"You sent Gene to what?!" Lin couldn't believe what I had done. "We know who this man is now, we can just go get her. Or call the police."

"That's too risky. If we do something rash he might kill her." He's treating me like a child. I had thought this out and this was the safest option.

"And if he calls someone else to do an exorcism Gene could be in danger. He'll suffer a fate worse than death. Is that what you want for your brother?" Lin gritted his teeth. I knew Lin loved Gene as if he was his own son, and I'm sure that if he could have switched our places Gene would be standing in my place.

"If you don't like it, go back to England I don't need you here. We both know I'm strong enough to take care of myself. Gene agreed to this. He has accepted whatever consequences may result from it."

"I think she has clouded your judgment Noll." Lin put his hand on my shoulder and I pushed him away.

"Get out." I turned away from him and started to walk back to my office.

"You're not the only one who wants her back." I stopped to listen, but I didn't turn to face him. "The entire time you were gone I got to watch her become someone she's not. Every day she got worse. She used to remind me so much of Gene..."

"She will never be him. So if you only want her back because she has somehow acted as his replacement, then your more selfish than I am." The statement was cold, and I could feel his hatred toward me boiling past it's breaking point.

The next thing I knew he had me pinned against the wall facing him. His eyes were full of anger and hurt. The only other time he had ever done this to me was when I used my PK on Gene during a fight. Although my pride was being damaged, I knew that I deserved far worse than this.

"Let go." I snarled. I could easily over power him but this didn't need to escalate any further.

He released me and I smoothed my shirt out.

"That was out of line. I need to report to your parents." Lin returned to his professional demeanor and began to walk toward the door.

"Just forget about it." If he had intended to hurt me he would have. I had pushed him too far. I knew everyone was running on their last ounce of sanity, and Lin was no exception. We all had something to lose if we lost Mai.

"Yes sir." He bowed and went out the door.

...

After Lin left I had decided to do more research on Taichi. Nothing in his files suggested that he had a criminal past, but that could just mean he is an expert at covering his tracks. I looked at the clock. It was 1:23 A.M. I had been at it for hours now. It was time for bed. I desperately needed to close my eyes. My bed was a welcoming sight. I sunk down into the covers and pulled them over my head. My mind was racing with everything that had happened in the past few days. Other than Mai knocking me out I hadn't slept at all. More than likely no one on the SPR team had slept in days. Maybe that's why we're all acting crazy.

As soon as my plan gets in motion I'll have to let everyone in on what's going on. Hopefully with everyone looking we will find her. My mind wondered to the promise I made Gene. Even he is acting mental. Why would he make me promise something like that. If we couldn't save her it's not like I could keep them apart anyway. But she doesn't want him, she wants me. I think she does anyway. I couldn't help but to question it. Everyone wishes it would have been me that died. I gripped the covers. I knew I couldn't let my emotions take over. My PK was getting harder and harder to control. I loosened my grip as sleep finally began to take over. I gladly let myself slip into the darkness.

...

"He will never love you like I do." I could her Gene's voice far off in the distance. "No matter what you do he won't love you. Can't you see I'm all you have?"

"Keep me safe." Mai's voice cut through my ears like a knife. "I love you."

I started running toward their voices. Their conversation wasn't making sense. I was only catching pieces. I could feel my adrenaline pumping. I was sure my PK would spike any moment. Maybe I could use it to light my way. I tried but nothing happened.

"I love you Gene." Those words were like a stab to my chest.

I fell on my knees surrounded by the darkness. Those words echoed all around me, and they kept getting louder and louder till I couldn't take it anymore.

"Shut up!" I screamed out angrily with my fist clenched in my hair.

I felt a small hand on my face, and the voices stopped. "It's just a bad dream."

I looked up to find Mai staring at me with concern. Relief washed over me.

"Did you hear that?" I asked her hoping that she didn't know what I was dreaming about.

"I only heard you screaming. That's why I came. You sounded upset and scared." I couldn't believe that she was the one being held hostage and she was worried about me because I had a nightmare.

"You really do not know the meaning of logic do you?" I couldn't help but tease her.

"What's that supposed to mean you jerk?! Next time I'll just let you stumble around in the dark forever!" She crossed her arms over her chest pouting.

I had a hard time fighting the smile that threatened to cross my face.

"Gene told me what you plan to do." She interrupted my split second of bliss. Gene was not a welcomed subject at the moment, but at least that meant he found her.

"I told you I would find you." I took a step toward her to examine her frail body.

She tried to back away from me, but I grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to me. She had several cuts on her arm, and her lip was busted. The bruises sshe had before were now a darker shade of purple.

"I'm trying to hurry." I half whispered. All I wanted was her to be back and for her to be safe.

"You always save me." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek.

"Mai I lo..." Before I could finish my sentence my alarm clock snapped me awake.

Not much longer and I could tell her in person. Then we can put this behind us.