Mathea fell asleep a while ago during our drive back. I, despite tiredness creeping in, refuse to sleep, catching hateful glares from Shae. I can't trust what she will try to do if I fall asleep, and I cannot trust that my teammates will come to my aid. Well, this excludes Saint. I believe he may be the only person to help me, but I'm not sure he can do much on his own.

The drive back, although a little bumpy, is not troublesome. We also, at least to my knowledge, are not being followed. This is most likely due to those left behind who are in charge of protecting our escape routes in case any Purus member attempts to locate us.

We haven't received any reports from that group, making the car ride even more tense as people think about their various problems; me worrying about Mathea, Shae wanting to hurt Mathea and grieving over the loss of Maka, and Saint fearing about the safety of all those who have not send word back to us.

I'm sure everyone else here is also worried about that; how many casualties this operation resulted in. Well, as Aris said, everyone taking part in Project G has something they're fighting for which depends on the success of the mission. Every person in this operation knew the risk and decided to go along with the plan.

Aris said, once they knew there was a chance to procure Gifted people to sell, he barely had to convince anyone to join. He said cooperation was not forced.

We drive into the parking lot, Mathea shifts as if she knows we have arrived at our destination.

"Hey," I say, watching my sister yawn.

She can't go upstairs. I was told that she must see nothing except the parking lot and the small and empty orange room built in this parking lot.

When the cars comes to a stop, most people rush to climb out as if the ride was suffocating or they're desperate to get as far away from Mathea and me as possible. The driver takes his time before leaving, leaving Mathea, Saint and me in the car. Saint is the first amongst the three of us to climb out, and I lift Mathea off of me before following his lead.

"I have to stay with you when you talk to Mathea. Well, it doesn't have to be me, but someone has to."

"You can stay."

I guide Mathea out of the car and hold her hand, pulling her behind me as the three of us walk to that orange room. I've already been told not to mention any names or describe any faces to Mathea, but I suppose Aris has every right to be careful.

However, with Saint around, I'm not sure how I will be able to explain to Mathea that she is not the cause of Maka's death. Perhaps I can tell them I saw someone else. It doesn't matter now that he got away safely. Well, I hope he did.

Saint opens the door and stands to the side of it as Mathea and I enter. He walks in after us before closing the door.

We all squint as our eyes take in the bright lights of this room.

After some time, Mathea begins to look around the room, confusion depicted on her face as she sees all that is in it; nothing. Well, nothing besides the three of us. I once asked Aris what this room was built for, but he brushed me off so I never bothered asking him again.

Saint is the first to sit, closing his eyes as he rests his back against the corner of the room and stretches his legs across the floor. Mathea and I do the same, except we sit in the centre of the room rather than at a corner. Mathea's back remains straight, but I, feeling uncomfortable without any support, hunch my back.

Thea looks to me then Saint and back to me once again, lifting her eyebrows as her eyes settle on mine. I'll have to discuss this here. I'm sure the very thought of Maka is just eating Mathea up.

"I saw someone else there. I saw another figure, but I couldn't make out the face." I look back at Saint, but he doesn't seem bothered by our conversation.

"Are you sure, Wills? Are you sure I didn't..."

"You didn't. I promise you didn't, and I'm sure everyone else will realise it too." Now that I think about it, if they take time to look into Maka's death, they should figure out that Mathea didn't kill her. "The angles would be wrong, and they haven't even looked if the bullet matches the gun."

Mathea nods as I speak, but I think she stopped listening once I confirmed that she is not a killer.

"Saint," I say.

"Mmmm," he replies while his eyes are still closed.

"Let them know to look into that. Please."

"Sure thing, Willow."

I turn back to my sister and wrap my arms around her. Her head falls to my chest and I shift my body even closer to her to make her comfortable. "I'm so glad you're back, T."

"I know." Mathea laughs and moves her head off my chest. "Is Kane here? Can he come to see me?"

"I'll go get him now. I'm sure these people would like us out of here by now." I laugh as I stand up and turn towards the door.

"Willow," Saint's voice stops me from exiting the room, "I'll send someone up for Kane, but you should take your time here with your sister."

Now he's eyes are open, looking at me with...pity. He looks sorry for me.

"We'll have time later."

Saint doesn't stay silent for long, but, having that look in his eyes; it's as if the silence lasted for hours.

"Stay here." He then pulls out a phone, and I believe he sends word for Kane to join us. "Kane will be here soon."

I try hiding my worried expression from my sister as I walk over to her and take my previous seat.

"Well, saves me the walk." I glance back at Saint, wondering why he didn't want me to leave, but his eyes are closed once again.

"Are you okay?" I ask my sister. I see no scars on her, but her clothing covers every inch of her body besides her face and neck.

"I'm okay, Wills." Mathea smiles at me. "I'm really okay. I just want to go home now. When can we do that?"

I want to talk to her about the problems she has with her gift, but, believing Mathea doesn't even remember that she forgot who Saint was and is unaware of her defect, I decide against it.

"We should be leaving no later than tomorrow," I begin to think about how short my stay with my family will be, "but there's something I should talk to you about."

I suppose it is best that Kane isn't around when I tell Mathea. I'd prefer if Saint wasn't here either, but I have no choice in that. She needs to know my stay with my family cannot be long, and besides worrying about their safety due to my condition, there are things I must do.

"Thea, I can't stay with you guys at home."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll stay for a week or so, but that's only to spend some time with you before I leave. These people don't want me walking around knowing everything I do."

"No."

"T, I'll find a way to talk to you. I'll call you every day." I'm not too sure I will see my sister again, but if a time ever arises, I'll take the risk to visit her.

"No."

"They need to monitor me in this new location, and it's better if I'm out of this Foster-controlled country anyway."

"They can monitor you from home."

"It's too risky."

"You can tell whoever you meet in this new place about whoever these people are. How are you even making sense?"

"I'll always have one of their people around to monitor me."

Saint told me I'd rarely get to speak to any regular people. He said all my new friends would be from the black market. They could be my friends, but they're my security before anything else. They are supposed to keep me in line.

"Then they can monitor you here."

"That can't happen, T. That will take a lot more effort and resources from these people, and the Foster government will likely be watching our family. The people here can't get mixed up with the Fosters. We can't raise any suspicion."

I have wondered why they couldn't monitor me at home if they were to do it in another country, but Saint said Aris fears that I'm more likely to run my mouth to the people I love.

Aris also doesn't have anyone stationed around my area, so he'd have to move and pay some of his people to relocate and watch me. To add to the list of difficulties, Aris can't send his people to live in my house for a year, especially with the Foster government monitoring my house and family; that may raise suspicion.

I need to be watched where it is safer for anyone in the black market to be. The Foster government doesn't really have power in other countries. 

I've thought about remaining in Geode and hiding, only to see my family when it could safely be organised, but I'm not entirely sure how to do that alone, and I know Aris doesn't want to waste any more resources helping me. I don't really want Saint to force Aris either.

It won't be, according to Saint, that difficult to monitor me where they plan to take me; many black market employees will be my neighbours, and again, the Foster government won't have power there. I won't even have to hide there.

Saint says they just need to make sure I don't carelessly spill any black market secrets when I call my family or encounter any regular people. Saint believes I'll enjoy my new life. He organised for me to have a house on the beach with, according to him, the most amazing view. Eventually, I'll get to enjoy this all with Kane.

"Besides, T, what do you think will happen to me when I get home?" This is one of the factors I thought of when agreeing to leave the country. Of course, agreeing to this term in order to help Mathea was the first one.

"They're just going to hurt me again, T. I can't live like that."

I can't tell her this, but Saint also mentioned that Aris doesn't want anyone from the Gifted Program studying me in case they pick up something about his cure.

"Then let me come with you."

"We have parents, Mathea."

"We'll get to visit them, won't we?" I look at Saint. I've only discussed phone calls with him, but I'm sure one visit could be organised.

Perhaps he'll feel sorry for me once the pain worsens. However, I'm not too sure I want to be around my family once that happens. I fear those thoughts will accompany the pain, and I've already caused enough pain to enough people.

"Mathea—" I look back my sister.

"You are going to visit, aren't you?"

"I'll visit, Mathea." I'm not sure if this will ever happen, but I am sure that I will try.

The door then bursts open and Kane walks in with his arms held out as if he is waiting for Mathea to embrace him. Mathea remains seated.

"It's been a long ride, Kane." She then pats the spot next to her. "Sorry."

Kane looks disappointed for a moment, but this look is then followed by a laugh. "I missed you too."

He walks over to us, nodding to Saint as he does so, then gently pushes Mathea's head before taking a seat next to us. Mathea responds by smacking Kane on the shoulder, but she pulls her hand back quickly after.

"I'm sorry. Are you....I mean, what..." Mathea struggles to find the words to ask about the effects the cure had on Kane.

"Nothing's happened. I'm starting to think nothing will, and maybe Topaz was just saying a lot of crap." Kane shakes his head at the thought of my cousin. "Anyway, I'm not too hopeful. We'll see. It's not a big deal anyway if things were to change."

Kane looks bored as he looks around this room. I'm not sure if he is pretending to be alright, but I am happy to hear the words he is saying, and I truly hope he believes it. I can't say what future struggles Kane will have. I can only hope he will be okay.

"So it's all over now." Kane sighs. "I know you're going to miss me, T."

"What? Are you leaving too?"

Kane laughs at Mathea's sad expression. "You should be happy I'll have company, T."

My sister does not seem comforted by my words, and she folds her arms. I stand up, walking over to Saint as Kane continues to tease my sister about missing him.

I take a seat next to Saint, leaning my back against the wall. "I just wanted to thank you for everything."

Saint has done so much for me when he never really had to. I owe him, but for now, not knowing how I can repay him, he'll have to settle for my gratitude.

"You won't be able to visit," he whispers. "I'm still talking to Aris, but I'm not sure you'll even be able to call your family. You should go speak to her instead of thanking me."

"Thank you, Saint." I repeat.

"Did you hear me?" Saint turns to face me, still whispering so the others don't hear us. Kane and Mathea have glanced at us, and I'm sure they'll question me later.

"I heard you," I whisper, "and I'm saying thank you."

I smile at Saint. He seems angrier with himself than I am at him. In fact, I'm not angry at him at all. He has done more than enough. Anyway, nothing he tells me now matters. I'm prepared for this.

"You can't do it all so thanks for all you have done."

"Something's wrong with you, Willow." Saint then looks away from me, and I notice a smile spread across his face. "It's my pleasure."

I smile back at Saint, but he, looking away, doesn't see it. I place one hand on his shoulder. "Let everyone I care about know once I've passed away."

"I will," he says, still avoiding my eyes. I trust that he will.

I then lean closer to his ear, whispering what I hope is the last thing I will have to ask of him, "And unless Mathea is suffering, never give her this cure." Saint now looks at me.

"You shouldn't decide everything for her."

"Saint—"

"I won't." He smiles sadly at me. "I promise. Now go spend time with your sister."

I wrap my arms around Saint to hug him. He doesn't make any movement to return the hug, but he allows me to keep my arms around him for some time. I then stand up to return to Mathea and Kane. I'd like to talk to them for as long as I can.