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

"The patients should've been trapped! No guard has security clearance that is high enough for them to access our delivery vans, or even get outside for that matter. So the question that remains is... Who helped them escape? My security system cannot be hacked unless you know the way it works." Magdalene gazed at the few scientists in front of her, all looking nervous and seeming as though they feared for their lives.

All except David.

"Why not check the security logs, ma'am?" David's words caused his fellow scientists to tense as David began to walk forward, coming to stop inches away from Magdalene as he held out his hand to take her tablet.

Magdalene kept her face void of emotion as she handed the tablet to David who immediately began to type something in at a rapid pace.

"Security logs show everyone present and accounted for..." David paused as he turned the screen to show himself amongst a large group of scientists.

"All except, Theo Matthews, Jonah Doyle, and... You... Doctor Banner." David's eyes lifted to the older male for a moment before he began to type something into the tablet once again.

"I was doing something important for Miss Magdalene. You may check the logs if you wish." Doctor Banner's reply seemed to be enough for Magdalene as she waved her hand to show that checking the logs would not be necessary.

"It seems the person responsible for letting them out..." David visibly paused as his eyes widened, slowly turning the screen to show Magdalene the I.D that popped up.

"That's... Impossible. Jonah was... Oh, that little..." Magdalene turned rather quickly, heels clacking loudly against the tile as she began to stomp towards an unknown location.

"You are dismissed." Doctor Banner assured his fellow scientists who all simultaneously released a sigh of relief.

The scientists began to file from the room, leaving David and Doctor Banner alone now as Doctor Banner turned his gaze to David.

"You knew I had an alibi. You never would've said anything unless you knew. You knew what I was to prepare." Doctor Banner's words caused a small smile to creep onto David's face as he pulled a picture from his pocket.

"She can't hurt you. But I would never risk her hurting you... It's better this way. Theo escaped with the rest so he won't be punished. But Doyle... He deserves everything she will do to him. He will never be forgiven for what he did to..." David trailed off as he gazed down at the photo in his hand, running his finger over the face of a beautiful dirty blonde haired woman.

The photo was of David but he was very young, seeming around sixteen years old while the girl next to him appeared to be no older than fifteen. The woman had dirty blonde hair that was pulled into a bun, her green eyes glittering in the sunlight as she smiled at the camera. The two standing with their backs to a beautiful pink rose bush that matched the rose tucked in the pocket of David's white tux.

The girl wore a floor length, slim fitting, satin, dress that matched the color of the roses behind them.

"Ella. She was a beautiful woman... And so kind. I can understand why you did what you did. He won't hurt anyone ever again, David. You made sure of that." Doctor Banner placed a hand on the males shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze as David smiled sadly.

"We'll see. Magdalene isn't exactly the traditional type for punishments... And he's a very valuable asset for her. She could keep him on with some supervision." David muttered as the two began to walk from the room, David tucking the photo back into his pocket as he released a soft sigh.

"She has the serum... He no longer has a worth." Doctor Banner tried to reassure David as the two hesitated outside of the maximum security cell block.

"She has most of it. But she does not have The Cratos serum." David's words caused Doctor Banner to stiffen as the two entered the maximum security block, walking towards where Magdalene was standing in front of a cell viewing window.

"You injected yourself with the serum." Magdalene said as Doyle released a laugh, confirming her worst fears as the male stood up to walk closer to the two-way mirror, leaning close to the microphone he knew was in the wall as he took a deep breath.

"But not the one you need." His words caused Magdalene to narrow her eyes, hands clenching into fists as she gritted her teeth.

"Let me guess, Doyle... You want something in return for replicating your serum?" Doyle rubbed his beard thoughtfully as Magdalene spoke, humming to himself as he seemed to think over what he wanted.

"You would be correct. I want freedom. I want to continue my experimentation... And most of all... I want Lowell. You don't really have a choice with the last one, though. Without her, I can't replicate my work. It was destroyed when you took me. Failsafe and all that. But after I replicate the serum... I want to keep her." David looked mortified by Doyle's words, knowing all too well just how sadistic Doyle's method of experimentation were.

"Done." Magdalene's answer seemed to shock everyone but Doyle immediately smirked as he motioned for her to open the door.

"Then I suggest you let me out of this cell so I can begin my work... Ma'am." Magdalene snapped for a nearby guard, speaking quietly to the blonde woman who nodded seriously before she turned to run and fetch Magdalene something.

"First thing is first, Doyle. What powers did the serum give you?" Magdalene questioned as the grin faded from Doyle's face momentarily, the male straightening his stance as he smoothed back his hair.

"It is rather hard to explain, ma'am. I couldn't possibly-" Doyle began before Magdalene scoffed which cut the male off as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I am growing impatient. The more of my  time you waste, the less comfortable your freedom will be. I will ask only once more, Doyle... What are your abilities?" Magdalene tapped her foot impatiently as she checked the black watch she wore around her wrist.

"Yes, ma'am. I can manipulate the human cellular structure... Making it into any matter that I wish... Within reason of course. I cannot change anything except the surface layer of a humans skin... So far." Doyle replied rather quickly, the blonde guard running over to Magdalene with a large metal collar as Magdalene nodded her approval.

Magdalene scanned her wrist, causing the door to slide open as she took the collar from the blonde woman before she tossed it to Doyle.

"Put it on and you may leave this cell." Magdalene said as Doyle heaved a large sigh, hesitantly securing the collar around his neck before Magdalene ushered the female guard in to make sure it was on properly.

"What is this?" Doyle questioned as a light on the collar confirmed that it was on, Magdalene giving a smirk at his question which only made Doyle nervous.

"Doctor Gale made it for me when I was certain that your experimentation was a success. All patients gifted with abilities are to wear this... It monitors your heart rate and allows us to see where you are at all times. If you do something I do not like, it will send enough electricity into your neck to behead you. So I suggest you play nice." Magdalene said as she backed away to allow Doyle to exit the cell while the guard went back to her post.

"Take me to your lab. You will show me exactly how your powers work." Magdalene said as Doyle nervously rubbed the skin just above his collar.

"Yes, ma'am." Doyle shot David a warning look as he passed, eyes seeming to flick to black for a moment but he looked away before David could double check.

"Bring her." Magdalene murmured to Doctor Banner who looked rather confused by Magdalene's words before it clicked what she was saying.

"Ma'am, please..." Doctor Banner glanced behind himself at the blonde haired guard, her green eyes lifting to meet Doctor Banner's brown ones as she gave a friendly smile.

"You are already in very deep waters, Banner. I would be careful of drowning and get on the raft that I am offering you. Do you understand what I am saying to you?" Magdalene's words were cold as she narrowed her eyes at the older male who gulped and gave a shaky nod.

"Parian?" Doctor Banner called over his shoulder, causing the blonde woman to immediately perk up as she straightened her stance.

"Sir?" Doctor Banner motioned for the girl to follow as he began to walk forward, clenching his hands into fists as he began to walk.

"I need your help with something." David flinched as Doctor Banner spoke, the woman seeming eager to help as she hurried after Doctor Banner obediently.

"I'll be in my lab." David murmured to Doctor Banner who gave no reply as he followed Magdalene who completely ignored his presence now.

"Sir, where are we going?" Parian questioned as she followed closely behind Doctor Banner who released a soft sigh.

"What's your first name, Parian?" Doctor Banner ignored her question as he instead focused his gaze forward, avoiding her probing green eyes as she walked beside him.

"Julie, sir." The young woman rubbed her pale arms nervously as she realized he was purposely avoiding her question.

"Were you born in the compound?" Doctor Banner paused as Doyle and Magdalene stood waiting for the elevator to arrive.

"Yes, sir." Parian kept her replies short and sweet, not wanting to talk too much for fear of annoying one of her superiors.

"Good." Doctor Banner's reply caused her to hesitate momentarily before she pushed her fear aside as the four of them entered the elevator.

"Jonah Doyle, it's a pleasure." Doyle reaches forward as though to shake her hand but as she offered it to him, he turned her hand to kiss the top gently.

"Julie Parian... Nice to meet you." The woman's cheeks tinted red as she looked down shyly.

Doctor Banner sighed quietly but he didn't dare say anything... He knew Doyle was handsome and charming... That was one of the things that made him dangerous.

"Parian! I knew your father! Such an odd name but rather fitting. Do you know what a Parian doll is?" Doyle kept her hand in his as he gently lowered it, maintaining eye contact with the flustered young woman as she struggled to find a reply.

"I know it's a doll... But that's only because you told me." Parian's reply caused a charming laugh to escape Doyle's full lips before he smiled at the beautiful woman.

"It is a German porcelain doll. Very fitting as you are extremely beautiful, Julie." Magdalene scoffed as Doyle spoke, causing Parian to immediately pull away as she tucked a stray lock of blonde hair behind her ear.

The elevator dinged as Magdalene immediately strode from the elevator, looking rather annoyed as she began to make her way towards where she knew Doyle's laboratory lay.

"She's not mad, is she?" Parian whispered as she nervously began to mess with the strand of hair that continued to refuse to stay in its place.

"No, dear. I'm assuming she's going through... The change... So, she's rather grumpy at the moment." Doyle's words caused Doctor Banner to roll his eyes as the three entered Doyle's lab after Magdalene.

"Now, my dear. Make yourself comfortable on that table. It is just a routine checkup." Doyle's words caused Parian to visibly hesitate as she eyed Doyle suspiciously.

"Oh, for goodness sakes. Just do it!" Magdalene huffed which caused Doyle to roll his eyes as he pushed Julie onto the table, looking annoyed when she released a cry of surprise.

"Don't just stand there, help him!" Magdalene scolded as Doctor Banner watched with a disgusted expression. Her words causing him to stiffly walk towards the two, gently strapping down Julie's left wrist as she cried and begged to be released.

"I'm so sorry." Doctor Banner whispered to her as he secured her right wrist, moving to allow Doyle to secure her ankles as he watched tears run down Parian's cheeks.

"Please don't hurt me." Parian begged while Doyle sighed in annoyance, gently running his thumb down her cheek.

"It won't hurt at all, dear." Doyle leaned down to kiss her cheek, Parian releasing a scream of pain as the skin that he had touched began to drain of color.

Doyle shushed her as he covered her mouth, watching as her skin began to lose all trace of color and turn a milky white beneath his hand.

"Parian is such an ironic name, darling. I finally get a porcelain doll for my collection." Doyle kept his voice low enough that Magdalene couldn't hear him as he smirked at the fear in Parian's green eyes.

As Doyle pulled away, Parian's scream didn't resume as she only could manage to release muffled cries of fear.

"She can not speak?" Magdalene questioned as she walked forward to examine Parian's now stained red lips.

"No. The porcelain prohibits her from speaking. Although if you wish to question her, I can fix her so that you may." Doyle watched as Magdalene gently stroked the white porcelain of Parian's cheek, although the glass seemed to cover her face only as her neck had been spared.

"Do so." Magdalene touched Parian's hair, noticing that it was still her real hair but the skin beneath was made of porcelain as well.

Doyle smirked as he turned to make his way into his office, walking back out with a scalpel that he had hidden from the guards before they had taken him away.

Doctor Banner looked away as Doyle approached Parian with the scalpel, gently pressing the tip into where her lips were connected as Parian released muffled cries of pain.

Doyle smirked as he began to split her lips, ignoring the crack that was beginning to crawl up the left side of her top lip as Parian finally took a deep breath from her now parted lips.

"Quit your whining." Doyle warned as Parian whimpered in fear, a large crack spreading from her top lip, up to her cheek from where Doyle had damaged the porcelain.

"Did the process hurt?" Magdalene questioned with a cold look in her eyes, seeming annoyed that she had to speak to the girl as Parian gave a shaky nod.

"Please... Please don't leave me like this. I'm a good guard... I've been loyal. Ma'am, please..." Parian whimpered as Magdalene gently touched the crack that had begun to crawl up Parian's cheek, ending just below her eye.

"Your face feels just like a doll I had when I was young. She was made to look exactly like me... Such a beautiful doll. Can you reverse it?" Magdalene backed away as she pull a wipe from her pocket, gently wiping her hands with the wet wipe before she gently discarded it into the trash can beside her.

"No. I believe if I figured out the coding for the Cratos serum... I can use it to give me the ability to reverse it. After all... The serum is designed to completely perfect any power that a person is given." Doyle said as Parian began to cry harder, realizing that she was stuck the way she was until Doyle remade the serum.

"Then I suggest you get to work... Do not use your powers any further. You are wasting time and resources by torturing the poor girl." Without another word, Magdalene turned and swiftly exited the room, not giving Doctor Banner time to catch up as he instead lingered to glare at Doyle.

"Do not harm her outside of what you are required to do, Doyle. Or mark my words, I will make sure you are never given another experiment." Doctor Banner warned as Doyle smirked at the older male, leaning close to him as he tilted his head to the side.

"Is that a threat?" Doyle's words didn't seem to faze Doctor Banner as he instead leaned closer to Doyle as well.

"Yes." Doctor Banner winked at Doyle before he turned and made his way from the room, his words leaving Doyle slightly nervous as he pondered whether or not Doctor Banner had the power to follow through with his threat.

"We'll ignore him for now, my little doll. We've got work to do." Parian shuddered fearfully as Doyle walked into his office, leaving her alone to her thoughts as he prepared the serum for testing.

_-*-_

"Ordering a copy of everyone's social security card was not an easy feat... I couldn't find one of Kai's... Or even a record of Kai existing... A lot of you didn't have any record at all. So I got you one made illegally... As well as a birth certificate. You're welcome." Oscar winked as he exhaled a puff of smoke from his lungs, setting his grape switcher into a glass bowl before he turned his attention to Connor who lay motionless on the table next to him as Killian worked on the circuits that made up Connor's brain.

"And you made sure that you weren't followed?" Oscar questioned as he handed the freshly printed copy of Kai's fake identification to him.

"Double sure. They won't find us here." Joelee assured him as she gazed around the rather large condo.

"And you're sure we can trust them?" Oscar murmured as he leaned close to Joelee who gave a nod in reply which seemed to satisfy Oscar enough as he handed a brunette guard his records.

"This is such a complex system. I don't know how they got their hands on such expensive tech... Let alone tech that I didn't even know existed. They must have their hands in some very deep pockets." Killian commented as he gently pulled a chip from Connor's brain, eyes seeming darker as he focused intently on what he was doing.

"They have their hands in almost everyone's pockets. They're funded by the literal government." Oscar said which caused everyone to look up with a surprised expression.

"Who runs the place officially, then? It can't still be Magdalene, right?" The younger looking Nathan questioned as his older self stayed towards the back of the room so he wouldn't be spotted.

"Oh no, it is. Magdalene literally owns the place. She was married to a super wealthy General once upon a time and that gave her amazing sources. A lot of people who owed her and her husband quite a few favors." Kevin piped up as everyone glances at him curiously, Oscar smirking as he realized he was going to get a story out of the ginger male.

"But before that, she was married to a super old rich guy with no kids or living relatives. That's how she came into her first million." Kevin continued as he picked up the switcher that Oscar had set down to put it out as the smell of it burning was starting to get to him.

"You gonna start at the beginning to give us the information we could need in the future or are you going to draw it out? Everyone here knows that you're Magdalene's son." Joelee's words seemed to shock quite a few people in the room but all of the guards appeared to already know as they didn't seem shocked at all.

"I actually didn't know that." Alyssa piped up which caused Joelee to release a sigh of annoyance before she chose to ignore the shorter woman for her own sanity's sake.

"I wasn't sure if I should tell you. Some people react in a rather hostile manner when they discover who I am. But, you figured it out so there's really no reason to continue lying. So yes, I will start from the beginning. If you're willing to listen." Kevin leaned back in his beanbag chair as he spoke, running a hand through his messy curls as he released a low sigh.

"I am. Anyone who gets bored can watch something on the telly." Oscar waved his hand in a dismissive manner before picking the glass bowl up, setting it in front of himself before he opened his computer once again to take notes.

"The beginning is starting at your childhood, right?" Sam questioned from where they sat between Kai's legs, head against his chest as they yawned loudly before looking at Kevin expectantly.

"Partially? I don't know much about my mother. But I know she had me before she met the man I saw as my father. I was born in 1992 in a hospital where nobody except my mother showed up. She wasn't on the grid until the year I was born. All of her identification I've found have no record before that hospital stay. There was no name for my father on my birth certificate. No record he ever existed. Besides my very common last name... Louis. But so far I've met a bunch of Louis'.... None of which could be my father... Or know anything about my mother. It's like my mother didn't exist until I was born and then suddenly willed herself into existence. She never says anything substantial about her upbringing... But..." Kevin paused as he scratched the back of his neck, looking annoyed when Oscar exhaled a large puff of smoke directly into Kevin's face.

"We get it. You have daddy issues.... And probably mommy ones too. Get on with it. What kind of pets did you have as a kid?" Sam interrupted, voice getting higher when they asked their question as they gazed at the ginger male expectantly.

"I had a snake when I was five... Then when I was thirteen while my mother was away, we snuck a ginger tomcat into the house and kept him secret until he eventually died when I was twenty. How does this have anything to do with my mother?" Kevin arched his eyebrows curiously as he watched Oscar type in the new information that he had gotten.

"For my files, what kind of snake and what was its name?" Oscar questioned, turning to meet Kevin's confused gaze as he wiggled his fingers expectantly.

"He was a corn snake.... Named Corny. Please don't judge. I was practically a baby when I named him." Kevin blushed as he looked down at his hands, ignoring how everyone immediately snickered at the cutesy name.

"That's adorable." Rachel piped up as she gazed at Kevin shyly, both locking eyes for a moment before Rachel quickly looked away with her cheeks beginning to tint red.

"Better than what we named the cat." Mary piped up which immediately piqued everyone's interest as they turned to look at the new speaker.

"What did you name the cat?" Oscar whispered with a look of anticipation, his question causing Mary to smirk while Kevin just looked even more embarrassed.

"Nips. We thought naming him after cheese nips would be a good idea. It wasn't." Mary explained as every burst out laughing, Kevin burying his face into his hands with a loud groan as Mary confessed their embarrassing secret.

"Anyway! I personally lived in Scotland for about... Seven years. My mother married a very rich, very old, guy when I was about two. His name was Bennet McCain... He was like my dad for the longest time. Sweet old guy, mom took advantage of him hard because he had no family of his own and had over a million dollars to his name. He also had good connections and mom knew how to weasel her way into very important public events. People who knew Ben thought she was the most amazing person in the world because she got him to go out and live his life again... But she was doing it for herself. To get connections. When I was eight, they adopted Mary because they couldn't have any children. Then we moved away when I was ten and Mary was three. Ben ended up passing away from complications due to old age just before I turned eleven...." Kevin paused as Sam gasped rather loudly, covering their mouth before they looked up at Kai with sad eyes.

"Ben dies. That's so sad." Sam sniffled, saying the word sad with what appeared to be a y in the middle just to prove just how sad they found the situation.

"Yes, he did. My mother played the part of grieving widow very well. But in reality she got exactly what she wanted. All of his money and all of his connections. She now had control of his company which was a small medical research facility... So this would be around... 2003. She got into contact with her second husband in 2005, at a memorial service for Ben. He was a very important person... His name was, Jonathon Ridgeson and he basically was the weapons specialist for the entire U.S military-" Oscar raised a hand to silence Kevin as he turned his light green gaze to the ginger male once again, pausing his typing to interrupt Kevin with a question.

"How do you spell that last name? Is it like the word... Ridge... Followed by son?" Oscar rubbed a hand over his face as he tapped the ashes from his switcher.

"Yes. That's son with an O. Not a U. May I continue now?" Kevin rolled his eyes when Oscar quickly typed in the correctly spelled name before he motioned for Kevin to continue.

"He and my mother got married about a year later when my mother got pregnant again... But sadly? ...She lost it. They stayed married anyway, though and the two began to work on a secret facility that they could use to work on biological weapons. In 2007 they opened The Caterpillar... With an agreement with the U.S government, they began conducting human experimentation. They were working on a lot of crazy stuff. Cloning, nanotechnology... Combining animal DNA with humans. They had a few miscarriages in their marriage but all in all, they were very happy together. In fact, they were happy for awhile, I think my mom was genuinely starting to become my mom for a moment there. But in 2012 a huge fire wiped out the research facility and all of their research, they were basically sent back to square one. Her husband died in the fire, so she lost her most valuable asset and the man she was beginning to love... It was pretty bad. It brought way too much publicity and made her look bad in front of the people who knew her husband." Kevin scratched the back of his neck as he paused for a moment before continuing, looking down at his hands as he began to pick at the skin around his fingernail.

"I think she really did start falling for Jon. It tore her apart when he died and we didn't see her for a long time... She ended up sending Mary to Scotland for schooling and I was sent to Washington as an intern. Then in 2014 she opened The Monarch and had us sent back... That was the first time we'd seen her since Jon's funeral. She was very secretive and never let us near the compound. She was always very neglectful and practically never was at home but when she was, we had to be completely silent or we'd get locked in our rooms. She adopted a few other kids over the years and while I was attached to all of them, Mary and I still planned to run away as soon as Mary turned eighteen. But that didn't exactly go as planned..." Kevin paused as he lifted his gaze once more to Mary who gave him a somber smile in response before she took a deep breath to continue the story for him.

"I was about two years from turning eighteen. We followed our mom to work and snuck inside, David knew who we were just for the sheer fact that there is a picture of us on moms desk.... And I think he recognized our names but I'm not entirely sure. He let us in and had a guy named Theo show us around... Well we actually came to be pretty good friends with Theo... We'd come over just to hang out with him and a few of the other scientists and guards. But after awhile I started to get suspicious of the show they were putting on upstairs so I convinced Lyle to take me to the lower sections of the main compound... To the bullet train. Kevin and I found my mom's lab because we had everyone convinced we were supposed to be there. We found her computer and read up on all of her files before they broke down the door and arrested us. So from 2015 to now, we've been stuck in The Monarch... All because we found out what horrible stuff our mother was doing. She cared more about her stupid reputation than us... She always did. We were an act... The way she could play the innocent mother and wife card. She honestly never loved us and while I do love her we have no loyalty for that woman." Everyone was silent as Mary looked down at the ground with a hurt expression, her words causing the brown haired guard next to her to wrap his arm around the ginger woman as he squeezed her gently.

"Oh, yeah. She's married right now, too. His name is Harold Hallewell.... She didn't take his last name. He's a super old, super rich, guy. She married him about a month before we found out what she was actually doing. It was smart, really. He's the best lawyer in New York and comes from a very wealthy family. He also owns his own law firm... Hallewell and associates, which he uses to get the hardest cases for himself. Marrying him sealed all of her illegal actions away as he has a defense set up for all of it. He's madly in love with her for the sheer fact that she's like a lot younger than him. He's like eighty five... If we were to ever expose her... He'd be there. And he'd stop us. I have no doubt about that. He would find a way to send us to jail just to protect my mom." Kevin's words caused Joelee and Nathan... Future... Nathan... to exchange glances as the two looked rather nervous with the new information presented to them.

"That's how she keeps out of the spotlight. Her husband." Oscar deduced as Kevin gave a nod to signal that Oscar was correct.

"Sneaky. She's very good at what she does... Anything else you feel like you should tell us? Like the password to her computers and stuff? Her justfans?" Kevin looked mortified by the implication that his mother would dare go near that website while the rest of the people within the room burst out laughing.

"If I find hers I'll let you know." Mary piped up which caused everyone to laugh once again, Old... Past... Past Nathan cracked a smile as he listened to the laughs he never thought he'd hear again.

The pride he felt at the realization that the only reason they were having so much fun was because of him.

He did it.

He saved them. And there was no way he'd ever let anything happen to them again.