They all clambered out in to a dark garage, and Zeke took Hera's hand. "You stay with me. I'll show you the way."

Jean went to the back of the van and pulled out an unconscious Birdman. Then, with almost no effort, she lifted him and dropped him roughly on a nearby gurney.

"Fucking hell, I forgot he was even there..." Hera remarked.

Jean smirked at the commentary and admired her nails. "Still got it." Then, "You alive fuck face?" Jean slapped Birdman, hard. He rewarded her with a weak groan.

"Stop messing with him, Jean. Take him to the holding rooms for questioning." Theo looked over to Hera, a strange expression crossing his striking features. "The Director wants a word."

Zeke gently tugged on Hera's hand towards an entryway to the right while Jean took Birdman down a corridor to the left. Hera walked through the first doorway and saw more long passages in different directions. This place is a maze, she thought to herself. How would she ever find her way out of there...

They went straight through two more doors until they came to a massive open-planned space. It looked like a mess hall on one side and a training facility on the other, but it was empty. Zeke kept a gentle grip on her now clammy hand and guided her through another door.

How many doors are there?

Hera was pretty sure they were underground, as she didn't see any windows on their walk. Immediately, she started feeling claustrophobic. Her feet felt leaden, and her breathing became shallow as a warm body bumped into her back. Zeke's grip on her hand released as she made a complete stop.

"Take a deep breath, Hera." Theo turned her body towards his and stared at her face as she panicked. The floor beneath them quivered, and Theo's eyes widened slightly. "Hera, breathe. There are hundreds of people living beneath this floor. You need to stay calm."

She shook her head. She couldn't stop the fear and bile rising in her throat. The air around her was buzzing. Not again, she thought. She was going to kill everyone here.

"Kill me..." she whispered as tears threatened to fall.

"Can I help you? Can I touch you?" Theo said urgently. Hera could only nod slightly before Theo's warm, calloused hand cradled the back of her neck, and the other splayed across her chest, fingertips against her sternum.

"Breathe," he said again so gently. "Relax, Hera. You're safe here." An instant pressure released from Hera, and her knees almost buckled. Her body ended up half pressed against Theo, who held her stable.

"Can I let you go now?" He questioned, using a very different tone than moments before. She again could only nod as he let her stand alone. She let Zeke take her hand once more and guide her through the final door titled, Director.

...

It was a standoff.

Hera and the Director stood face to face, both with unreadable expressions. Did he know she nearly killed everyone in his little 'Community' with her weird abilities? And why did she feel such a strong sense of familiarity staring at this man? She wondered if he thought the same, but he only said simply, "Sit."

Hera found a seat while Theo and Zeke stood by the doorway. "You may wait outside." The Director spoke again.

Hera shifted uncomfortably in her seat when they left and clasped her hands in her lap.

"Do you know who I am?" The Director asked carefully.

She shifted again, clearing her throat to reply, "The director?" She asked more than stated quietly.

He turned towards a filing cabinet behind his desk and replied. "Yes. The Director." His voice was muffled as he pulled out a file and sat opposite Hera.

"This is the file I have for you, Hera. As you can see, we have nothing..." He paused for a moment, contemplating. "Why is that? Why don't we know anything about you?"

Hera swallowed nervously and looked everywhere but his eyes. The room was fairly empty, just a regular office space. An adjacent door, slightly ajar, revealed a perfectly made bed and oak cabinet. His bedroom, probably. The walls were bare and stark white; it reminded her of home. "I don't know... I don't know anything about me either. I only found out about the Evolution thing a few hours ago."

The Director stayed quiet.

"My aunt kept my memories from me... it made her sick, but she kept taking them, and now I don't know who I am. Or what I am..."

The man across from Hera frowned. "How did you get this old without being discovered by Panacea then?"

"Uh, I had a teacher who could um, suppress my... Evolution and then when I went to University, his son took over... But I guess I was getting too uncontrollable. I think I nearly hurt a lot of people ..." Hera trailed off, her eyes burned with unshed tears.

The Director nodded, keeping his face blank, but something swam just beneath the surface, making Hera squirm. He looked behind her and spoke loudly. "Come back in, Theo."

The door opened, and a stony-faced Theo stared in. He didn't make eye contact with her and waited for the Director to speak again. "Take her to the Chamber and find out the extent of her Evolution. Once that is done, you will train her. She will be as skilled as you by the time you are finished. Understand?"

If Theo was surprised, it didn't show on his face, but he did question, "Wouldn't you prefer her training be done by a female, like Jean?"

The Director didn't grace them with a response; he just went back to the filing cabinet again.

Let's go, Theo's voice rang in Hera's head. She followed him and wondered the true extent of Theos' Evolution again.

...

The Chamber was enormous.

The materials making it up were unbelievably thick with tungsten metals and high tensile carbon fibre layers. At least, that was what Theo had said. She just hoped it would be enough to contain her abilities and keep everyone safe.

"Get in." Theo sounded like he was in a bad mood. What's his problem, she thought. Despite its massive outer appearance, the room was small and cosy. It had a bed, storage, and a small desk and chair. "This looks like a bedroom," Hera remarked.

"It can be. And you will be staying here until we figure out your abilities. Got it?" Theo replied.

Her breathing quickened, and she couldn't reply. Hera felt like she might have another panic attack, and as the door closed and bolted shut, she realised she was right. "Let me out, Theo." Her voice wavered. It felt like her head was going to burst.

"I can't do this. Get me the fuck out." She pushed back against the heavy door. Her chest heaved in exertion or terror. "I can't breathe. I can't breathe."

There were no windows, and Hera noticed that the room was unbearably quiet. The Chamber was so insulated she could hear her own heart beating. "I'm going to fucking die in here." She wept as she leaned her forehead against the icy metal door.

Hera dropped to her knees and tried to draw a breath. Everything felt so unbelievable. Her entire life had changed, and she had no clue how to control any of it, Evolution or not. She still didn't entirely believe this wasn't a grandiose delusion she had conjured up.

You won't be in there forever. We need to make sure you are safe to be around the others. Please demonstrate your ability now. Theos' voice spoke in Hera's head again. Her body shook as sobs ripped out of her. She cried out to the void, "Please stop this! I don't even know how!" She was yelling now, tears bursting their banks, streaming down her cheeks and making small dots on the padded floors.

Theos' patience seemed to be wearing thin. He didn't appear to trust her and only succeeded in infuriating her with his condescending tone. You need to stay calm.

Something inside her snapped, and she dug her nails into her buzzing palms. "Stay out of my fucking head!" Hera screamed, directing all her anger and fear outward. "And stop telling me to stay calm, you arrogant piece of shit!"

The room, the air, and the furniture hummed; she could feel how the atoms that made up everything vibrated all around her. Then, Hera tore apart everything in the Chamber to dust with a furious scream. The bed and desk exploded. The Chamber itself seemed to cave in on itself, creaking and groaning under the power exuded from her pores.

It ended as fast as it began, and in the end, Hera was left with nothing. She was so drained she fell asleep, curled up on the dusty floor alone.