The next morning, Natalia woke up to little white flakes falling on the ground. She thought back to last night, the air had been tense as soon as Lucy came home, Ben did his part and greeted her when she came in like he usually did, he kissed her on the cheek and grabbed her purse for her. Max and Opal did good too, although they had had more practice then Ben. They had eaten dinner like normal, then went to watch a movie, but instead of watching the movie with them, Ben had gone for a walk with the dogs, something he had never done before now. If Lucy suspected something, she gave no indication and must have thought that Ben's reply to her answer as to why he was taking them out was sufficient.

Natalia watched the snow fall for a little bit longer then she got up and changed into a fuzzy white sweater and black leggings, to finish off the look, she pulled on some fuzzy socks as the floor was cold. Walking into the bathroom, she pulled her hair into ponytail and put on the Gold colored rose necklace. She went back into her room as she didn't hear anyone else up yet. She pulled out her phone and texted Kovais.

"Hi K, everything went well, took a lot of convincing, but Ben is on track with us now." After a little bit

Good, phase two of the plan is done. You have one last training today."

"Yes, I will come as soon as I can."

"Good. I suppose you know it's me, I am the last one after all." He put a laughing face next to it

Yes, I know it's you, why did you want me to fight you last?"

"Well you see, Aquilo and Brier, they are great at fighting, but they are easy to take down. Quicksilver can become anything, small or big, he is the hardest out of all of us. I am medium."

"Your right, Aquilo and Brier gave a fight, but it was easy, quicksilver was hard and I think he would have gotten me if I hadn't found that syringe. I think I can take you down right away."

"Well see when you come. Let me know whe-" A knock on her door brought her head up, she set her phone down and opened it a crack, standing there was Ben. She opened it quickly and he walked in and sat in the rocking chair and started rocking it back and forth. She closed the door and sat criss cross applesauce on her bed facing him

"Do you need something?"

"I don't know if I can do it Natalia, act normal, I'm-I'm just so angry at Lucy."

"You have to keep it up Ben, Max and Opal are doing a nice job, I understand it's hard. It's hard for me to as I have to wait before I confront her, it's even harder than trying to act normal."

"I know, and I praise them for that. It's a lot harder for me as I don't even know how long she has been doing this, what made her start and why she's doing it."

"And as soon as I get the okay to confront her, I will ask those things for you, ok?"

"Yeah, that would be perfect." He seemed better as he walked out of her room she checked her phone - "when you are coming." She told him she would and put her phone in the pocket that was on her sweater Then walked out her door only to run into Lucy, her red lips pressed together and her eyes boring into her

"Good morning Natalia."

"Good morning Lucy, did you see it started snowing?"

"I did, although I don't quite like that we live somewhere where it snows as it is hard to get to places. If you know what I mean." Natalia started to get scared, but she knew it wouldn't help Ben if she got cold feet,

"Yes, I do know what you mean. It would be terrible if you couldn't get somewhere." Natalia replied keeping her voice steady. Lucy said some more things then Natalia descended down the stairs and into the kitchen to help Ben with breakfast. After breakfast, they all expected Lucy to go, but she she didn't, she told them that she had some cleaning she needed to get done as she hadn't had much time lately. She told them not to bother her and to do their own things. That set Ben on the edge and he took Danny for a ride into town Opal was too nervous to be home with her and asked if Natalia and Max would go for a ride with even though it was snowing. They told Lucy that they were going out, she shooed them out and they put on their horse riding jackets and went to the pasture. They rode to the cabin and tied the horses up in the medium sized barn that Max had just built which included heaters to keep them warm. Then they trampled through the snow that had fallen, stomped the snow off and went inside the cold cabin. Max put wood into the fire place and started it up while Opal and Natalia turned on the thermostats in each room to 70. Then going into the kitchen they did the process that they did before to get the cocoa ready.

"I am so confused as to why mom is here today."

"I know, I am too."

'I think she knows somethings up, she stopped me in the hallway and said somethings and indicated that she knew I might have said something."

"We will protect you Natalia don't worry!" Opal said cheerily

"Opal, she doesn't need our protection, remember she has a watcher. And, excuse me for saying this Natalia, but we would be powerless against Lucy."

"I guess you're right, I just wish there was something we could do for you Natalia."

"It's alright, what I need you to do is to keep Ben calm and keep acting like he usually would."

"Well try our best, I think he was just as shocked as us that he didn't know what to do." Max said

"I know, I don't understand why she didn't go to the Lab, I mean doesn't she have work to do?" Opal asked

"I'm not sure, she probably will go in later tonight." Natalia put a end to talking about their mother as it seemed to damper their spirit, instead she talked about the new snow and what Max was going to do now that he was done with college. As they finished their cocoa, they pulled out the board game SEQUENCE. Every so often Max would get up and stoke the fire. It was 11:00 when Max's phone chimed. It was a text from Ben asking them where they were and that he needed to come home. They cleaned up and walked out to the barn, more snow had fallen and the brick path could no longer be seen. The rode slowly home as they did not want the horses to slip on the snow, and these horses were not made for riding in the winter. They arrived home and stuck the horses in the barn instead of the pasture, going in they stomped their feet to get the snow off.

"There you are." Ben came rushing into the living room his eyes wild, he had on dress pants and dress shirt but no shoes or socks and his hair was a mess.

"What's wrong dad?"

"She just asked if I wanted to go out for lunch. I don't know if I can."

"Why not dad?" Opal asked

"Because I don't know how I'm going to take her to a fancy dinner, act all romantic towards her."

"Well if you want, we could dress up in disguise and help you, give you cues." Max says

"Would you, I think that would actually help. Don't tell me what you look like. Just sit in front of us but towards me."

"We will." Natalia answered. As soon as she did Lucy came floating down the stairs in a blue sparkly dress. Her hair up in a fancy bun with long dangly diamonds hanging off her ears, and a big diamond necklace around her neck. Her black heels clacked against the hardwood floor and her lips seemed redder than usual.

"I'm ready honey, go finish getting ready." Lucy said as sweetly as sweet could be. Ben smiled at her briefly

"Yes dear." As soon as he was gone, Lucy whipped her head back around and fixed Natalia with a cold stare

"So, what were you guys talking about?

"I was just telling him that I really appreciate him letting me stay here for a whole year, but it's probably time for me to find my own place, find some relative to live with."

"Oh, now why would you want to go and do that when you have everything right here. Friends and I guess you might consider us family"

"Well, I feel like I've imposed on you guys long enough, I mean letting a complete stranger stay with you for a whole year. Don't you think it's a little odd?"

"No, not at all, and don't you dare think about leaving." As her voice rose, her eyes started to glow. She walked towards Natalia but caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and saw here eyes so she backed down and calmed herself down.

"I won't for now, but later I might." Just then Ben joined them Lucy grabbed her fur coat and a little purse and went out the door, Ben winked at them and followed suit. Once the car left the driveway they quickly scrambled up into the attic as that is where they had found some old play clothes a while ago, they wre so dusty, they knew Lucy probably had forgotten about them. Thankfully they didn't have to worry about Danny as he was staying at their aunts house, Ben didn't have the heart to have him be mixed up with the whole Lucy thing. They dusted off the clothes then picked out what they were going to wear. Max and Natalia dressed as two old people, Natalia dressed in an old green dress with roses on it, she put on big glasses and put on some perfume that made her smell old. On top of that she put on a gray curly wig and used a walker. Then she made some "wrinkles" and practiced using an old voice. Max put on a flannel shirt and brown pants he attached suspenders to the pants. He glued a mustache and also put on a wig. He hunched over as if he had a crick in his back, Natalia also made wrinkles for him. Opal made herself look like a mom with Natalia's help. They put on makeup and found a dress that a older woman would wear, Natalia took it in a little bit to fit her height. On top of that they put in a fake pregnancy bump and had her carry a baby carrier with a sleeping "baby". To finish off her look she put on some heels that she had bought a very long time ago. Then Opal texted her boyfriend to see if he would be willing to play along and that . He said yes and that he would meet them there.Once done they got into Max's car. The passengers seat folded forward so that Opal could get in and sit in the trunk. Natalia held the carrier in her arms so that Opal could get in and out easier and so that she wouldn't be squished. Max started the car then texted Ben to let him know they were on their way.

"Do you really think it's going to work Max?

"I don't know Opal, I really hope so. What do you think Natalia, will we be able to pull it off?

"I think so, just pretend your in A play and the people at the restaurant are your audience, except for the people you talk to, those are the other cast members."

"Wow, what a great idea, thanks." Hopefulness had returned to Opals voice, they talked about some other things.

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(At the resturant)

Ben and Lucy were seated in the middle of the restaurant as Ben had insisted that he didn't like corner tables. Lucy shot him a dirty look as he had never cared before. He seated Lucy then told her he needed to use the bathroom. Instead he went to the host that had seated them and paid her some cash to keep the table three down from his open as well as the one across from it.. They agreed and set out a reserved sign in both tables. Ben returned, thankful that he was the one who had seated them so that he could put Lucy facing the wall. He sat down and nervously bounced his leg under the table. Just then his phone buzzed, he pulled it out slightly and saw the three most amazing words it read On our way.

"Something wrong?"

"What, oh no, everything is fine." He smiled at her and pocketed the phone.

"You sure? You seem a little nervous."

"No, I'm fine, just very hungry."

"Okay, you know if something is wrong you can-" Just then the waiter came and took their order. They said it would be 45 minutes before their food came Lucy thinking Ben couldn't wait that long asked for an appetizer of stuffed mushrooms. A bell rang as the door of the restaurant opened and a young man and woman entered, the man was wearing sweats and a baggy shirt and had dirty blonde hair. The woman was more put together. She had on a nice red dress that went to her knees, the dress was stretched out in the middle as she was pregnant, on her arm she held a carrier. She looked around, her eyes focused on Ben and she winked twice, it was Opal, Ben had told them to wink twice when they got there, he started to relax a little but no fully. They were seated two tables down from them, the man went to sit down and nodded his head at him, his blue eyes jogged Ben's memory, it was Opals boyfriend. He thought to himself I'm so glad her boyfriend came to help, I wouldn't want her to have done it by herself. Ben knew about the boyfriend but Lucy did not as he was a bit of a slacker, but he had so much love for Opal that she didn't mind. The waiter came to their table and took their order. Opal had put the carrier on the seat and kept the covering over the top. Ben thought to himself Where on earth did she find a baby? Their appetizers came and Lucy put one on his plate and grabbed two for herself. She picked one up very delecilty and popped it into her mouth, after swallowing, she looked at him,

"I have to go back to work tomorrow, and that's why I thought that we should go out for lunch because I feel like i'm always at work and never home." Ben looked at her with a full mouth, he hadn't even asked her anything, he had been busy stuffing his mouth. He quickly swallowed he was about to answer when the door jangled, a old woman with a walker walked in, behind her was a old man, her husband. She rolled her walker over to the host, in a loud shaky voice

"Hey you, find us a table so this old fart can sit down a spell."

"Now who you calling an old fart? Cried at the old man in a louder more shakier voice. She turned around and looked at him over her glasses

"You, i'm calling you an old fart"

"Well, if i'm a fart, then you're an old bat."

"Now Walter! I ain't no bat,-" The host blinked her eyes and licked her lips as they continued to fight, Ben could tell she was nervous as people were starting to turn around

"Ma'm, Sir, if you will just follow me, I'll show you to your table." They glared at each other and then the old lady turned her walker and started rolling it, unaware that the old man's foot was in the way

"Eh woman, you just ran over my toe."

"Well boo hoo, your fine, you've got more problems to worry about then a run over toe." The host seated them with the old lady facing them. She looked at Ben over glasses and winked twice. Ben's eyebrows shot up and his mouth gaped open, he didn't recognize them at all, wow were they god actors, and their costumes and makeup sure change a whole persons look. With the mushrooms gone, Ben didn't have a way not to talk, but he finally decided to ask Lucy some questions

"So what exactly do you do for work?" Lucy's face went into shock for just a second, but then she recovered, took a sip of wine and said

"I am a telemarketer."

"A what?"

"A telemarketer, I am a salesperson that gets customers to buy products, services over the phone."

"How come you never told me?"

"Well because it's embarrassing, it's such a low paying job and i'm basically lying to people to get them to buy something that sometimes isn't real or doesn't even work."

"Have you ever lied to me?" he asked, the color seemed to drain out of her face. She stared at him her eyes unblinking, she licked her lips and chuckled a little bit

"No, I haven't. The only time I've lied is when I've made a call to customers." Her color started to return just as their food got there. She had gotten crab with a side dish of salad. Ben had not gone with the fancy menu instead he got a cheeseburger and onion rings. With a side dish of Coleslaw. They ate andBen quickly stuffed his mouth so he wouldn't have to talk. He moved his hand to reach for his spoon, but as he did it moved and his hand slammed down

"What was that for?" Lucy asked looking at him with startled eyes,

"I uh I choked."

"On your burger?"

"Yes, part of the bread."

"Ah, well just be careful." He shook his head and she went back to eating. He looked down at the spoon and saw that it was back by his bowl, he reached for it again, but it happened again. He looked around and his eyes focused on Natalia her eyes her glowing behind her glasses. She nodded towards Lucy and motioned with her lips to talk to her. He shook his head no and grabbed for his spoon again only this time he couldn't pick it up. He sighed

"SO, something still doesn't make sense to me."

"What's that?"

"How come your gone so late? I mean I don't think you would be making calls that late at night."

"Oh, well I end work at 5:45 and then I go to my other job which os working at a nail salon. That closes about 8:00. After that I go and hang out with my girls."

"Ah, so then how come you sometimes come home with bruises or cuts?" He looked her dead in the eyes as he said this. Her brows furrowed as she slammed her hand down softly, but hard enough that Ben knew she was mad. She hissed at him

"We are not talking about this right now. Are you done eating?"

'Yes, I just want to box this up though."

"That's fine, I will be taking a taxi. I was just got called into work."

"Which one?"

"The nail salon if you must know." With that she grabbed her purse strode out of the building walking right past her children, Natalia and Tucker. They made their way towards Ben and sat down, Tucker pulled up a chair and sat on the end of the table.

"Good job Ben, you did good." Natalia said putting a hand on his shoulder

"Ugh it was the most nerve wracking time of my life! The way she lied to me and made up those jobs!"

"I know dad, and i'm sorry, I don't even know how she came up with those."

"Well it's over. I made it, we made it. Who wants ice cream?" Ben finished everybody cheered except for Natalia who checked her phone and saw that it was 2:00. She had to get to the warehouse before dark, she made the excuse of suddenly not feeling well, womanly problems she said, the boys understood and let her go. She left them and took a Taxi back to their house. She changed into warm legging and a long sleeved athletic shirt. Then she texted Kovais and said that she was on her way. This would be her final training, she was nervous, but she was ready. She kept in mind what Quicksilver had told her "you have telekinesis and he changes the frequency of things, you might be able to feel him." She jogged to the warehouse, the snow made it a little hard, but she finally made it. She pulled open the door. Sitting against the wall was Aquilo, Brier and Quicksilver. Kovais was leaning against the pole.

"So your not going to hide like the others?"

"No, there's another way that a fight might happen. You could just be talking to them when they could suddenly attack" With that he was gone. Something punched her in the stomach and she fell back. Above her a light started to swing, then it fell loose and headed started for her. She raised her hand and a metal shield appeared above her deflecting the light. She got up and closed her eyes. She put her hands out at her side. There must be a way to link myself to him. How am I supposed to feel him? Suddenly she felt a vibration buzzing around her, she opened her eyes and stared at herself, her glowing eyes, her honey colored hair, her hands outstretched. Suddenly she saw herself drop her jaw and a thought echoed loudly Good job Natalia, you linked your self to me. What your seeing is me watching you. Try to figure out where I am based on what you see in your mind. Look for clues. She watched herself as he moved to a different angle, he was now looking at her from the side, she could see boxes behind her. Then it moved and she was now looking down on herself. She lifted her arm and some glass shot forward, but she missed, she all the sudden was very close to herself, but she didn't have time to react and was thrown backwards into the boxes. Stunned she didn't see another blow coming, it hit in the stomach. Then the blows stopped. She slowly got up gasping fpr air, she looked into the connection and saw that she was a couple feet away, she stretched her hand and sharp metal shot forward. A scream of pain could be heard and the connection was lost. He dropped down in front of her the metal "Knife" sticking into his stomach, blood coming out.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry."

'It's okay. Good job. He said panting. Aquilo rushed over and iced the blade and broke it off, a little still remained in him. Natalia, I want you to take it out."

"Okay. But I don't know what to do."

"You just pull it out very gently. And the use your healing power to heal him." Brier replied very gently. She nodded her head and went over, and looked at the wound, she could see a piece of the blade sticking out. She grabbed it and pulled gently, he groaned softly. She got it out and placed her hand over the wound. A white light surrounded her hand, when she pulled back the wound was gone.

"Thank you. Quicksilver helped him up and he sat on one of the boxes. Your getting stronger, that's good. Brier and Aquilo made you something, why don't you show her while I take a breather." Aquilo and Brier giggled with glee and pulled Natalia to the back of the warehouse where their quarters were. After they left Quicksilver shook his head back and forth and turned to face Kovais who was leaning against a pole.

"She is getting strong Kovais, Maybe too strong."

"I know, but she is what we need. Plus it was Lucy who programmed her to be that way, we did nothing, we just helped her to realize that she is a fighter."

"Yes, but Lucy could realize she's strong and flip her switch."

"I know that, but we'll be ready. This training was mainly for us, to see how strong Natalia actually is and to practice taking her down."

"But none of us can beat her."

"I realize that. Come on, let's not waste energy talking about what happened. If you need me, I'll be at the lab.

"Be careful." Quicksilver said giving him a warning look. Kovais nodded his head

"I will. Don't worry about me." He walked out of the warehouse and made his way to the abandoned city. He took a bus so that he wouldn't have to walk all the way. He got off and still had 15 miles to go. You see, there was a city limit and no one could go beyond that as there was nothing there. That is why it is called the Abandoned City. He walked through the dust, the snow had melted off in that section and he couldn't quite figure out why. Arriving at the edge of the city, he turned invisible as Lucy could have stationed soldiers on the lookout for trespassers. He walked on and on, he finally arrived at the gate, opened and walked through, he walked up the stairs, and into the place of torment.