For days I have been taken for my usual sessions with Detective Malone. Now, because of me, he knows Father is around in the area. He sent out a search team with that information and his best piece of evidence, a partial description and sketch of what Father may look like also from me. Father always changed his looks to keep himself protected from the law, but by now he may not get away. He will also know that our mission was jeopardized and he will be trying to move his operation elsewhere. Nevertheless I never want to see Father ever again. The lies he fed me since I was little turning sour in my mind.

    Our meetings are like a deal, I give them a little something substantial about Father and in return Detective let’s me in on how Mich is recovering. Most of the time he tells me a deadpan answer, but I guess that if he says nothing then Mich hasn’t changed. I stay for a small amount of time everyday and they lead me back to my cell after the session ends. In the time between meetings and meals I try to enhance my mind's internal abilities. I may not like Father but he has given me the chance to see Michael whenever I want, all I have to do is focus and use all my training to create a force where beings can become visible. However, my attempts have been upended.

Thanks to Mich and I’s failure Father may already be on the move out of our base to a new one. Mich may not know yet but there are many more of us, in multiple bases around the country. Enough of us to manufacture a small army of modified human soldiers awaiting Father’s command. Though Mich and I were the first, Father has done many experiments to create others like us. During training I know that Mich thinks I’m inferior to him because Father neglected my physicality to enhance my mental capabilities. If only Mich knew. My untapped potential, once it’s unlocked, will allow me to tear a human apart and isolate any feeling from memory. Without even trying.

Secretly Father always pushed me harder than Mich, plainly because at first my powers were weak and unstable. With time and patience I have trained myself to see within Mich and know what he thinks, feels, and even when Detective’s guards are coming to take me to another meeting. At the moment it is the only pleasure I have while being captured. Like now I see them coming down the corridor and I start to slowly return to reality. When they see me again I will be sitting on my bed, eagerly awaiting them to return so I can go to the next interrogation session. Pretty clever, wouldn't you think?

It’s always the same guards that take me to my sessions. Over time they have learned to trust me and no longer need to drug me, and they're also are there when I visit Michael. One of the many gifts and privileges Detective has given me because of the hints I've provided him with. They open the door for me and inside already seated is Detective. Today he had planned on talking to me about my youth and time with Father.

“Ah, welcome again Mellain. Please come and sit, you know our time here is short enough as it is.”

“Yes Detective.” I sit down ready for yet another onslaught of questions. He flips open his notebook, ready to begin.

“Do you know where you lived before you were taken?”

“No.” A scribble.

“Okay. Do you remember your family?”

“My only family is Michael. Before him there was nothing I can remember.” Another scribble.

“Was “Father” ever nice to you as a child?”

“At first yes. I guess about the time when I was first modified he actually smiled. Since the initial transformation there has not been much kindness.” Must be taking notes.

“Was “Father” ever overly stubborn or even abusive?”

“Yes, all the time!” I growl, “Are we done yet?” I had not expected him to ask all kinds of questions, just a few like before he didn't trust me.

He looked up from his scribbles. A look of shock transformed his otherwise professional face. Shook his head and continued his questioning. Time to turn the tables.

“Why are you so interested in my life? Have you asked Mich anything? Why does it have to come from me?”

Soon after a moment of stillness, his hand reached for the trigger and a lightning bolt inserted itself in my body. As it continued to linger it rocked me to my core, then leaving like a virus. A reminder for both the Detective and myself to who has control over who in these meetings.

“I would rather we not discuss my reasons for my actions.” He sighed. “Let us continue, shall we?”

After our short argument defiance greeted me from the dark depths and openly took over. Passionately it lit my internal flame and made me into a stone wall that reverberated the Detective’s questions. Though I being silent he started to reach for the shocking trigger, then suddenly stop mere millimeters from my pain. His hand lifted and motioned to the guards on the sides of the room to reclaim me. I had been banished to my cell once again, and would not emerge again until I decided to be more forthcoming. But before the guards were to take me away Detective made them pause for a moment.

“Mellain. You have no idea what I can do to you or your brother. I hope that with a little time away from me you will be more cooperative. Remember I can have you until I decide I can turn you over to the CIA. The same goes for your brother as well, and you wouldn’t want him experimented on would you?” I shook my head no. Detective nodded and continued. “Then I hope some time apart will help you remember this moment, and what the stakes are for you and Michael.” He gestured to the guards at my sides,“Take her away from me. We’ll collect her in a week.”

We’ll collect her in a week! Did he think I was like a phone that needed recharged everyday? Once the door shut I was alone yet again. What Detective Malone doesn’t know is that I have secretly been training my mind to control my brain power to escape. For today I had to deeply focus, because after we were captured I have made my mind stronger. It was still holding back though, and my goal at the end is to unlock it’s darkest secrets. Back when Father kept us at home all day we would train long hours in sometimes very uncomfortable circumstances. All the time I tried to access my powers he called it “centering”. “Where your mind and body are relaxed and seeing, manipulating, and controlling are easier. Remember this Mellain and you will grow stronger." Today, I would center and seek Michael.

My body slowed and my mind felt clear of any other thoughts, then I searched for Michael. The mental image had not changed much since I had seen him in person after Operation Barrage. He still laid on this cold metal table, an IV protruded from his right arm. Pushing my meta-physical limitations I tried to access Michael himself; his vitals, his thoughts, even his dreams. But my powers failed. All I could get before my mind shut down was a constant beat, beat, beat of his heart. For now I breathed a sigh of relief, but it didn’t help that I couldn’t center long enough to know more. I was imagining again back at the mall leaving Mich alone.