We're still all gathered in the hardware store. Topaz, Ankah and my mother joined us a few minutes ago. My mum says our transport to the doctor will be any minute now. She also states that Ankah and Topaz will be parting ways with us. Topaz doesn't make eye contact with anyone.

"Ankah contacted the Purus doctor, so she knows to only expect the rest of us. Ankah and Topaz will stay here for some time then your dad will organise a safe way to get them to a more comfortable place until our situation subsides," my mother glances at Thea and I as she speaks.

"Is dad alright?"

"Your dad is fine, Willow. We'll see him soon. Kane and Mathea, no one is to know that you are Gifted. I'd leave you both behind, but we may need your skills."

"I don't mind staying with them, Mrs Bare. In case there's any trouble here."

My mother considers this for some time; leaving Kane here with Ankah and Topaz. I don't believe that's best considering the tension in the room, but perhaps Kane shouldn't come with the rest of us.

"No, that's alright. You'll come with us, Kane."

"Maybe Thea should stay behind," I say. I don't know where we're going, but I'm not too sure I want Thea caught up in all of it.

"No, she will not. Be prepared to leave, Mathea."

Mother walks over to her sister and gives her the tightest hug, wiping away Ankah's tears that have returned. Ankah is the first to pull away, always wanting to be strong on her own. I look at Topaz and don't think I should say goodbye to my cousin. He catches me staring at him, so I offer him a slight smile. He doesn't return it, and I don't blame him.

I begin walking to Ankah, but, remembering I was willing to hand over Topaz to the black market, decide against saying goodbye to my aunt.

Mathea hugs Aunt Ankah goodbye and gently places her hand on Topaz's shoulder, slightly squeezing it as a show of comfort. Kane says nothing to anybody and rather walks over to the door of the hardware store; the object that will lead him away from this drama and into the next. I follow Kane to the door, and Mathea follows me.

"They're here now," mother says while holding the phone Isiah held when advising one of us to hand ourselves over to his friends.

Mother walks over to the door, and we all make way for her to open it. She barely sticks her head out then motions for us to follow her.

We move towards a black van without looking back at Topaz or Ankah, but I hear as one of them slam the door shut as we exit the store. I see a few people jogging this early in the morning, and there is only one other vehicle near us.

As we climb into the van, the door of the hardware store is flung open. Everyone in the car watches as Ankah starts walking towards us.

When the driver looks to my mother, possibly wanting to know if he should wait for her to sort out whatever this issue may be, my mother shakes her head at the driver.

"Drive," she says in monotone voice.

Ankah is closer to the car now, and I notice a pained expression on her face. However, no tears fall from her eyes. Ankah may have run out of tears today.

"You killed him," Ankah's voice is brittle as she addresses her sister. "You killed him," my aunt repeats this louder.

"Drive please." This time the driver adheres to my mother's request, and the door of the van slides shut right before Ankah is able to reach us.

The car begins to move, but Ankah does not return back to the store. She now repeatedly slams her hand against the car, but after she gets a couple hits in, the driver decides to pick up the speed. I turn my body to face to the rear windshield of the car and see Ankah is chasing after us.

"You killed him! I hate you! I hate you!" Ankah continues these screams, but as the car moves further away from her, her shouts of hatred are no longer heard.

I know she could only be talking about Isiah. I'm not sure what the story is between Ankah and Isiah, and I know I shouldn't ask for it. Whatever the story is, it's good enough to make Ankah scream for a man who wanted to take her child away. There are only three reasons I can think of for Ankah's impulsive act; debt or love, or the illusion of love.

Ankah should have walked back to hardware store by now, not wanting to leave Topaz alone. My mother rests her head on the seat in front of her, and Thea somehow manages to rest her head on our mother's lap.

Kane and Mathea look stiff and slightly frightened, but no one comments on Ankah's words. I don't think anyone knows how to feel about this, and no one wants to ask for the story behind this. I'm not sure whether to believe Ankah's words, but if my mother did hurt Isiah, I'm sure it was the only way to get us out. Either way, I prefer not knowing.

The window suddenly rolls up, and I now notice they're pitch-black which prevents me from seeing out of them.

"Sorry," the driver states, "but you don't get to see where the doctor stays. You can't control the windows from back there, and the rear windshield will be turning black soon."

I can only see out of the driver's windshield, but after some time, a partition slides up, separating us from the driver and preventing us from seeing where we are driving. The car ride would have been quiet if it wasn't for Kane and me whispering as we are driven to a location unknown to any of us.

"What happens after the doctor cures me?"

"I can't tell you that, Will."

"We'll owe the Gifted Program so much. Do you think Mathea's service will be able to cover the fees?"

"That and your father's income should do it."

"If he still has his job," I say. "I've cost everyone so much."

"No one's here against their will, and your family will be fine. You'd be amazed with how little people can survive on, and considering your family's wealth, you wouldn't be left with little."

"How little did you survive on?"

"You've heard about the orphanages here, Will. It all worked out for me though. I'll be sent on more missions, and when the program officials think I'm worthless, I'd have gained enough to live comfortably."

"You have this all planned out."

"Only thing I think about this much; living comfortably and getting there on my own."

"Damn, I thought I was on your mind a lot." I sort of regret the words once they leave my mouth, knowing Kane will never let me live this down.

"Is Willow Bare flirting with me? Will, what is happening to you?"

"Maybe I am." I smile at Kane.

He chuckles and raises his hand to my forehead. "You are?"

"No." I swat his hand away and look down at the floor, supressing my laugh and hoping he won't continue teasing me. "I'm starting to think you'll never stop calling me Will."

"Yes, that won't stop. I can call you other names, too, if you'd like?"

"No."

"How about baby?"

"No."

"Sweetheart, honey, dear? How do you feel about muffin?"

"I will beat you in this car."

Kane laughs before he replies to me, "You're so damn violent, Willow."

"Yeah...yeah I think we should rest."

I turn away from Kane and close my eyes, trying to ignore the pain emerging in my head. These thoughts can't take over when I'm around them.

"Are you okay, Will?"

"I'm okay. The drive seems long, Kane, we should rest."

I rest my head aginst the window and after moments of silence, I feel Kane's head on my shoulder. Honestly, it's uncomfortable, but I'll manage for the drive.

I know I won't be able to sleep until this pain leaves, but I need to try fight it by focusing on anything else. I think of moments with Mathea and remember the many times I used to fight with my sister. Now, we get along in ways I would have never imagined.

We've had so many gossip sessions at the oddest hours; discussing which boy broke some other girl's heart or who hates who, and after we'd spill out all secrets, Mathea would fall asleep on my bed. Most times I'd be uncomfortable and wake her up so she could move to her bed, but Mathea wouldn't budge.

I'm always amazed at how that tiny girl manages to stay on my bed when I try to push her off. Eventually I'd give up and end up sleeping uncomfortably in my own bed or grabbing a pillow and a blanket to sleep on the floor.

I try thinking of other specific moments with Mathea, but the pain in my head demands my focus. I look for something to grip and decide my leg will have to do. Soon enough, I'm tapping my leg up and down, causing Kane to lift his head from my shoulder and look at me.

"Go back to sleep." I must have said this louder than I thought, because my mother and Mathea start moving.

"Willow, stay calm."

"Telling me to stay calm doesn't keep me calm, Mum." I continue tapping my leg up and down, trying to ignore the pain in my head and the stares I'm getting from my family members. "Just go back to sleep."

"Will, let me—"

Kane catches my hand in the air and keeps a tight grip on it. His eyes fill with anger, and he tightens his grip with every effort I make to loosen it.

"Calm down, kiddo. It's for your illness. It won't stop the pain, but you'll become too weak to hurt people."

Aunt Ankah must have got word to the Purus about my issue.

Kane, still gripping my arm, turns his attention to the driver who has slid down the partition just enough for his hand to move through; carelessly waving around a needle that was about to pierce Kane. When no one moves to take it from the driver, the driver throws it to the floor, and my mother is the one who picks it up.

Kane releases my arm as he speaks, "What did you expect me to think, Willow? You're out of control. Why wouldn't you try to hurt me?"

I told him I'd never do that, but still unsure of how much of me still exists, I don't remind him of my promise. I don't answer Kane. Instead, I grab the needle from my mother's hand and inject it into my neck.

"I'm so sorry, my baby," my mother says.

I don't respond to my mother, but I'm satisfied with this result. This way I won't hurt my family even if the thought creeps into my mind, and I no longer have to fight this pain since I'm unable to hurt them. It hurts less when I don't fight it. For now, I can let the foreign thoughts consume me, knowing I'll bring no harm to the people I love. I close my eyes and let the pain fill me. The pain lessens after some time, but my thoughts are not my own.

"Sleep, my baby," my mother tells Mathea. "Ankah told me the drive is long."

I hear Mathea shifting and assume she has once again positioned herself on our mother's lap. Kane's breathing gets heavier, so I assume he's sleeping or thinking about something that's bothering him. Resting is probably best, but my body won't allow me to. This is partly because of the pain in my head and partly because I am anxious.

I wonder how the cure works and if it does work. I'm also not sure that I am ready for the changes it will bring. No one is certain of the impact the cure will have on my body. Well, no one here. The doctor there may be able to tell me, but maybe I shouldn't know.

Maybe I shouldn't know things that will cause fear without providing a solution for it. I must take the cure no matter the outcome, so maybe I should let the effects surprise me.