"I was afraid you might find out eventually."

Christian is sitting in his usual spot, the worn leather chair seemingly his favorite place to hold a conversation. He has his hands folded in front of his lips and is watching us with a tortured expression.

"With all due respect sir, we would like you to tell us what happened. It may be crucial in finding out who the killer could be," I say.

Deep down I knew Christian knew about the MIMS, I just never thought he would keep such important information from his compound. He was probably doing it for our own good, but still, the reality of it kind of stings.

"It's a long and complicated story," He sighs, watching us warily.

"We have all day sir," Says Kalen, sitting in the chair across from him. Mara copies his motion, occupying the only other chair in the office, so I remain standing. Christian observes us before finally giving in, blowing out a frustrated sigh before he starts his story.

"What you have found out is true, President Khan did have a brother named Dominic, but most of what is known about him has been twisted or covered up by lies."

He pauses, opening his TekPad and going through some files before he lands on a picture. He turns it around, showing us a photograph of two young men. I recognize Christian instantly, even though he looks to be about five years younger in the picture. The man next to him I can only assume was Dominic Khan. The resemblance to his brother was uncanny, and if I hadn't known any better I could have been fooled into thinking they were twins. Both men were smiling, shaking hands with one another as the crowd behind them clapped.

"This was the day they named me director of Landa, and Dominic himself came down to congratulate me." He chuckles, and I wonder if he's remembering the day that picture was taken.

"Dominic and his brother may look the same, but personality-wise they were complete opposites. Dominic was outgoing, kind, and could make friends with anyone he met. He was also cunning, and persuasive. He could sell a rock to a rich man and convince him that the rock was gold. Marcus on the other hand, was none of this. The only reason he is our leader now is because he is the first-born son, and because his father adored him. Our previous president hated Dominic, for a very simple reason."

Christian puts away the TekPad, placing it in one of his drawers before he continues, expression serious.

"His mother died in childbirth, and his father, the only man in the world that knew of his Gift, blamed him for it. He didn't allow Dominic and his brother to come in contact, even though he made sure to try and turn Marcus against Dominic. The only good thing I think our president did was that he ignored his father's lies and developed a strong bond with his younger brother.  Dominic was forced to stay in his house at all times, never allowed to leave. It was a sad life for a child, and he grew up lonely and afraid of the world. His father made him out to be a monster, so when he finally decided to leave home, he was scared no one would ever love him. Until he met Hera, and everything changed. His Gift still remained hidden, the only other person who knew what it was, was Marcus himself, but he shared his deepest secret with her. It seemed that, whatever it was, must not have been as bad as our old President made it out to be, and soon he and Hera were married."

I smile, I love it when the little guys come out on top.

"He of course didn't mind that his brother got to take his father's place in the world. He just wanted to live a peaceful life. That's when tragedy started to descend upon his family. Just like his mother, Hera died in childbirth because of a mysterious illness, and Dominic was so distraught that he refused to touch his child when she was born. Not because he was mad at her or blamed her for his soulmates death, just as his father had done to him, but because he feared he would somehow cause her death as well. Luckily, the doctors proved to Dominic that his child was strong and healthy, and she grew into a beautiful and smart young girl. She and Diana were raised together, practically inseparable they were, always joined at the hip."

He smiles then, a sad thing that makes my heart stutter.

"Somehow the doctors missed something when she was born, and it turned out she would die of the same mysterious reasons her mother did, just when she turned seventeen."

I hear Mara gasp, but I don't dare look away from Christians face, lest I miss a part of the story.

"Dominic was devastated. His brother tried to console him, but Dominic shut him out. He held on for a little while, until the burden became too much, and he started to blame Gifts for his family's misfortune. "It's my fault they are dead," he would tell me when I went to visit him "If it weren't because of this wretched world and our wretched mutations Hera and Ila would still be alive". That same night, right after I left him in his now empty house and came back to the compound, Dominic went mad with anger and stormed into the hospital where his daughter was born."

Oh no. I hold my breath, waiting for Christian to finish, to tell us what happened next.

"He blamed the doctors you see, he blamed them for not catching Ila's disease sooner, for not having saved Hera. He killed thirteen people that night, five doctors and eight nurses. One of which had just gotten married to a member of the council."

I wince, not having expected that outcome.

"But how could he have done such a thing?" Exclaims Kalen, fire burning in his eyes. But it's not only flames of anger I see, there's sadness as well. Christian sighs once more, looking at Kalen with pity.

"Grief makes us do unthinkable things. Which is why the President tried to be reasonable when his brother went on trial. He begged the council to reconsider, to realize that what he did he had done out of fear and desperation, but the council didn't listen. It was a unanimous vote, and our president sentenced his own brother to death the following week."

Christian pauses, and suddenly he slams his fist into the table, making the three of us jump.

"But he could have stopped the execution if he had wanted to, he knew he could. Instead he killed the only brother he ever had. He killed a good man... And he took away my best friend."

My eyes widen. Christian and Dominic were best friends? No wonder he was so mad at the President. But still, I could understand the council's decision. After all, he had taken innocent lives, and he needed to be punished. But on the other hand, I could also understand Christian's point of view. I don't know what I would do if someone caused the death of my mother or killed my best friend.

"Dominic was murdered, and Khan didn't even give him a proper burial. His body was never seen again. The people were outraged. We had all loved Dominic, we all believed he should have taken his brother's place as President, he saw a better future for our world. And so, out of fear, Marcus ordered the use of MIMS, and erased everything that anyone had ever known about his brother. Except for a few, a few that he wanted to remember what his brother had done, and what he had done to those who disobeyed him."

I was right, Khan let them remember so he could assert his power over the council and the compounds. He threatened them with his mind wash machine, and if anyone stepped out of line, he would do to them what he had done to the rest of the world.

"Diana was crushed," continues Christian. "She and her uncle had a special bond, one that surpassed even the one she had with her father. She was also spared from the MIMS, but only because she begged her father to let her keep her memories."

Christian finishes and watches us carefully, gauging our reactions. I'm the first one to come out of our stupor.

"Well sir, this is why we believe that President Khan may be behind the murders," I say, speaking up.

Christian looks at me, dark eyes boring into my own, as a frown pulls at his lips.

"I wouldn't think our president would go so far Brianna. I may not think he is a good man, but I don't think he is capable of such treachery."

I shrug. "And yet he can kill his own brother? Think about it Christian. The MIMS, it isn't working anymore. The compounds are getting more powerful every year, and if the article we read was right, then he fears that Elites may rise up and overthrow him. You just said yourself that fear makes people do unthinkable things. Khan is no exception to that rule."

Our director hums, thinking, as he mulls over my words. I can tell he's starting to fathom the possibility of it being our world leader who is behind all the attacks, so I give a final push to try and make him see what I see.

"He killed our own. He killed Elites, and if my visions are right, he might be targeting his daughter next."

At that Christian's eyebrows shoot up into his hairline, his mouth falling open in disbelief. I nod.

"I had a vision, where Diana sees a man at her annual visit to one of the orphanages. No one knows the locations of her visits except for one person and one person only, her power-hungry father. What if the pressure is finally getting to him? What if he tries to get rid of his daughter to stay in power for as long as he can? We don't know what his Gift is. He could be immortal for all we know! Please Christian, let us investigate the president. Give us a couple months to watch him and see if we find anything that may give us some clues."

I can tell our Director is still shaken by what I've just told him, but he composes himself quickly, squaring his shoulders and getting up from his chair.

"I will contact the Krift Compound and arrange for your team to meet up with their best trainees. They are closest to the president's location and will be able to help you on your mission. We have worked with them before, and they do not disappoint. The five of you will leave in a week," he lifts a finger, "but if anyone finds out about this I will deny ever having spoken about this with you."

The three of us nod at once, Kalen and Mara getting out of their chairs to stand with me.

"You will not regret this sir," says Mara, closing her hands into fists at her sides.

"We will catch our ghost and make sure that he never kills another soul again," adds Kalen, determination set in his shoulders.

Christian nods, pleased, and he looks at me, waiting for my words.

"We will not let you down sir, we'll make you proud."

He smiles at that and nods.

"Good. See to it that this mission is successful. If the president really is who we are looking for we will have to take action. I would hate to think that we are on the brink of another war, but if it's what it takes to get that lunatic out of power, then so be it."

I hold my breath, nodding in time with my friends. 

There won't be another war, not if we have anything to say about it.