Theo paced back and forth. He seemed agitated as the sound of his footsteps echoed throughout the quiet room. I didn't know anything about him, but something told me we had a history. There was more to his angry words and defensive body language. At some point, I must have done something awful to him.

"Esa, you don't remember anything about the war? You don't remember Samuel? You don't remember me? What about our missions and the work we had been doing?" A frown creased Theo's forehead. It was almost as if Theo thought I was lying. Finally, after several uncomfortable seconds, he addressed Samuel. "What's her deal? She's not acting like Esa."

His words made me wince.

Samuel shook his head. "Not sure," he said. "I wish I had a better answer, but, for the first time in a long time, I'm stumped."

"Do we think she's a plant? Maybe they've found a way to replicate her and they are just trying to trick us into providing information? Esa is valuable and they know we need her just as much as they need her."

"I thought about that, but it's definitely her. I have no doubt she's the real Esa. I watched her for weeks before finally approaching, but I knew after only a few minutes it was her."

"You guys know I'm sitting right in front of you and can hear everything you're saying," I said looking at both of the boys.

"Do you want us to leave?" Samuel asked. "We can always go to another room to discuss you."

I held up my hand. "No. Don't go. I want to know more about me and my past."

I could easily hear what they were saying, but, honestly, I had no clue what they were talking about. Why would they think I was an imposter?

If this was some sort of set-up for a television show, it was pretty elaborate. I still didn't see any cameras, and these two definitely weren't breaking character. They seemed intent they knew me and even though I hadn't admitted it, the word "war" did make me think about something. I cleared my throat and spoke. "The only war I know anything about is the one in my dreams. Every night for the past three years, I've been greeted by gunfire and loneliness the minute my eyes close. It's always dark; there is a lot of fighting and then everyone is gone. I've never understood the dream. It doesn't look like a place I know of or have ever been."

I began to shake as I thought back to the dream that had haunted me for so long. After several seconds, I finally mustered enough strength to look up at Theo. His eyes had darkened again. "Yeah, there is loneliness when a part of your team disappears for several years." He paused, then looked me straight in the eyes. "Esa, one day you were with us and the next—poof—you were gone, and apparently you took measures to make sure you couldn't be found. Would you care to explain that to me? To us? How's it possible for you to disappear for such a long period of time without any way for the team to find you? It doesn't add up."

A part of me wanted to go over and yell into his ear that none of this was making sense to me. Why was Theo looking at me like I was the devil? Why did he keep talking about the war? None of this had anything to do with me. Yesterday, I was walking through my high school and today everything I thought I had ever known, had changed, again.

"Is there anything else you remember, Esa?" Samuel asked.

"No, I don't think so."

"I'm trying to believe her, Samuel, but I'm having a hard time right now. If it's really her, then we have a problem. She seems too different." Theo put his hands on his hips.

Samuel and Theo glared at each other silently, before Samuel asked, "What's the problem?"

Theo didn't hesitate as his fist hit one of the nearby tables. "She's not herself. She seems too soft. I want the old Esa back. We need her if we are going to survive."

"What did you just say?" I scowled at Theo, tired of his moodiness. After only a few minutes of knowing him, he had already managed to get under my skin. Jerk.

"I called you soft. Deal with it," he huffed. As he continued, his voice grew louder. "You left us! We've been looking for you, but you made sure we wouldn't be able to find you. Why, Esa? Where have you been for the past three years? It would have been nice to have you supporting the team, instead of running away and leaving us a man down, especially when we are being attacked."

"How else can I say this? I. Don't. Know. What. You. Are. Talking. About." I rose and faced him. This time, I was not going to back down. I wanted answers. Listening to these two was worse than walking in front of the giggling high school girls. They, too, were giving me a headache. "Why don't you tell me what happened?"

It took everything for me not lunge at him and show him the full force of my power. There had only been a few times over the past three years when I had used my powers on another human being. Mostly, I had practiced on various pieces of food that I couldn't manage to stomach. As I continued to stare at Theo, a big, fat lump formed in my throat, "Huh? Tell me something. Anything!" I could feel my skin begin to crawl from being so angry; it felt like the entire surface of my body had become electrified.

Why did he hate me so much? It was as if he were accusing me of a crime, and I wasn't going to let that happen.

Before I could utter anything else, though, Theo stormed out of the room, leaving me and Samuel to stare at each other in silence.