"What?" I asked, suddenly breathless. "What'd you find?"

"They're alive, as are your other friends. They grouped them together."

"But - good, but...why?"

"Who knows?" Damian shrugged.

"They...they know I'm watching. Or at least they know you're watching. They're going to do something. What are they planning?" I muttered under my breath as all sorts of awful scenarios played through my head.

"Don't jump to conclusions," Damian warned.

"You told me to watch for any odd behavior from the Institute. Well here it is. All four of those kids know me and they know that. They put them all together. Why?"

"To get them all better acquainted?" Damian shrugged.

"Because they are going to kill them. I'm something of a wild card to them now. My parents are the creators of the Institute. I'm a Recruiter. I was given a personal trainer. I've had years and years of training how to lie and betray and kill. They can't trust me anymore, especially since they let me off leash and have no idea what lands I've explored and secrets I've uncovered. But they know, beyond a doubt, that those four mean the world to me. They're the only friends I've ever had. And they're going to lure me out of hiding by killing them."

Damian had gone pale. I stared solemnly into his worried brown eyes.

Damian may act confident and command with ease, but deep down, he's still just a kid like me. He's only six or so years older. And yet he runs this whole place efficiently, and cares for each agent personally. He spends time with them and talks, he's friend to everyone but also a leader.

And yet, at that moment, he was scared. Two of his agents and two kids were in trouble. There was nothing he could do for them, nothing at all.

So he gave a little sigh, as if making his mind up about something. He glanced at me, considering.

"Ready for an adventure, Sweetheart?" he asked. I smiled.

Hey everyone! I know I said like ten chapters ago that it would only be five more chapters until I was done...but as you can see...we're still here. So this time, I promise I will wrap this story up in 5-10 chapters. BUT I might do a sequel. That kinda depends how this one ends, but I've got a few ideas so I'll see where that takes me.

Anyway, please comment-vote-follow. Love ya!