"Wait here and drop all devices on the front seat. They'll be detected at the entrance if you don't."

The driver slams the door shut and exits the vehicle, leaving the rest of us confused about our whereabouts.

Mother is the only one to stretch out her hands and drop two phones onto the front seat. I don't think the rest of us brought anything.

I push down on the door handle of the car, causing the car to make a beeping sound as a signal that the doors are open. The driver is either careless or not worried about their security. Mathea looks at me worriedly as I step outside the car. My mother sighs, but she makes no motion to stop me and instead climbs out the vehicle from the other side of the car.

I look at my surroundings; grey. We're in a large area with grey pillars and a grey roof that shelters black vehicles scattered around the area. I take my chances and walk forward but stop once I step in something I hope is water. The walls are dirty and the grounds are clearly uncared for. We could be in some abandoned underground parking, and I begin to wonder how far we are from the main city.

"Mathea—"

"Already on it, Sis."

"There could be cameras around, and you're not necessarily being discreet." I stare at my sister who is, wide-eyed, analysing everything in every direction possible.

"There could be microphones around, and you're talking about me not being discreet." Mathea emphasizes the last word and attempts to mimic my voice.

We hear the patter of footsteps, and they are made louder by the echoes. There are two figures heading our way; the driver that brought us here and an elderly lady. The lady walks with her head held high, showing confidence, and faster than I'd think she would be able to. Kane is already next to me, and it only takes a few footsteps for my mother and Mathea to join us. We stand in a row, waiting as the figures approach us.

"Seven visible cameras, fourteen cars including the one we came in. I can write down their number plates later," Mathea continues to state some details she can see before the figures reach us, "The old lady is a doctor, and considering the picture she just shoved back into her pocket, she might have a son. Three men are hiding behind the pillars to our left. There's a blueprint hanging out of one of their pockets. I'll redraw it later. It doesn't show the entire layout of this place though."

The driver seems unbothered to find that we've left the vehicle. He simply nods in our direction before entering the car and driving away.

"My name is Eve," the doctor smiles at us as she speaks. Her voice is soft. Luckily, she speaks slowly, so I have time to make out what she is saying.

"I'm honoured to meet you, Ms Bare." Eve then stretches out her hand for me to shake. "I've researched about your condition, and I am certain the purification process will go smoothly. Please, follow me."

Eve walks quickly ahead of us, and we follow her into a narrow path that looks as if it has a door at the end of it.

"Your companions refuse to be purified?"

My heart begins to race. Mathea and Kane cannot take the cure. I don't even want to know the effects it will have on Thea, and we will have no one to help pay the Gifted Program for my defection if she does take the cure.

And Kane; he needs his gift. His life is planned around what it can do for him, and I doubt Old Otis will keep Kane around if Kane can't gain him money. Kane is too old to go back to an orphanage. He'd have to get a job, and that's unlikely unless someone can pay for him to finish this year's Studies classes.

Kane has been trying to change the terms of the contract so he can receive all the money for his services, but the process is long and complicated with adopted children. Apparently, he'll still need to give Old Otis a sum of the money even with the terms changed.

Considering this, I stop walking and pull the gun out my jacket to aim it at Eve's head. I ignore the stares from everyone and block out the sound of my mother's voice. Eve slowly turns around, confusion depicted all over her face.

"We do our research, Willow. We cannot allow just anyone to waltz into this compound," Eve explains as she walks closer to me. "It's a risk allowing your stay here; the daughter of the Gifted Program's Head Doctor."

"Willow, put down the gun," my mother pleads, but I ignore her. I'm doing this for Mathea and Kane.

"We accepted you, Ms Bare, because we want to help you. I'm here to help you, Willow, and not to harm you," Eve continues, "Worry not, we force no one to take the cure. In fact, we have various guests on the compound that refuse to do so. Everything is voluntary, Ms Bare, despite what the media claims of us. We believe in freewill."

I let her get closer to me, and her head is placed against the barrel of the gun. She slowly takes it out of my hand and puts it into the pocket of her coat.

"Please, follow me." Eve continues leading us down the path, and we reach a grey door. The paint on it is peeling off.

Before I conclude this place is a dump, my mind is changed when Eve opens the door before us. The interior is almost as well-kept as our home. The walls are peach, and the tiles are a light shade of brown. I see what seems to be a reception desk with a slightly chubby man assisting the people standing in the queue. As we walk further into the Purus compound, I see glass rooms with various doctors and patients inside.

"Some patients are displayed to show our methods; non-violent and voluntary. It helps build trust between our organisation and new-comers like yourself." The doctor smiles at me despite me holding a gun to her head a few seconds ago.

"If you'll excuse me, I have an appointment. Do wait in the lounge, and we'll have someone to show you to your rooms. Unfortunately, you'll be waiting for some time. Staff is running low, so we must wait for all the new guests to escort everyone to their rooms at one time." Eve turns away from us before we can ask any questions.

I take a seat on a yellow couch only designed to support one person, certain the others will bombard me with questions about the gun if I sit near them. However, my effort to exclude myself fails, because Thea takes a seat on the arm of my couch.

"You stole Isiah's gun under the table," she says this with a tone of certainty, "and you tried to kill one of the only people who can help you."

"Shut up, T. Be useful and look around, okay?"

"Already done that. How stupid can you be, Wills?"

"Extremely stupid it seems. Get away from me now." I shove my hand in Mathea's face, but she pushes it away and throws her body onto mine so she can sit on my lap.

"There's a boy to your left. He's wearing a green shirt. Why has he been staring at you when you look like this right now?"

"That's what you've been looking around for." I sigh.

"Five cameras in this section. Four are facing the glass rooms, and the fifth camera at the reception rotates a lot. The lady and the man standing in the queue, who are both wearing red, have a micro earpiece. Definitely security in disguise. We shouldn't talk to them. Do you think he knows who we are? Oooo maybe he thinks you're pretty."

I ignore my sister as she returns to the topic of the boy in the green shirt. I then turn to look at this mystery boy and stare into his eyes to make him uncomfortable. It takes longer than I'd expected, but the creep eventually accepts defeat. He redirects his gaze and moves from his seat.

Thea hits my shoulder as she reprimands me, "Willow, that's rude."

"All medical procedures go through the Head Doctor," I think aloud. "Dad must have approved of my treatment at the program."

Mathea is quiet. She then stands up, relieving my legs from her weight. Mathea kisses my cheek before moving to join Kane and our mother at the refreshment table. I think she mentioned getting me something, but I stopped focusing on her as thoughts of my dad fill my head. He approved my torture.

Suddenly, a cup of water appears in front of my face, but the hand holding the cup does not belong to Thea. I look up to see the boy in the green shirt staring down at me.

"Hi," Green-Shirt starts the conversation, and I can't tell if he's tired or bored.

I take the cup from his hand and place it on the side-table next to me. I will not drink what the stranger has given me. I don't respond to Green-Shirt's greeting and start looking around for Thea. I find Thea laughing with Kane at the corner of the refreshment table, and I decide that I hate my sister.

"You look terrible, so I thought I'd get you something to drink."

"I look terrible?" I turn to look at Green-Shirt. His eyes are a light shade of brown, and although he isn't the palest person I've seen, he is paler than most. He's pretty.

"You do," he says, "but more of the tired sort of terrible."

Well now I can answer Thea's previous question; he was staring at me because I look terrible.

"Saint," he says. "Everyone calls me Saint."

"I'm Willow." I turn to the cup he brought me, picking it up from the side-table and handing it back to him. "My sister is coming with a drink for me."

"Your sister told me to come here." He takes the cup from my hand then moves to the table the cup was previously placed on. Saint then decides to sit on top of the table. "She asked if I was staring at you because you're pretty."

"You told her you think I look terrible."

"I said I think you're pretty. I wanted to see how this whole thing plays out."

He must be bored, and the bags under his eyes suggest that he hasn't had sufficient sleep in a while. However, he carries himself well. At least, his posture is good. "How is it working out for you, Saint?"

He ignores my question and sips the water he brought for me. A smirk appears on his face as soon as the cup moves from his lips. I'm glad I amuse some people, but I become angry as I decide I don't want to be the source of his amusement.

There is a chance I could win a fight if I started it right now. He's muscular, but my attack might catch him off guard. Sometimes, surprise is all that's needed to win. I might as well take advantage of my gift while I still have it.

"We should get to know each other while we're stuck in here." A yawn escapes from his mouth halfway through his sentence.

"No."

"No?"

"No, I'd prefer not to."

"Oh, she'd love to," Kane laughs as he joins the conversation, handing me a cup of water when he reaches us. "You need to drink something."

"I offered, but she thinks I'm trying to poison her." He isn't lying.

"I assume you two have met," I say, referring to Kane and Saint.

"I like your boyfriend better."

"How are you holding up, Will?" Kane ignores Saint's comments, but I'm sure he doesn't do it to be rude. He's just worried about me.

"The medication is wearing off. I'll need another."

"Your sister told me you're a defect. One of the Iron Rods."

I definitely don't appreciate Mathea telling my business to strangers, and it makes it even worse that she exposed my secret to a boy who can't seem to leave me alone.

"Mathea was always too trusting." I turn my back to Saint and address Kane, "I need another dose, Kane."

"I'll ask for the doctor, okay." Kane walks towards the reception, leaving me with Saint.

Saint and I sit in silence, but I prefer it to him talking. I almost leave to sit with my mum and Thea, but I don't think my mother wants to be around me right now. She looked disgusted when I aimed the gun at Eve.

Saint begins to hum a song I can't make out. Eventually his humming annoys me, but he only dismisses me when I look at him angrily.

More individuals walk through the same door we entered. Saint gets up from the side-table he was sitting on, taking in a large breath before projecting his voice. Although I am now looking up at him, I believe I'd be taller than him if I stood up.

"Afternoon. My name is Saint and I will be your tour guide. Follow me." The people who just arrived are the first to follow Saint, with Kane, Mathea, mother and I being the last ones to do so.

We walk further into the building until we're in a passage with many doors. I hear laughter on the other side of some of them.

"Ray, you're in room seventeen," Saint stops as he assigns us to our rooms, "Peter, you and your child are in room eighteen. The Faye twins to room two. The King brothers; one in room thirty and the other in room thirty-one. Kane, you're in room nine. Zarah will be rooming with Mathea Bare in room eleven, and Willow is in room ten."

Saint takes a break before continuing, "You'll find a map in your room to help you move around. The map also tells you which areas are restricted. Please stay in your assigned rooms. They're designated to ensure the safety of yourself and others, especially with some of your certain... conditions. Feel free to ask me any questions, but check the handbooks placed on each of your desks first. When your assigned doctor is ready for you, I'll let you know."

Someone raises their hand, but Saint is quick to dismiss the child as he replies, "Handbooks first. Enjoy your stay and have a safe purification."

Everybody moves to their respective rooms except Kane, Mathea and I. Saint walks over to me and pulls a container from a bag strapped around his waist. I never noticed the bag before.

"Tranquilizers; they won't stop that defection, but they'll make you weak enough to not hurt others." I take the container from him as he continues briefing me about my condition, "Take one a day or more if you need to, but let Eve know if you take more than one."

"Thank you."

"Maybe start the prescription now so you can stop looking at me like you want to kill me."

"If these don't help my defection then I won't be able to. Just be reassured that I'll be too weak to do it."

"Stop it, Wills."

"You should be grateful, T. I'm giving you stories to scribble into that diary of yours." I roll my eyes at my sister. "Did you bring it here? You've outgrown one, you know? You don't even need it."

Mathea, although we both know she doesn't have it on her, replies anyway, "No, It might have been damaged if I brought it along. Anyway, I haven't outgrown one, and you know I don't keep it to remember things."

Mathea lifts her chin the same way snobs in movies do when they try to appear better than others.

"Wills, maybe we should sleep. I love you." Thea walks over to me and gives me a hug before retreating to her room shared with our mother.

Kane is the next to say goodbye, "I'll see you tomorrow, Will."

Saint and I are the only ones left in the corridor. We stand awkwardly for some seconds before he nods and turns away from me. This will surely be a long...purification process.