On one hand, we know that everything happens for a reason, and there are no mistakes or coincidences. On the other hand, we learn that we can never give up, knowing that with the right tools and energy, we can reverse any decree or karma. So which is it? Let the light decide, or never give up? The answer is both 

- Yehuda Berg.

Chapter 1 "Brotherly Thieves"

Year 2019

"I don't want to go to school." Adalyn would say every morning. 

 "C'mon," Her mother responded. "You already missed one week of school, plus it's your last year in high school." Adalyn had a difficult time getting off her bed. "Besides don't you want to see your friends?" 

 "Fine, Mom, I can't go to school." She muttered. 

 "And why is that?" Mrs. Scott answered playing along; opening the curtains to the balcony. Adalyn moaned as the sun shinned bright on her face. She decided to face the other side. "And don't say you been infected by the plague." Her mother said as she slid the covers off her daughter. Adalyn shivered and crumpled into a ball. "I don't know how you fooled your grandpa with that, but you can't play me." Adalyn smirked at her mother's comment. She turned to her, 

"Grandpa is a very smart man, if he saw that I had been infected by the plague that's because I was." Adalyn assured her mother. "I have pictures if you would like to see them." Adalyn shut her eyes, ready to fall asleep again. 

 "I knew I never should have bought that art kit." Her mother uttered. Mrs. Scott stared down at her daughter. "Adalyn River Scott," She announced. "If I don't see you downstairs in five minutes all dressed and cleaned up, you'll be grounded for two weeks" Her mother told her before leaving the room. 

Adalyn grunted. "How about one week?" She suggested. 

 "Five minutes!" Her mother called out walking down the stairs.

Adalyn got up reluctantly with a disapproving scowl. She went straight to the bathroom to take a shower. When she finished she left to pick out her clothes. Adalyn was thin and tall, not to mention her long brown hair. She put on some blue jeans and a white cold shoulder top with necklaces and bracelets, along with some brown leather boots. She put a bit of make-up on and couldn't help herself but just stare at her eyes. Her eyes were bright green but now they have a bit of blue in them, she could never remember the day they changed. "Mm" Adalyn murmured. She grabbed her bag and guided herself out the bedroom.

Adalyn climbed down the stairs gracefully without a problem in the world. The kitchen was rattling with noise. However, once hearing a loud unintelligible voice speaking, she stared down only to see her father arguing over the phone again while heading to the main entrance. He's a scientist, like her mother, the job brings many problems but eventually they're solved. Strangely, he spoke differently this time, he stuttered millions of times as if the problem couldn't be solved. Once reaching the bottom of the stairs, Adalyn said calmly, "Morning Dad."

Instead of replying, Mr. Scott waved her off, messing up his brown hair. "Dad, is everything okay?" She asked. Mr. Scott, seemingly annoyed, went out the main entrance and banged the door shut. Adalyn jumped with surprise. "I guess not." She confirmed. Adalyn walked down the corridor to the kitchen, dismissing the situation her father was stuck in. It should be somewhere there! Her father fretted over the phone behind her, practically cracking the fragile window on the door. Adalyn, alarmed, peered back only to see her father gazing at the horizon motionless. Bewildered she was, though no more than she was with her mother and brother.

Pass the corridor to her left was the kitchen; to her right was the family room. She found both her mother and brother's light brown eyes staring at the TV screen, watching intently the news. In the center of the kitchen was a large square table. Her brother sat behind the table facing the TV in the family room. Her mother sat on the couch holding her hands together. Adalyn paced to her brother's side and shook his arm softly. Evan Christopher Scott was only four years older than Adalyn. He was tall and also had brown hair. He became a scientist like their parents; Adalyn figured he should know whatever the situation was about. "Ev, what's going on?" She whispered for the silence in the house forced her to respect it.

Evan stared at her clueless. "No ide-"

"Evan quiet." Their mother ordered then, returned her bearing to the TV.

Today at 7 o'clock a.m. Project 48 has been stolen from SFG Corporation. Last night the cameras were turned off simultaneously at 11:32 p.m. From which the place was shut down ever since 2017, Project 48 was so to say a removed experiment in the view of the fact that it was not meant to be release to viewers. None of the other researches have been taken according to Agent Dallas. Nevertheless, investigators are continuously inspecting the area, searching for traces leading to the missing experiment. Scientists of the corporation will like to announce that the project is harmless. They don't exactly know why the thief would want to take it, however, no concern is needed for the project for the reason that it is three years old and unlikely to be useful now. SFG Corporation maintains to be unknown and forgotten ever since the incident. Polices and investigators are still examining the district, therefore will inform once found more evidence.

Today, in Downtown Columbus, everyone who suffered during the incident three weeks ago, with the murderer Nathan Carlton, who is now in jail, worry. They can't help but think he would escape prison and attack again. Bars have never stopped him before, why would they hold him now? They are hanging up signs, posting on the internet......

Mrs. Scott muted the screen and gazed at it in a trance. Adalyn and Evan exchanged nervous glances. "Mom, didn't you used to work in SFG Corporation?" Adalyn asked breaking the silence; even her father was inaudible. Mrs. Scott paid no attention to her daughter. Her face expressed simultaneously fear, confusion, surprise, and anxiety. Her eyes stayed attached to the TV. Adalyn felt the need to ask her mother if everything was all right, though her brother laid his hand on hers, preventing her from speaking. She glared at him perplexed. Evan, on the other hand stood from his chair. Before speaking, he was interrupted. "Oh god." 

 Evan and Adalyn simultaneously turned following the voice. Mr. Scott stood frozen as ice behind them gaping at his wife. As Evan and Adalyn spun back to their original positions, Mrs. Scott faced Adalyn sternly, "Everything's all right. You need to go to school, Adalyn." Mrs. Scott spoke while looking at Mr. Scott. Mr. Scott didn't stray his gaze from their mother. Mrs. Scott striped towards the drawers in the kitchen, seized some documents, and began to write. 

Evan gazed cautiously over his parents, blocking Adalyn, "Excuse me, is all in....." 

 "Everything's fine, just a problem at work; go to work and take your sister to school." Mrs. Scott spitted out concentrating on her paper. Adalyn and Evan stood as stone as they stared at their mother. Evan narrowed his eyes at her whilst Adalyn strode to her father, "Dad?"

"Listen to your mother." He said sounding breathless. 

 "Dad, what kind of problem is it?" 

  What are you writing? Evan wondered, peering down at his mother. 

 "You wouldn't understand Adalyn, go to school." Mr. Scott said gently.

Before Adalyn could say anything, her mother lifted her head, "Now please!" She said, startling both brother and sister. Evan turned his head pacing to Adalyn. Mr. Scott motioned Adalyn to leave. "Alright, um, see you later, I guess" Adalyn said while her brother pushed her from behind, out the house.

Walking down the steps of their house, Adalyn remained thoughtful of the happening inside her home. Evan instead paced to his car, leaving behind his parents' problems and focused on his own. He was followed by Adalyn as they stepped in his car. "I've never seen them act that way," She mentioned. Evan started the engine, acknowledging Adalyn's comment with a simple nod; whereas Adalyn insisted to grasp his attention. "Have you ever seen them act that way?" She held.

Evan at last took the time to satisfy her, "They are scientists, Lyn; they agonize about all types of situations." He guaranteed. "It's everything but out of the ordinary."

Adalyn stared clueless at her brother. "Everything but out of the ordinary?" She repeated. "Evan, they were panicking about a project from 3 years ago. Mom is panicking. Mom doesn't panic." She declared. 

 Evan shrugged. "Let them deal with their problems. Whatever it is, don't get into it." 

 "I'm worried, Ev." Adalyn conveyed. 

 "I can see that," He said, "Confine in me, Lyn; you don't want to intervene." Evan's mind sailed away from the car, straight to the horizon. He looked at his sister with a nostalgic expression. Adalyn peered back at her brother with a saddened smile as he turned to the road again. "This project has got everyone alarmed." He informed. "Therefore, it's dangerous. We have to leave our parents alone, in other words, no questions, Adalyn." Evan hoped Adalyn understood his point. However, despite everything he says or does, Adalyn could never control her curiosity. "Mom is panicking." She pondered. 

 Evan scorned. "Did you listen to anything I said?" 

 "Remember the days Mom hardly ever came home 'cause she was busy at work?" Adalyn asked him. "Do you think that's the project she was working on?" 

 Evan shook his head. "Don't even dare." 

 Adalyn tapped his arm. "It'll be like old times. We had so much fun, remember?"

Evan drove inside Eastmoor Academy and parked near the steps to its doors. He turned to Adalyn only to have her scowl at him. She reminded him of their mother; Adalyn could appear as her twin if only she dressed differently and changed her eye color. Then she would be impossible to refuse. "No, Adalyn." Evan insisted. 

 Adalyn gazed at her brother sympathetically. "Brotherly Thieves?" She said. Evan lifted his head to his sister. Adalyn raised her eyebrows in realization. "I crossed a line, didn't I?" Evan remained silent. Adalyn nodded staring down at her knees. "Forget it." She said as she stepped out of the car. 

 "Have a nice day." Evan managed to say, avoiding Adalyn's gaze. 

 "You too." She replied. Adalyn heard the car drive away behind her. She climbed up the steps and headed to the doors to the hallways. Before entering, she muttered. "Here I go."