They had pulled up to the shore, pulling the boat up before grabbing their stuff and deflating it. Rita worked in silence along with the others, the image of Amber dead plaguing her mind.

My fault

Rita slung her bag over her shoulder, feeling the corner of her laptop jab into her side. Nico was squatting by the shore, water was rushing over his feet, but he didn't seem to mind. He held a circular, flat, stone in his hand, he turned it over and over, starting at it thoughtfully.

"Nico!" Cammi called over to him, "We didn't sit cramped in a boat for three hours for you to daydream! Now get over here and lead us to the nearest city."

Nico stood up, his Gifted uniform reflecting the light of the setting sun, he turned around before walking over. Nico glanced at the river, his grip on the stone tightened and loosened several times before he drew his arm back and threw it. It skipped across the still water of the river.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

It sunk into the water after that, every time it had hit the water it had sent a series of ripples across glassy surface. Rita watched Nico turn around, his eyes didn't look as hard. They looked, softer, sadder, and more vulnerable. The corner of his mouth twitched upwards, it was a small movement, hardly noticeable, but Rita's vision caught it. His smile vanished but he continued to keep a happy demeanor as the worked. Zoe and Seth folded up the raft, grumbling about impossible tasks.

Cammi ordered them around, telling them where to out what and how to go about doing it. Rita was lifting several things up, Cole appeared besides her and helped lighten the load. Nico carried the light stuff, adding it to the backpacks. They all bumped into each other in the process, but soon they were done. Nico then smiled and led the way. They veered away from the river slightly and walked in the forest. Rita couldn't believe how unbelievably loud everyone was, they were trampling through loudly. Stepping on every twig and leaf they found. It wasn't long before Rita could hear the sounds of civilization. She sped up slightly, walking in step with Nico.

"How did you know where we were?" She asked him. Nico thought before answering.

"I grew up here, my sister's probably still here."

Sister?

"You had a sister?" She asked incredulously.

Siblings are strictly against the rules. Rita thought, questions plaguing her mind.

"Yes," Nico admitted "I'm her adopted brother. She's older than me by almost two years."

"But why did she get to stay? I mean, wasn't it against the rules?"

"Well," Nico said slowly "The boss of the operation had a kid her age. So when she was younger they hung out and were practically best friends, so the boss let her stay, even after they stopped hanging out, because I had become so dependent on her. So she got to stay, for good."

"Oh," Rita said "Were you two close?"

Nico tried to suppress a smile.

"I was closer to her than I was to my parents. She was like my mom, she raised me. My parents were always away on business."

"Really? My parents never were."

Nico shrugged. "Well to be honest they mostly had business trips to exotic places, they would leave for a week or so and then hire a nanny to watch over Sandy and I."

"Sandy?"

"That was her name."

"Oh."

They walked along, the rest of the people following them as they talked. Nico stumbled along loudly while Rita's instincts took over and she silently weaved her way through the forest, her subconscious mind subtle changes to the way she walked.

"Hey!" Cammi's voice came from behind. "Would you two lovebirds stop flirting and hurry up!"

"Oh." Nico said, processing what she had just yelled at him. "But she's a girl and I-"

"DO I LOOK LIKE I CARE!?!?!?" Cammi screeched. "NO!!! NOW STOP FLIRTING AND LEAD THE WAY YOU IDIOTS!!!! YOU CANNOT BE TRUSTED WITH ONE SINGLE OUNCE OF-"

"Chill." Came Cole's voice. He was suddenly next to Rita, he pulled her back. Rita stumbled but found her footing and fell into step with Cole. His had brushed against hers several times as they walked, every time their skin made contact she felt an electric tingle. The sounds of the city grew nearer and they set Rita on edge, the unnatural sound. The unnatural shapes, the manmade everything. She jumped at every twig snap, every time she jumped, Cole calmed her down. He always calmed her by giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

He's a good friend

Just a friend

Right?

They continued along until they reached wherever Nico had been leading them to. It was a neighborhood, the kind where rich people lived. He led them to the biggest house on the block. By now it was nearly midnight. They stayed in the shadows, staying away from the streetlights and security cameras. They couldn't be seen, their uniforms were a little abnormal and would attract unwanted attention. Rita crouched low, Cole was next to her, they all had heavy packs weighing them down, Rita's hurt her the most, pressing up against her wings, she had to be the most careful of all of them.

They were soon in the yard of Nico's old house. To say that they had been rich would be an understatement. There was a water slide sprouting from the wall and leading into a heated pool. The pool had an assortment of toys. There was a statue, a fountain and, perfectly tended to grass. The house had large windows and many stories, it was all new looking.

Nico put a code into a device and the steel gates opened.

"Let's go!" He said excitedly, rushing forwards to see his sister.

"Wait." Cammi said coldly.

"What."

"Maybe your parents are there. Maybe they'll send us back."

"So what do you want me to do?"

Everyone looked at Nico.

"Oh," He said "Right."

He squeezed his eyes shut, his dark brown hair was sucked back into his head to style a small faux hawk. His hair turned black, his skin paler, he grew taller; beard stubble appeared on his face. He looked older, like a college student, his clothes changed to jeans and a faded shirt. He looked at them, he was smiling.

"Can I go now?" He asked, his voice no longer sounding small and quiet.

They all nodded wordlessly.

He strode up to the door and rang the doorbell. A girl opened the door, she was wearing a t-shirt and yoga pants. She looked to be about seventeen or eighteen. She was holding a slice of huge pizza in her hand. Her hair was black and curly, it went down to her waist. She looked Hispanic, where Nico looked more like a Latino, you could tell that he's adopted. She wore large glasses but she still squinted at the stranger.

"Do I know you?" She asked, her tone judgmental.

Nico's lip began to quiver, a smile on his face. His older sister, Sandy looked slightly alarmed.

"Sir, can I-"

She was interrupted by Nico throwing himself on her. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, Sandy's arms went up.

"Sir, maybe you have the wrong person. I don't think you have the right person, I've never even seen you before in my-"

Nico began to sob. She looked around hopelessly, but the only people who could've possible helped her were hidden in the shadows.

"You're still here." He cried out.

"I never left, now if you can please-" Nico's appearance began to change. He shrank back to himself, his hair turned brown, it grew longer and flopped onto his face. Sandy looked afraid at what was happening. By the time Nico looked like himself again, Sandy's tan face looked as pale as a sheet.

But then she looked down, her expression changed, it looked softer.

"Nico?"

Nico looked up, his face was teary; he nodded.

"Sandy."