Saint is the first figure I see as the elevator door opens. He's holding hands with a mixed race girl who seems to be trying to escape from his grasp. The girl looks no older than eight, and there is something about the shine in her eyes that shows just how carefree a girl that age should be. She's a plump girl with extremely chubby cheeks and clothing that is obviously too big for her. I like her clothes; they're items I often wear. The girl is also extremely beautiful.

I watch as Saint grows tired of holding the girl's hand and trying to keep her in place, and he eventually lets go of her hand before slumping onto a couch directly behind him.

"Don't do it, Saga." Saint's voice is barely audible, but it seems as though he is trying to shout at the girl now running towards me. So this is Saga.

I take a few steps forward in order to exit the elevator, but none of the bodyguards do the same. When I look around this location, I see a number of security guards that will be more than enough to tame me if I go on a rampage. However, a rampage will be unlikely with me often using sedatives and soon to take a cure.

Just as I look behind me to see the elevator door about to close, taking the bodyguards that escorted me here to some other location, I feel a tap on my leg.

Saga's fist remains on my leg, and she looks into my eyes as if she's waiting for something.

"You're too weak to hurt her, Saga," Saint says.

"Shut up for a second, Frosty," Saga replies, and I am surprised to hear Saint's nickname from a mouth not belonging to Aris. It sounds cute when Saga says it.

Just as Saga pulls her arm back and prepares to punch me once again, Saint's voice interrupts her moment, "Don't make me tell Aris you're using bad words."

At Saint's threat, Saga's arm falls to her side, and she runs towards Saint, making some sort of whining noise as she does so. She then jumps onto Saint's lap and gives him a cold stare.

"Don't do that," she demands.

"I will."

"Don't do that." This time, Saga sounds as if she is pleading.

"Move off of me."

"Okay. If I get off you then you have to promise you won't tell Aris," Saga whines.

"It's a deal. Now move," Saint laughs as he says this and lifts his arm to lightly hit her head.

Saga rolls her body off of Saint and sits next to him. I wonder what their relation is. Her speech suggests she spends much time around Aris, but something tells me she spends just as much time with Saint.

"When did you get the haircut?" Saint asks the young girl.

"Last week. I don't like long hair."

"So you cut all of it off."

"No, my mummy cut it for me."

"I like it," I speak up as I walk towards the both of them.

I stare at Saint for some time, eager to discuss whatever it is Aris said he wants to talk to me about. I don't want to waste much time in finding Thea, my mother and Kane. However, seeing how tired Saint is, I suppose I can let him rest for a couple of hours.

"I need to sleep, Willow. I'll crash in your room before we talk about stuff." Saint stands up, and Saga follows his lead.

To Saga's dissatisfaction, Saint places one hand on her head and pushes it down until Saga returns to her previous position on the couch. Saga huffs, but she shows no other signs of protest as Saint and I walk away.

"My name is Saga!" I hear the little girl calling out as I disappear around a corner.

"I'm Willow! You have a pretty name!"

Before we round the corner, I am able to see Saga's face scrunch up in what looks like confusion or disbelief.

"Don't tell her she has a pretty name," Saint laughs as he continues to speak, "She hates that name."

"I like it," I reply.

"She was excited to meet you. I came down here and told her we have an Iron Rod, so she said she'd test your strength out herself."

I can't help but smile at Saint's statement as I picture Saga saying those exact words. "How do you know her? Is that Aris' child?"

"No, Aris doesn't have any children. Saga stays here, and I happen to be here a lot when I'm not spying on the Purus. You'll see a whole lot of people stay here."

I've already walked past a handful of people, and we haven't been walking for a long time. Also, I see many doors as we walk in this passage and assume it belongs to the other residents.

"Why do you come here? Aris said you're not friends."

"I hate that guy," Saint says in a playful tone. It seems they're the sort of friends who enjoy a bit of banter. "As for my visits here; I'm here for work."

Saint continues walking down the passageway, oblivious to the fact that I am no longer next to him. It takes him some time to realize I have stopped walking, but when he does, Saint sighs and shrugs his shoulders.

"You help them sell the Gifted."

"Well, I'm not directly involved with the sales. My job is mainly—"

"It doesn't matter. You help the black market separate families. You kidnap people."

"There's no time for this," Saint says, and he turns around and continues walking in the direction I assume my room is in.

"Are you planning on selling me?"

"If I wanted to, you'd be sold by now. You're too weak to fight. I'd shove the cure down your throat, and you'd be on your way while I get my damn money."

"You do this for money then."

"Everything's for money, Willow," Saint stops walking and turns to face me, "but don't look at me like that. I don't care about being rich or getting fancy shit like the people you're probably thinking of right now. I got people to take care of, Willow, so I go where the money takes me."

"And that makes this right?"

"No, but it makes it understandable," Saint sighs. "I don't need you to agree with. I don't even need you to understand, because I'll carry on no matter what."

Saint continues walking down the pathway, and after some hesitation, I continue following him. He could have sold me by now if he really wanted to. It's just difficult picturing Saint working in a place like this.

I wonder how Aris and the boss of the black market allow him to work here and be a spy at the Purus compound at the same time. I'm sure they know of Saint's other profession; they should have the resources to find out. Perhaps they have a level of trust I can't seem to understand, or Saint was sent to round up as many Gifted from the Purus compound as he could.

Regardless, I don't believe I am the right person to judge Saint. After all, I know I'll do anything for the people I care about. I even almost gave up Topaz to the black market to save the people I care about. I just never thought Saint would work here.

We come to a stop in front of a room with the number seventy carved onto the door. "You'll be staying here."

"You're really running away from me," I say as I remember Saint telling me he'll be leaving me alone to sort out my problems here.

"You're too much trouble to be around, Willow. I need to sleep for a while then I'll be on my way."

Saint walks towards a remote control placed on a desk on the opposite end of the bed, and I assume he intends to use it to switch off the television.

I wonder what I'm supposed to do as he sleeps. I can't sit here and watch him. Perhaps I'll find some interesting books to read on some of these shelves or soak in the bath I see through another door within this room. This compound is nice.

"Stop," I say.

I can't hear what Saint mutters under his breath, but a part of me believes he wishes he could have got to the remote control sooner.

"Increase the volume, please," I ask as I watch Saint's finger slide up against the remote control, then I turn my attention back to the familiar faces shown on the television.

My father stands next to my mother who looks more fragile than I've ever seen her before. It's as if my father is looking straight at me as he speaks.

"Good evening, ladies, gentlemen and persons. Unfortunately, I haven't been given much time to discuss these matters in depth. However, I have been assured President Foster IV will make an appearance this evening to fully discuss the nature of the events that have occurred over the recent weeks; some of which have involved my daughter, Willow Bare, and which Mr White has explained to the best of his ability."

My father looks to my mother before continuing, but her eyes are glued to the ground.

"I only requested this time to, firstly, confirm the rumours of my resignation as Head of the Medical Department for the Gifted Program. Secondly, I hope to reassure everyone that, regardless of my resignation, I will be working closely with the program's management team to find my," father coughs, "excuse me, one daughter, Willow Bare, and provide the help she needs to get better, as well as encourage her cooperation in helping the doctors find a solution to help other Gifted individuals struggling with a similar condition to hers. Thank you."

My eyes are glued to the television, but I feel Saint's eyes glued to me. I watch as my dad and mum exit the stage they were standing on, and a younger girl is now placed before my eyes; a girl whose face I cannot forget.

Before my eyes, is a girl a hurt when I let this pain inside my head take over me. Before my eyes, is the girl Kane stopped me from continuing to fight at a Purus protest we went through in order to get to Isiah's store.

"Good evening, everyone. I've been called as a witness to the acts of Willow Bare and can personally testify how serious this condition is and how urgent it is that the government receives word of any sighting of her..."

"Before you continue, dear," I see my mother gently push the girl from the Purus protest aside, "let me say that I know my daughter. I don't think Marcus said enough to let you know that this is not her. I saw so many disgusted faces as reports of her acts were told, and I understand that, but I want you to understand that this is not her."

"Zarah, please, we must go," my father says.

"Wait!" Mother says in a soft kind of shout. "I know my daughter, and I love my daughter. You would love her if you knew her. I say this so you know that the punishments I hear you wishing upon her will not happen."

I can't see this person's face, but someone now grips my mother's arm and begins to pull her out of my view. However, her voice is loud as ever as she repeats the last few words of her speech.

Just as my mother is removed from my view, the Purus girl takes the stage, and I look to Saint for him to turn the television off. I've heard enough.

"I'm sorry, Willow."

"Did you notice how my father said 'one'. He said they're working to get one of his daughters. They're only working to find me."

"I noticed, Willow. I'm sure the others noticed it too. I think that's a risky message to you."

"Nobody there is trying to help Mathea or Kane. Why wouldn't they?"

"It's probably too expensive and too risky. Hell, it's probably even to teach your family a lesson for letting you go missing."

"Mathea and Kane have amazing gifts. Kane is rare. I am rare! They should be helping me regardless of Mathea's failure!" I shake my head as I continue, "They should be helping me and finding Mathea and Kane."

"Anyone can be replaced, and it's probably more efficient to leave them behind. As for you, they were probably hoping the Gifted taken when retrieving Mathea from the mission would help fund your treatment."

"So now they have no money?"

"Not for you."

"And they probably forced my father to resign. Do you think they forced his resignation?"

"Probably."

"And what punishments do you think people are wishing on me?" I continue to bombard Saint with questions he likely doesn't have the answers to.

"I don't know."

"Guess." If he wasn't irritated with me before, he should be now. "I'm sorry," I say.

Saint runs his hands over his face and sighs, probably grateful to be leaving the mess that is me soon.

"I can't tell, Willow, but the punishments may be why your dad hasn't been able to reach me," Saint replies. "I don't think he wants you back home. I think he tried to tell you that going home won't help you or your sister."

"So he'd just abandon me and Mathea."

"He knows you're with me, and I'm sure he'll find a way to reach me, but I can't tell you how soon that will be."

"He can't help me get Mathea then. He can't do anything if he's trying to lie low."

"He can't help you right now, Willow, but you can wait for him to reach me."

"I can't wait! You remember what Eve said, don't you? There are Purus compounds using violent methods to get Gifted people to take a cure. We can't leave Mathea there."

Saint doesn't reply for some time, but he moves to take a seat on the bed. "We should probably have that conversation now; the conversation determining the extent of Aris' help."

"Please," I say, and I don't think I have ever sounded more desperate.