17

Before I continue with what actually happened, I should probably explain a few things.

My brother and I are both trained in the martial arts, and while he only has his green belt, at age thirteen, I am a ninth degree black belt, at fifteen. Perhaps progressing so far so young is an extension of the excess body strength and flexibility required to fly.

Another thing is that the Erasers and other recombinants tend to have an expiration date. It appears on the back of their necks, within a week of the day itself. I'd seen it happen in the short time I was here. They simply stop moving. All motor function ceases, the muscles tense, and they live no more. I already knew from Timeline that I had been spared this fate, but I wasn't so sure about my brother.

Also, I like swords. Always have, always will. Given the choice between a blade and a firearm, I'll probably take the sword, although if I could take both, it would be a different story.

Moving on.

18

When he began to approach my cage, I prepared to 'ask'(if you can call mind control asking) him to open the door and escort me out, but he had other plans. He began to whisper into my cage. His lips weren't moving, but they didn't have to be: He was a ventriloquist.

"I don't have much time left, so I want to redeem myself for what I've done." He had thrown his voice to the cage behind me. He made a quick glance around, to see if anyone was watching, and I saw he was telling the truth. His date had appeared.

"I'm going to release as many of us as I can, starting with you. When I open the door, run. Run like hell, and don't look back. I'm certain you can handle yourself if fighting breaks out." I wasn't so sure at this point. The scientists had been seriously under feeding me, and I felt weak. "The tower exit is blocked, so when you leave the room, head for the south end of the complex, and escape in New York."

Great. A sudden chill ran down my spine. He's pointing me towards the Institute.

19

I thought he was insane at that point. I thought to scan his mind for treachery, but for some reason, I knew I would find none there. I had no choice but to trust him.

And then the door was open.

I immediately jumped out, but there was no way I was leaving Aaron behind after what we had been through, so I began opening more cages. Once everyone was free, we ran. We ran like hell, and didn't look back. But our path was blocked.

The two Erasers who got us into this mess — Yin and Yang, as I now read in their thoughts, fitting considering that even though they looked alike in features, one of them was albino — were standing directly in our path. My brother and I immediately took on a defensive stance, and the fight began promptly.

Yang took a swipe at my head, which I dodged surprisingly easily, and drove a punch into his gut that drove the air out of him with a loud WHOOSH. Wow! I didn't think I still had that kind of strength! I then realized that I was fuelled by rage, and immediately calmed myself down, only to notice that Aaron was not faring as well. Already, he had several large gashes across his furry form.

Mind you, Yin didn't look so good then either, for when I turned to help, a large, debilitating gash suddenly appeared across his left arm.

While he was howling in pain, Aaron took the opportunity to get behind him, and whisper into his ear, "this is for my parents, Bitch!" And then it was over for Yin. With one powerful movement, the Eraser's neck was broken, and he was dead.

I was suddenly afraid that he indeed HAD gone insane. After all, weren't we taught that all life is sacred? Then I shook in disgust when I realized that I would have done the exact same thing just a minute ago.

It was at that point that Yang got up, shouting "You killed my brother, you bastard! Now I'm gonna kill you!" But he never got the chance. He lunged at me, but I sidestepped the blow and made a quick chop to his neck, instantly knocking him out. When he fell to the ground, a date began to appear on the back of his neck.

And then, we were out of there.