Warning ⚠️: This book contains graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised.

The lights of cars passing by cast shadows over her face as she sat alone by the front door. Esther released a quiet sigh which caused fog to escape from her lips at the chill in the air that caused her to shiver.

"You often sit by yourself in the dark? Bit dangerous isn't it, love?" A familiar voice caused Esther to quickly rise from where she had been sitting, gazing around herself wildly for the source of the voice that she had grown accustomed to after all these years.

"David?" Esther's voice was soft for fear that Joelee would overhear her talking from her window which Esther was sitting in front of.

"Hello, love." David stepped from the shadows with a large smile on his handsome face, Esther immediately taking a step back which hurt his feelings but he brushed it off as he took another step towards her.

"What are you doing here?" Fear coursed through Esther's veins despite the fact she was secretly checking out the slight stubble he was starting to grow, realizing he looked rather good with it before she realized what his appearance here could mean.

"They found us?" Esther guessed, her face now going pale as she realized the home that they had just now shaped into what they wanted was going to be taken from them.

"No, no. It's just me. They don't know I'm here." David scratched at the stubble along his chin as his eyes searched hers for any trace that she was even slightly happy to see him.

"Then why exactly are you here?" Esther questioned as she crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing the unnatural blue of his eyes as she noticed they flashed with a pain that she couldn't quite place.

"I missed you." His words shocked her, causing her arms to immediately fall to her side as she realized he was being completely serious.

"But... I know we became friends in my stay there but you would really risk your life to see me because of that?" Esther questioned which caused David to frown at her reply, his incredibly blue eyes distant now as he stared at the woman in front of him.

"You don't remember anything, do you? At all?" He murmured as he searched her pale green eyes for any sign that she remembered what he was referring to.

"Do you remember her?" David pulled out the picture that he had showed old Nathan previously, eyes full of hope now as she gently took it from him after a moments hesitation.

"She's adorable." Esther said quietly as she gazed at the picture of a small blonde baby girl with beautiful, vibrant, green eyes. She looked around incredibly young with her short hair pulled into double pigtails with cute pink bows, her shirt was a lighter pink with a white pony on the front.

"That's Madeline." David studied Esther's expression but no recognition at all flashed through her eyes as she instead handed the photo back to David rather awkwardly.

"Your niece?" Esther questioned as she watched him tuck the photo back into his pocket with a heartbroken expression.

"Esther,what is about to happen... You have to understand that I'm doing this so you don't get caught. I thought it would be safer for you to forget but now that you're out, you need to remember. I don't have much time being out and I'm only allowed one day a month to leave so I won't be seeing you again for awhile." David said urgently which caused Esther's heart to begin to pound in her chest as he took a step towards her again, only about a foot away now as he stared at her with an expression that showed just how understanding he was needing her to be.

Esther had only ever seen this expression once before on him... The day he helped her escape.

She nodded slowly before she even realized what she was doing, but something inside her told her she needed to trust him.

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to resort to this but..." David held up a small, round device, showing he meant no harm as he filled the little space that they had between them with a single stride.

"I do apologize, love. This will hurt." Before Esther could say anything else, a pained gasp escaped her throat as David gently pressed the device to her head, causing her eyes to flash white as her head dropped but he caught her before she could fall.

"I'm sorry, I know it hurts." David gently brushed her long hair behind her ear before she shot up, eyes still white and now wide with fear as David removed the device gingerly.

"You... How could you?!" Esther shoved him away from her, eyes flashing dark gray as she narrowed them at the male who only smiled sadly.

"You would not leave without me and I can do more good within the facility... You know that." David's words caused tears to slide down her cheeks as she took a step forward, thrusting her pointer finger in his face as she scowled at the male.

"You could have asked me, David Damien Bellefree." Esther scolded which made David's ears flare red at her using his full name just to scold him.

"You've had your memories back for all of two seconds and you've already full named me! I knew this was a mistake!" He teased which caused Esther to scoff before she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him into a kiss.

David seemed shocked by the sudden change in demeanor but immediately pulled her closer as he wrapped both arms around her waist, returning her kiss passionately as he leaned his head to the side slightly so that she had more access.

"I missed you." She breathed out after a moment, now green eyes finding his as he smiled lovingly at the woman who returned the smile much to his satisfaction.

"I missed you so much more than I will ever begin to say. But I can't stay." His words caused Esther's face to immediately fall as she took a step back from him.

"We could run away together. Just you, me, and Madeline. We could be a family." Esther begged desperately as she gazed into his eyes, disappointment flooding her when he gently shook his head.

"Not while The Monarch still stands. But I will come back to you... I promise. Just stay safe until I return again. Please..." David brushed Esther's hair behind her ear, eyes pleading for her to listen but she only sighed quietly.

"Where's my daughter?" Esther murmured which caused a smile to creep onto David's face as he handed her a small photo of their child.

"Magdalene has a soft spot for children. You know this... She will be safe. I get to see her everyday." David assured which caused Esther to release a soft cry at how grown her daughter looked in the more recent photo.

"I will return. Stay here for now. Please." David murmured as his phone began to ring in his pocket. He didn't need to check who was calling to know who it was as he pulled it from his coat pocket.

"I will... But if I don't see you in a month then I'm walking down there and dragging you out." Esther muttered as David laughed before he turned and began to walk away, the darkness swallowing him rather quickly as she heard him answer the phone.

Esther looked at the photo in her hand, gently running her fingers over her daughters face as tears filled her eyes.

"We'll be a normal family someday. I promised you that when you were born... I intend to keep it." Esther kissed the photo before pulling out her wallet, gently folding the picture into it before she turned to make her way inside.

Thoughts swilled around Esther's mind of her past and all of the plans that she had made with David after they had escaped. She had always planned their escape going so differently... With David and her daughter being at her side when she did escape.

It all seemed like so long ago now though it really hadn't been that long ago...

Esther sighed as she made her way into her room, ignoring the sounds in Joelee's room as she shut and locked the door behind herself.

_-*-_

"My little doll." Doyle murmured as he gently brushed away a strand of Joelee's hair, causing her to flinch beneath his hold as he grazed the bleeding cut on her forehead.

"I'm not your doll, you creep." Joelee hissed which caused Doyle to immediately backhand her across the face, the cut immediately leaking even more blood from the contact as she released a pained hiss.

"You're crazy! You take pleasure in hitting fifteen year olds? What kind of sick person are you?" Joelee snapped which made Doyle release a loud laugh much to her surprise as she had already tensed in preparation for another slap or punch.

"God, you're so much more... Fun. Than all of my other little dolls. A whole year of torture and yet you still mock me at every given chance. I love a good challenge." Doyle kissed her forehead which made her gag as he turned to make his way over to his table of toys.

"Have you ever wanted a tattoo, little doll?" Doyle questioned which made Joelee glare at the male, wondering just where his weird connection of thoughts were going.

"Kind of a weird question, don't you think? You jump topics so quickly." Joelee said after a moment of watching as he meticulously searched through his suitcase, smile remaining firmly on his face despite her refusal to answer.

"I never cared too much for them. But I like a few exceptions." Doyle pulled out a little rabbit shaped cookie cutter which he gently set over the flames of one of his burners.

"I like them." Joelee snapped defiantly as she watched his actions rather cautiously, heart pounding heavily in her chest as she watched the metal begin to glow orange.

"Good." At his reply she immediately knew that she'd given the wrong reply as he removed the glowing hot mold with a pair of tongs before moving closer to her. She had hoped that using reverse psychology on him would make him change his mind as it did sometimes but she could see by the glint in his eyes that there was no changing his mind.

"Don't you dare." Joelee hissed before screaming in pain as he pressed the sharp side down onto her exposed thigh, tears running down her cheeks as a smile broke out onto his face before he pressed down harder and harder before blood began to pool from the wound.

"So cute. I love the little bunny." Doyle grinned as he removed the mold, smirking as she screamed again when some of her flesh cane away with the burning metal.

"I love it... It's so... You. Just a scared little bunny." Doyle sneered at Joelee who glared at the man, wishing desperately to wipe the tears that had spilled from her eyes away so he wouldn't get the satisfaction of seeing that he caused her pain.

"You're sick. You need mental help." Joelee snapped which caused a frown to make its way onto his handsome face as he leaned incredibly close to her.

"I've never been better, my little doll. I haven't felt more alive since the day I discovered my purpose. Feel grateful because now I've discovered yours." Doyle pulled away as he turned back to his box, pulling out yet another brand which he laid on the flame.

Joelee didn't give him the satisfaction of asking what he meant as she already knew that what he would say next definitely could not be good.

"You were meant to be my masterpiece. My perfect little doll. Which means you're mine." Doyle smirked as he raised the already hot brand which made Joelee's blood run cold as she realized what it said.

Property of Jonah Doyle.

"No." Joelee whispered as he walked closer to her, roughly loosening the restraints before he moved her onto her side, ignoring her struggles as he lifted her shirt slightly to expose her right hip.

"No!" Joelee screamed as he pressed the brand against her flesh, sending a searing hot pain through her body.

Joelee screamed as she jolted awake, sweat pouring down her face as she felt the old scar on her hip throb painfully.

A sigh escaped her lips as she lay back on her bed, staring up at the now clean ceiling of her apartment.

Tears began to run down her cheeks which she bitterly wiped away, wishing the pain in her chests would just stop.

He may not have known it but Doyle got exactly what he wanted.

It was times like this when she felt completely and fully alone. Just like he had always said he would do to her.

The pain may not have been physical but it hurt nevertheless. It was like she couldn't breathe.

She felt... Guilty. Like now she was ruined... No wonder Nathan didn't want her. She couldn't blame him.

A sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes, now allowing the tears to flow freely down her cheeks as she took a shuddering breath.

"Am I wrong?" She murmured quietly before opening her eyes, as she clutched the blankets to her chest in a desperate attempt to comfort herself.

"I know you can hear me. You narrate my whole life. Please... Answer me." Joelee begged desperately, her breathing ragged from the sobs that threatened to tear from her chest if she let down her guard.

That's not for us to tell you.

Joelee sat up as she stared up at the sky with wide eyes, heart pounding loudly as she realized that she wasn't completely crazy.

"You're real... I can..." Joelee paused as she put her hands on the side of her head, thinking over the reply she had gotten.

You shouldn't be able to hear us.

"But I can... Who are you? Why do you constantly narrate everything? What's going on?" Joelee whispered, keeping her head down as she raised her legs so that she could lay her head on them now.

That's a story for another time. Yours is what we are interested in now.

"You sound so... Strange." Joelee muttered before giggling as she heard a scandalized scoff at her words.

Our voice is fine, thank you. How long have you been able to hear us?

"Ever since I got my powers. But I think you already knew that, didn't you?" Joelee finally lifted her head to gaze at the ceiling, tears continuing to flow down her cheeks despite the riveting conversation she was having.

We suspected.

"We... You also know why then, don't you?" Joelee said after a moment, desperately hoping for the answers she had so desperately craved for such a long time now.

"Oh, so now you're not going to answer? But you can narrate what's happening?" Joelee snapped as she gripped the blanket tighter, eyes glowing gold now in the darkness of the room.

We are forbidden to give you the answers you seek. We are the narrator... Nothing more. Our fate was decided long ago. It is your decision on how your fate will unfold.

Now stop talking to us. It's weird.

"So you're not going to help... Great." Joelee groaned as she tucked her head into her knees again, trying desperately to figure out why exactly she had the ability to hear what nobody else could.

"I'm a freak in a world where there's literal superheroes." Joelee slammed her head against her knees repeatedly, trying to clear her thoughts so that she could attempt to go back to sleep.

It had only been thirty minutes after all, so she was exhausted but at this point she was used to it. Even after escaping The Monarch the nightmares wouldn't stop... The fear that one day she'd wake up and realize she had been dreaming the whole time... That she hadn't actually escaped.

Joelee gritted her teeth before she sighed and climbed out of bed, deciding that a walk would clear her thoughts.

Grabbing her shoes, she quietly made her way into the hallway, gently shutting the door behind herself before she slipped on her new red and black sneakers.

Her sensitive hearing was much stronger during the night, as most of her senses were which she had slowly begun to figure out ever since she had escaped.

She could hear people upstairs breathing slowly and calmly, signaling that they were asleep but she could tell at least three other people were awake.

She hesitated as she realized two were crying while the other just seemed to be pacing in their room for some reason or another but it peaked her curiosity.

Joelee began to slowly make her way up the stairs, following the sound of the crying and deciding that the one who sounded younger should be the one she should check on first.

Joelee hesitated out of a door that had been freshly painted a forest green before she knocked gently, loud enough for the person inside to hear but not enough to wake the others.

The crying stopped but she still hears soft sniffling before the sound of feet shuffling against the floor made her step slightly away from the door as it opened to reveal a much younger girl.

The girl looked to be only around eleven to twelve years old with vibrant, forest green hair that was cut incredibly short into a buzz cut. Her skin was tan, face and neon green eyes rimmed with red from crying.

She pursed her full lips and eyed Joelee with a shy curiosity as she quietly cleared her throat.

"Sorry. Did I wake you?" Her voice was incredibly soft and gentle, cracked a bit from how long she had most likely been crying before Joelee found her.

"No. It wouldn't matter if you had, anyway. What's wrong?" Joelee whispered as she took a step forward, her enhanced senses allowing her to see perfectly in the dark so that she could see the young girls expression.

"I just... I miss my mom." The girl admitted with an embarrassed expression, eyes downcast now as though it was silly that such a young girl missed her mother.

"I know... I miss mine too.... And I'm sure she misses you." Joelee smiles reassuringly at the girl as she gently placed her hand on the girls shoulder, pushing her unease aside at human contact as she knew the girl just wanted to be held.

The girl was silent as tears filled her eyes once again, Joelee realizing what was wrong as the girls voice swirled through her head with the words she wanted to say.

"She'll always be with you, you know? Moms become guardian angels when they pass away... She helped you escape." Joelee whispered which caused the girl to immediately look up with wide eyes, her mouth falling open in shock but Joelee only squeezed her shoulder gently.

"You'll see her again someday. And you're not alone here. We will take care of you. I understand why you're scared but it's my job to protect you now and I promise I won't let any harm come to you as long as you're here. You're family now too." Joelee resisted the urge to flinch as the girl wrapped her thin arms around Joelee's waist, crying into Joelee's shirt now as she buried her face into the fabric.

Joelee took a deep breath a gently rubbed the girls head, shushing her gently as she wrapped her free arm around the girl.

"You don't need to fear what's in the dark, little one. They should fear me if they ever try to hurt you. It's okay to miss your mom... Don't ever let anyone make you feel bad for having emotions... And if you ever want to talk then my room is the black door at the entrance of the apartment. Don't ever worry about waking me up. It doesn't matter how late it is, I'm here for you." Joelee assured her as she gently rubbed the girls back, knowing that deep down all of them were scared children who just wanted to go home.

"I don't want to be a burden." The girl sniffled as she lifted her head to look at Joelee who immediately frowned as she realized the front of her shirt was soaked.

"You will never be a burden. I'll be here whenever you need me." Joelee assured her as she gently rubbed the girls spiky head, giving her a reassuring smile once again that brought a small smile to younger girls face.

"You should get some rest. We're going to start online classes tomorrow." Joelee said which caused the green haired girl to immediately nod, surprisingly comforted by the aspect of having something as normal as schoolwork to do tomorrow.

"Thank you, Joelee." The little girl whispered as she finally released Joelee from her hold, relief immediately flooding through Joelee's veins at finally being free of human contact.

"You're welcome, Willow." Joelee cooed in response, not missing the wide smile she received when the girl realized that Joelee knew her name. Willow gently shut the door, Joelee hesitating to make sure the little girl was actually going to bed before she turned to make her way to the next person.

You're a mind reader. That's cheating.

"It made her smile, didn't it?" Joelee glanced up at the ceiling as she made her way down the long hallway, missing every creaky board of the floor as she made her way to a baby blue door which she immediately recognized as Esther's.

"Esther...?" Joelee mumbled quietly before gently knocking on the door, wondering what could be wrong that her friend would be crying right now.

She felt like a bad friend since she really didn't know what Esther had gone through yet so there was no telling what exactly was keeping her up.

The crying immediately stopped, not even sniffling was heard now and Joelee could tell Esther was holding her breath to see if the person would knock again.

Joelee knocked once again, hearing a harsh sigh inside but once again Esther didn't get up to answer.

"I know you're awake, Esther." Joelee called softly but she knew Esther could hear just from the sigh of annoyance that followed her words as the woman hesitantly climbed from the bed and began to shuffle towards the door.

"What do you want?" Esther questioned without opening the door, using the keyhole to peep through the door at Joelee whom she could only see due to how Joelee's eyes glowed gold in the darkness.

"I heard you crying. And... I know it's been super hectic and I haven't really had time to check on you but your feelings matter too. I just want you to know that I'm here. I won't judge you." The door unlocked but Esther made no move to open as she contemplated telling Joelee the full truth.

The door slowly swung open, Esther looking as though she had quickly tried to wipe away the evidence that she had been crying though she knew that Joelee had already caught her.

"You can't tell me you won't judge me if you don't even know why I'm upset." Esther muttered which caused Joelee to frown as she resisted the urge to try and focus her mind reading on Esther rather than the weird dreams that were filling her head at a million miles an hour.

"Who am I to judge? I'm a werewolf with PTSD." Joelee joked but Esther didn't crack a smile as she instead shook her head.

"You still shouldn't say you won't judge me. I know you will. You can't help it." Esther muttered as she looked down the halls to make sure nobody else was listening.

"If you don't want to tell me, it's okay. I'm just worried about you. I know how it feels to be alone with something weighing on you. But just know I'm here if you need me." Joelee assured as she turned to make her way down the hallway, Esther seeming to hesitate for a moment before she took a deep breath.

"Wait...." Esther muttered which caused Joelee to hesitate as she turned to her friend who sighed and stepped aside.

"I'll tell you." Esther continued after a moment, expecting Joelee to smirk and tease her for changing her mind but the woman only turned and made her way back towards her friend and into Esther's room where Esther closed the door behind her.