Jonathan was checking on Clare when he heard the scream. He ran to Marrissa room, opening the door to reveal Mark holding her while she sobbed.

"What happened?" He asked, looking on with bewilderment. Mark looked at him eyes wide. He wasn't good with crying that much. Jonathan wasn't either, but they'd make due. Marrissa saw him as she raised her head. She took a couple deep breaths, then,
"Mark? Can you get me a tissue?"

He nodded, handing one to her, glancing at Jonathan. She blew her nose. Then she looked at her fingers.

"I- I think I remembered."

*******************************
" Claredessa! Come on!" Clark yelled, running around. "We are going to be late!"

Clare watched her little 7 year old brother with amusement. He was excited to finally get to go to a meeting. Afterwards they were to go and just lounge in the living room, along with the visiting New York General and his nephew, Jonathans best friend, Mark.

They had met on a visit to New York a few months ago.

"Alright. " she replied, trying to keep up with the energetic boy. They saw their 12 year old older cousin Jonathan Black leaning against the oaken doorway to the war room.

"Hey Johnny!" Clark said.
"What's up little man? Ready?" Jonathan asked.
The young boy nodded energetically, and ran inside to a table with holograms and maps.

"Hmm, I remember my first meeting." Clare mused.
"As do I. It WAS only about two months ago." He grinned.
"Same for you!" She countered.

"Yeah, true. I'm glad the Resistance got up and running so efficiently and quickly though. And it spread so quickly in just a matter of months." He said. Clare nodded.

Clare's mom waved to them. She was standing by her husband, the dark skinned Mr. Coleman. He was rubbing a thumb over his wife's pale skin. Jonathan's parents, the Blacks, stood by them.

"Hi aunt Charlette, Uncle Greg!" Clare said, hugging them. They had just got home from a visit to the Mississippi Base. Sara, her mother, ran a hand through her own fiery red hair that, unlike Clare's, was tame in stick straight form.

"Mom, when does it start?" Clark whined.

"Wait for the General honey, and Mark." Mrs. Coleman chided him gently.

"Why is he called the General?" Clark asked.

"Well, we can't be using his real name now can we? That is a security risk son." Said Charles Coleman, green eyes dead serious, but gentle as he looked at his son.

"Oh."

Suddenly there was a crash. "What was that?" Asked Jonathan.

"Let's check. Come Greg." Said Charles. They went, hands hovering over holsters. It was silent for a moment. Then a yell was heard, along with a high pitched shriek of something that was not human.

"What the hell!!?!?" Exclaimed Sara. She drew her own gun and ran out. "Fu- Charles!!!! Oh My God! What the hell is that? Run, Charlette, get the kids and run!!" She screamed, firing at the abomination that had been rumored to exist for months now. Jonathan and Clare looked at each other, understanding passing through them.

Hybrid.

"Run. To the portal go!" Aunt Charlette yelled, pushing them out. They ran to the library. Suddenly there was a scream. "Mom!" Jonathan said, stopping for a moment, looking back. Then there was a sickening crunch and a agonized scream. He ran back and grabbed the hands of his cousins saying,.
"Run!"
Clare didn't dare look back and Clark was crying. They got to the library and Jonathan pulled down the key. A book in the bookcase went down halfway and clicked.

The bookcase slid and there was a metal door. Jonathan punched coordinates into the pad spun the wheel on the round metal door and opened it to reveal a swirl of blue fog and electricity.

He turned to them. "Okay, this is to New York! Follow me." He jumped through. Clare held firmly to Clark's hand. There was another crash. "Wait!! What about mommy??" Clark exclaimed. Clare shook her head.

"Shes gone Clark now come on!"When she was about to jump, he was wrenched from her grasp.

"Claarrrk!!!" She screamed, watching as the life was squeezed out of him by one of the rumored beasts, dubbed an Ensnakli. She started running to him as hands reached through the portal and pulled her through.

She went through. Landing in someone's arms.
"NOOO! CLARK! NO!" She screamed as the door clanged shut, and she kicked out of the embrace. She pounded on the door, trying to get back to the brother she couldn't save.

******************************
"Remembered?" Mark asked. Marrissa nodded.

"Yeah. The chip...I think it erased anybad memory before the program from my mind, along with all that "badness"........"

Then they listened as she told them. The drunken mother, leaving her 7 year old daughter by herself. A sweet 8 year old, crying from a bully. 3 years later, at 11, her mother getting her life back on track because of Saftey 54. Her father coming back at age 12. 3 months later at 13 her father brutally forces her to the hospital for the chip. She lives the rest of her life like a puppet on strings, blending with society with only her hair to set her apart.

But Jonathan could tell she held something back. Apparently Mark did too.

"Marrissa? What ARENT you telling us?" He asked. She hesitated. Then, "yeah."

"What?"

"I.....was depressed at one point. During one of my mothers drunken states....I was 10.....i started.....cutting." She said haltingly. Jonathan closed his eyes. Mark let out a sharp exhale if breath. "My god." He whispered.

"Look, I think i need time alone...."

They didn't move.

"Please?"

"Alright" Jonathan allowed. "I will come back later ok?" She nodded, and they left.

"Imma check in Clare." Jonathan said. Mark nodded, and turned down the hall to the training room. Jonathan went to Clares room. The scar ran long pink and puckered down her cheek. Something glistened in the corner of her eye. A tear. Jonathan wiped it gently away.