She looked all around her in panic. Two guards were on either side of her and they led her quickly into the cold and intimidating stone building they had flown to.

She didn't even know where she had been taken to. They had flown her here in the chopper across some vast forest into the middle of god knows where. She was scared. Heck, she was terrified but for some insane reason her body would not obey her.

Come with us and don't make a sound. Don't fight, don't scream and don't cause any trouble for us.

She could still hear those words like a soft whisper in her mind. Every time she tried to fight back, or escape that voice was there like a mental bond, paralysing her.

They finally reached a large hallway that was lined with closed doors. The guards shoved her towards one as they swiftly opened it and led her inside. The scary redhead and the mean man he was taking orders from were right behind her.

Inside, the room was dimly lit. It was almost bare except for the iron table and  chair that had been set in the middle. It was there that she was roughly forced to sit down. Everyone else just stood there, watching her like hawks. It unnerved her and she found she couldn't stop the shiver that ran down her spine.

It was a good minute before the door was opened. More armed guards walked in and this time they were leading her - bound by cuffs - parents into the room.

"Mom, dad!" She exclaimed as she stood to go to them but a hand clamped down firmly on her shoulder and forced her back down.

She turned her head to face the redhead who still had his hand on her shoulder.

"Don't move." He said to her.

She felt her body respond to his words even though she tried to fight it.

"Now that we are all here,we can continue where we left off." Doctor Javier said as he slowly walked towards her.

He bent down so his eyes were level with hers.

"No more games, little girl." He said threateningly. "You'll tell me what I want to know or your mommy and daddy will start losing body parts."

Her eyes widened in fear as his words slowly registered into her mind. She was pretty sure all the color had drained from her face as well.

"Look, whatever you want we'll give it to you." She heard her father plead. "Just let her go."

"Unfortunately, Tommy, your little princess here is the one who should be singing those words to me." Doctor Javier said to him, his eyes never leaving her the entire time.

"If I knew anything I swear I would tell you." Lily said in a panicked voice. "Please."

Dr Javier regarded her for a moment before he turned his attention to his minion.

"Make sure you get results." He said to him. "Do whatever you need to do."

With that he turned and walked away, leaving the redhead to handle his dirty work. Zee didn't mind that. He had done it dozens of times before but this time he wasn't quite sure whether he could get any result but he had been given orders. He had to obey.

Taking a deep breath, he walked around her and stood in front of her.

"This will be a lot less painful if you cooperate." He said to her as he took her hand. "Now I want you to think very hard. Whatever voice is telling you that you don't know anything, I want you to ignore it. Even if it hurts you to do so."

His words were a simple request when he said them to her but her body seemed to act on then like there was an unspoken command attached to them.

She found herself reaching into her mind, digging deep to find memories she didn't know she had. The result was the most excruciating headache she had ever experienced.

Forget everything.

"Please. I don't know anything, I swear!" She pleaded as she screamed in pain.

Her palms clutched the sides of her head as she willed the headache to ease off.

"I know that's not true sweetheart." He said to her as he softly caressed her cheek, brushing away a stray tear. "See, the guy we want - I know you go to Med school with his twin brother, your little boyfriend, Mic. So tell me, princess, they left you behind knowing we would find you. I'm pretty  sure they knew what that would mean for you. Or at least one of them did. That means they don't care about you. Only each other. Are these the people you want to protect?"

"I don't anything. Or the people you think I know. I wish I could tell you but I can't!" Lily said in despair.

"Sadly, I believe you. But that's just not good enough." He said with a sigh. "I just hope when this is all over, you'll remember who it is that threw you under the bus."

With that, he stood and faced the guards that were keeping a firm grip on her mother and father.

"Start with the woman." He said to them.

Hour layers Zee walked into his master's office.

"Well?" Dr Javier inquired.

"I'm afraid we still have nothing." Zee said.

"You're proving useless to me, Zee." The doctor said with an annoyed voice. "You don't want to know what I do to things I deem useless."

He immediately turned away from the redhead and grabbed the phone on his desk. Punching in numbers, he spoke as soon as the call was answered.

"Bring in the asset. Now." He commanded.

As soon as he put the phone down, he turned back to the redhead.

"It seems on your own you're proving incompetent." He said.

"No. I will get this done!" He begged.

"Quiet! I said you're incompetent on your own but perhaps you will suffice as a team." The doctor cut him off.

Just as he finished, the door opened. Two guards with in on either side of a little girl. She had dark skin and long curly brown hair. Leading them was  a short thin man in a lab coat.

"Doctor Ramsey." Doctor Javier said in acknowledgement.

He looked at the little girl. She was a scrawny thing dressed in a plain white attire.

"Sir, you asked for her." Doctor Ramsey said. "We haven't tested her on this scale, sir. It could be dangerous."

"Well then this is your opportunity to do just that." Doctor Javier said. "Zee, I'd like you to meet your new partner, Shadow. If anyone can find my asset - no matter how evasive he is - it's her. She can manipulate shadows, as her name suggests. She can also use shadows to track people. I'm sure you'll fund her quite useful. "

Zee nodded in answer. The little girl simply regarded him in curiosity.

"Use her wisely. As you heard, she's still a rookie." doctor Javier warned him. "This time it'll just be the two of you. We wouldn't went him to see you coming. That means, for you, failure is not an option."

******************************

He woke with a start. His body was shaking uncontrollably. For a second he didn't know where he was but after a few moments it all came back to him.

So I fell asleep, he thought to himself. That's strange.

The light that penetrated the room through the blinds hurt his eyes so, shutting them, he slowly got off the bed. His temple was throbbing but the headache hurt a whole lot less than he'd anticipated.

He made his way to the bathroom where he splashed some water onto his face in a bid to wash the last of the sleep away. As he patted his face dry, he head the slight opening of the door to the room, hushed voices and the door closing again. Curiosity got the best of him so he left the bathroom.

Mic was placing a large tray down by the table when he saw him.

"Oh, you're finally awake." He said. "Our complementary breakfast just arrived although I wouldn't try those biscuits. It's like shoving sand down your throat. And they are hard. Really hard. You could break a tooth on one of them."

"O-kay." Michael said a raised brow as he watched his brother help himself to some oats before simultaneously gagging.

"I take that back. Those biscuits are edible. This tastes like crap." Mic said as he slowly swallowed the mouthful of food.

Michael grabbed a pancake and gingerly nibbled it.

"I've had worse." He said with a shrug.

"I'm not sure I want to know what that means." Mic said.  "I'll take a bath. You can have ... Well, I'm not sure you can call that food but I guess its better than not having any."

With that, he turned so he could walk towards the bathroom but something caught his attention. It was a small movement in the shadows, barely noticeable but he had caught a glimpse of it.

"What's wrong?" Michael asked.

He had sensed his brother's distress.

"I thought I saw something." Mic said with a furrowed brow. "It's probably nothing."

Even as he said those words, Mic wasn't convinced himself.