. Caine is a psychopath or sociopath or whatever, either way he's mental and manipulative and wants to use me. Diana is sarcastic, mocking and...well, she's not that nice. Hard to talk to even though she has a bit of a heart. Drake...don't even get me started on him and his whip hand. His dark thoughts. Penny is just...horrible. A wannabe bad guy. She wants to prove herself, which makes her crueller than she should be. Bug is...well, Bug can't really chose a side. He's a bit of a wimp and coward, hiding in the shadows. Then there's Sam. Sam who's trying to do too much. Sam who's too serious since the FAYZ. Astrid who's a walking dictionary and all round goody two shoes. Mina sighed, now having the heart to continue her list of people who could have been friends but never would be for various reasons. Or maybe...they would. Maybe she could change them...not to the extent where she could call them friends but...maybe they would like her...just a little...