A/N: Welcome back! Any ideas what the ending of the last chapter means? Comment with your guess! :) P.S. Thanks SO much for your patience while I've been dragging out updates until all my lovely readers are dead... Those of you still reading, thanks for being so great!

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06 - 01 - 2089

G I S

Green. I wake up and see green. The blob moves and morphs into multiple green shapes as my vision clears. I can make out faces, sharpening with each blink until I realize they are all wearing green surgical masks.

I stir, feeling exhausted despite having just woken up. My limbs are heavy, and it takes me a moment to realize that it's not due to lack of sleep. I can feel the drugs still coursing through my veins, weighing me down like pure lead. Instead of blood, I can picture each vein clogged with liquid metal. Coursing through every part of my body and weighing me down.

I groan, struggling to lift my head. A masked women assists, hand slipping behind my neck and raising me up. A pillow slides beneath my neck, propping my head up a bit more. I blink, recognizing that I'm still in the same room as before.

"Thank you, Erelda. Please give us a few moments."

My eyes follow the voice, landing on the unmasked newcomer from before. He sits at the edge of the bed, intently watching me. His hands are folded in his lap, his posture relaxed. Something about his presence helps me to relax.

The masked women nods and leaves the room, the door latching with a soft click.

The liquid metal releases its hold on my body bit by bit. I test my arm, raising it several inches before it stops. A soft restraint is locked around my wrist. No, scratch that. Both wrists.

My eyes fly back to the man, any sense of calm rapidly dissolving. I'm at the mercy of these people. Just like before.

Just like before.

Just like before!

Tears gather at the corners of my eyes. I blink furiously, attempting to push them back. I half expect Dr. Acosta to step through the door at any moment, revealing I'm right back where I started.

The man reaches out and gently rests a hand on my leg through the thin grey blanket. "Calm." His voice betrays a subtle accent. "I will release your hands if you promise you will remain calm." He watches me with steady intensity, but his eyes aren't cruel. Where Dr. Acosta's stares always made me feel like an insect being studied, this man makes me feel seen. Truly seen. Not as a science experiment, but as a person.

He raises an eyebrow subtly. I realize with a twinge of embarrassment that he's been waiting for a response and seconds have gone by. I've been staring dumbly, internally sorting through my thoughts as usual. 

I offer a nod, never taking my eyes off him as he unbuckles the restraints and pulls them off.

"Are you in pain?" He asks.

Slowly, gingerly, I push up and lean back against the headboard so I'm sitting. I shake my head. My throat scratches as I try to swallow. I've got a desert inside my mouth. 

As if reading my mind, the man crosses the room to the counter on my right and pours a small glass of water from a bright blue pitcher. He holds it out and returns to his original spot as I down the cool drink and lick my lips.

"Better?" He keeps his distance, but maintains the same relaxed posture. His eyes study me, expression betraying a sense of fondness. "I must apologize for earlier. My men did not carry out my orders as intended. Things were not supposed to go that way." He appears genuinely regretful, but I know better than to trust appearances.

"Where is Cade?"

"He's safe. He is being treated in another room."

I cross my arms. "He never would have needed treatment if it weren't for your goons. I want to see him."

"Of course. I'll send someone to arrange a visit once you are recovered-"

"No," I snap, interrupting him before he has a chance to finish. "Now. If you want me to cooperate, then you'll do as I say." I struggle to keep my voice level when fear and uncertainty are lingering just below the surface.

A moment of silence fills the room. Then, a nod. He rises and opens the door. His voice is quiet as it speaks to someone just outside. From my view, I catch a glimpse of movement and green before it disappears. The shuts with a soft click as he returns to my bedside. Only this time, he doesn't sit.

A smile tugs at the corners of his lips. He opens his mouth, then closes it. I wait for him to speak, feeling the persistent beat of my heart. I start the count the heartbeats.

One...

Two...

Three...

Anything to distract from the awkwardness of this exchange and the uncertainty that sits just behind me, whispering into my ear. 

 After almost two minutes of silence, the man clears his throat and sits back down. He looks down at the floor when he says, "This wasn't how it was supposed to be. None of this-" He pauses, shakes his head. "None of this was supposed to happen."

"I don't understand," I whisper, watching him closely. Trying to understand. Trying to penetrate through his skull to read his thoughts. To know his intentions. Is he safe? Is he good? Will he hurt me as they hurt Cade?

He turns his head, dark eyes meeting mine. "I wanted to bring you home without all this violence. But GIADA..." He frowns, rubs his face and readjusts. "Can I try this again?"

"Okay..." I say slowly, unsure what he means.

"I'm Alex. I'm the one who started this organization. I started it when I knew there would be no other way to get you out of GIADA's hands."

"But why?" I interrupt. "Why do you care about me?"

A knock interrupts our conversation. Alex opens the door, wide enough that I can see two figures in black uniforms standing outside. He glances my way, then tells me he'll be just a moment. He disappears behind the door with the two figures. 

I'm alone.

The realization hits me, and suddenly my mind is flooded with possibilities. What do I do? How do I make a plan? Alex seems nice, but I've been fooled before. And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that people are good at lying. And I am bad at recognizing when they are.

I scramble off the bed, cold cement seeping through the thin socks on my feet. Woah. Dizziness hits me like a brick and I grab onto the metal headboard to keep from falling. The feeling washes over me in a wave, strong before slowly retreating. I can feel my heart working harder to keep me conscious. Traces of the liquid metal still sluggishly move through my veins.

Move. Alex could be back any minute. 

My eyes scan the room, looking for a weapon or something I can use to get out of here. To get to Cade. I approach the cabinets along the far wall from the bed, pulling them open to reveal various medical supplies. 

There. Unopened packets of sterile needles and syringes. Grabbing several, I run back to the bed. My fingers fumble to hide them beneath the blanket as the door handle turns. 

Alex is back. "I'm sorry for the interruption," he says, his tone so frustratingly genuine. He sits. "Please continue."

I swallow, very aware of the lump beneath my leg hiding my contraband. "I..." I shift my leg to better hide the supplies, inwardly cringing when they crinkle. "I want to know why this place exists. Why it exists because of me."

"You deserve the truth. All of it. And in due time. I don't want to overwhelm you."

"I'm already overwhelmed," I mumble. My hands reaches to itch my leg, slowly creeping closer to the packages.

Alex's dark eyes watch me, his gaze intent. I can almost feel him staring at the stolen goods hidden beneath my leg. "I won't hurt you. I promise."

"Tell me why I should believe you," I say, my voice sharp. My mind scrambles to keep the conversation going. To keep him at ease and within reach. I shift, just enough to get my hand under the blanket. 

Faking a shiver, I pull the white cloth over my legs and arms, hiding my hands as I carefully peel back the packaging for a syringe and matching needle. The capped needle twists on soundlessly. 

"Because I'm your father."

My hand freezes, eyes darting to the man. My mind two seconds behind my body. Trying to catch up and process what he said.

"You're lying." The words slip past my lips unbidden, mirroring my thoughts before I have a chance to filter them.

Alex shakes his head. "Your name is Nova." 

He continues to talk, but I'm still stuck on the first few sentences he uttered. Daughter. Nova. My name. 

My name isn't Gis? 

I have a father?

"I can't-" I grip the syringe, tighter and tighter. The blanket slips off my shoulders, down my hands. 

Alex sees the glint of metal and lifts his hand. "Nova, please. I promise, I'm telling the truth."

"You're lying," I say. "You have to be. I don't have a father. I was created in a lab; Dr. Acosta told me so. My name is Gis. I was genetically created without parents. This isn't true. You're telling me lies!" I know I'm rambling. I know I should stop. I've lost the element of surprise. Lost the ability to negotiate for our freedom. 

"Please, just let me explain. We can do it on your terms, I promise." His voice is pleading now. Begging me to give him a chance. The sincerity in his voice is killing me. Pulling at every instinct I have to drop the needle and run to him.

I'm crazy.

The realization hits me like a bus. Or a ton of bricks. Or maybe an elephant.

I can't trust myself. I can't trust my feelings or my intuition. Dr. Acosta has messed me up. Who knows what she did to my brain all the years she had me under her control?

"I want to leave," I say with sudden resolve. I lift the needle higher when Alex inches closer. "Stop. Don't come near me. Please. I don't want to have to hurt you but I will. I will," I repeat, trying to bolster my confidence. 

Alex's expression turns pained as he halts in his approach. He backs off, hands still raised. "Okay. I won't come near you. Just please, be careful. Don't hurt yourself."

An idea springs to mind. Mentally yelling at myself to keep it together, I lift the syringe and point it at Alex. "Let Cade and I go. Without trackers, without anyone following us. Do it, or-" I swallow, my throat dry. So dry. Any traces of the water I had now gone with the adrenaline coursing through my body. 

I raise the needle and direct the metal tip towards my neck. 

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