'I'm won't ask you if you're okay…'

'No, you better not.'

'Should I leave you alone?'

'No. Stay.'

Lynn had followed me all the way through the building to the girls' restroom. The bell had already rung, but I wasn't feeling like going back to class.

'We're gonna be in trouble for this.'

'I don't care.'

Lynn nodded with a sad smile.

'Neither do I.'

We sat there silently for a while. My heart was ablaze. Of course I knew there was a chance that our relatives would be captured, but I had no idea it had already happened. Once again, I felt desperately powerless. I couldn't have saved my beloved sister even with the help of Pegasian technology – it was too late before Prince Erlan even came to us.

I knew Lynn was affected too since she was on the swimming team Ellen had been the captain of. Somehow, it was nice to have someone to share my grief with, even if there was no talking. Her mere presence was soothing.

'You know, somehow I feel relieved that Ellen is one of them. She didn't quit swimming after all, a Shadow did it when it took over. It feels nice to know she didn't just abandon us and throw it all away like it seemed she did. Though I can imagine that's the least of your concerns.'

I cracked a faint smile and nodded. Lynn came a bit closer and hugged me.

'We will do everything we can to bring her back. We have Prince Erlan's technology on our side, haven't we? You can already do lots of stuff with it, and I'm sure that soon, we will, too. We'll help you out.'

'Lots of stuff, you've gotta be kidding me! I can lie on the ceiling and stay stuck on the fridge, what kind of super-power is that?!'

'Hey, you've figured as much all by yourself in that little time! With practice, there's no telling what you're gonna be able to do! You can transform into Super Annabel and leap over the buildings, girl! Give yourself some credit!'

'Yeah…'

I knew she was right, of course, but at that time I was too devastated to listen to reason. Still, Lynn's words did cheer me up a bit. Ellen was Infested, but all hope wasn't lost. At least I hadn't leaked any info to her. And the cube had been brought to safety before she could find it.

'You know what, Lynn? I've always admired your talent to see the good in things and people.'

'Really?' she said, beaming at me, 'Well that's nothing of a talent, it just comes naturally…'

'Yes it is! Every time someone feels depressed or angry or bad for whatever reason, you're always there to come up with the nice word they need to hear – and that's precious.'

'Well then, while we're at compliments – I've always admired your self-control.'

'What self-control? I'm trembling like a leaf!'

'After all you've been through today! Most people would be cracking up if they were in your shoes. But you- you never cry, you never get angry.'

'Oh yes I do!'

'I have yet to see that happen! What I'm saying is that you never let your emotions take the best of you, no matter how bad things seem to be.'

'That just comes naturally…'

We stared at each other for a few seconds and burst into laughter. We tried our best to keep our voices down, but we needed to release our tension. When we were finally able to stop, we hugged again.

'I'm really glad we're friends now.'

'Me too.'

'Now that we know Ellen can't be trusted, we'll have to be extra careful with our communications.'

'Yeah, I know – no phone calls, no texting history…'

'Shall we get back?'

'Yeah.'

It was decided that after everything that had happened that day, it would be better for me not to attract anymore attention – so I didn't join the others at Sophie's farm and went straight home. I got in a fight with my mother for missing class twice, and I had so much on my mind that I let it all out. I yelled at her, strode to my room and slammed the door in anger. I lied on my bed and burst into tears. So much for self-control.

About half an hour later, there was a knock, and Ellen's face showed through the door's opening.

'Hey, sis – you all right?'

'Yeah, don't worry about me.'

'Mind if I join?'

'Of course not,' I said with a smile.

My Infested sister was actually the last person I wanted to talk to at that precise moment, but it would be suspicious for me, who had been so eager to reconnect with her, to suddenly avoid her. Thulite Three-Four-Seven had already heard my voice on Fletcher's recording just a few hours earlier, and I was not making her a favor by giving away any more clues. Ellen sat down at the other end of my bed, and sighed.

'Mom can be such a hassle sometimes, can't she?'

'I suppose that's what being a parent is all about.'

'Annabel – always finding people excuses!' Ellen laughed.

'I'd better given how my family sucks!' I fired back.

'Wow, what was that? Wait, was that a joke? Sorry, I missed the cue!'

We laughed together. It was like old times. Having fun, teasing each other – except there was a Shadow in my sister's heart, and it was all fake. Just for her to get my trust back. And for me to pretend I was giving in.

'You know, Annabel, I've been thinking.'

'You have? Like, you can actually do that?'

'Happens every now and then, I'm always surprised myself!'

'You don't say! Must be a scary sight when your brain starts to click!'

'Will you let me speak!' Ellen gently scolded while throwing a pillow at me.

I was actually afraid of her getting serious all of a sudden. What have you been thinking about, Thulite Three-Four-Seven?

'You know what I told you the other day?'

'Yeah?'

'You don't remember, do you?' she said with that half-smile only she could do. 'When I said it sucks we're not as close as we used to.'

'Yes, of course I remember.'

And now I know the reason why, too.

'Well, maybe we should go somewhere together.'

'Like where?' I asked, a little too defiantly.

'Anywhere! Where do you hang out with your friends?'

You wish I'd tell you, eh.

'I don't really have any friends to hang out with.'

'No? Well, that's a shame. How about you spend some time with mine, then?'

'Yours?'

'Yeah. You come over to a meeting of the Sharing with me. What do you say?'

I stared blankly at Ellen for a few seconds while looking for a smooth way to decline. Then it occurred to me that something was very wrong. My Infested sister was inviting me over to her private club, right on the day I found out about her? It seemed like it was more than a coincidence. She knew I had been late on the night when Prince Erlan crashed in the school courtyard. She knew there was something going on with me, something I was hiding. So she was probably testing me. She wanted to see my reaction. She needed to see whether I was going to reject an offer the naive Annabel couldn't refuse. So I beamed at her.

'Sure, why not?'