A/N: Hello lovelies! I hope you all had a good weekend! i just have to say that I have loved writing this story with all of you guys cheering these characters on and loving them (almost) as much as I do ;) You guys make writing such a fabulous journey! (Also, don't fear the book isn't over yet! I'm just getting sappy)

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02 - 17 - 2089

When the darkness begins to fade, a throbbing headache replaces it. I moan and force my eyes open. My mind feels like it's swimming through thick mud. I blink several times, clearing my vision as the memories of what happened rush back in. 

The men finding us. 

Running to the train station. 

Hiding in the train. 

And then... they found us. Cade!

My eyes scan the dark room I'm in, only just realizing that we must still be on our way back to the facility. I can feel every bump and rut in the road as we drive over it. I try to stand, but find I'm restrained to a cot of some sort. Instead, I twist and angle my neck, calling out softly, "Cade?" 

No response. 

I try again, a little louder. "Cade, can you hear me?" Still nothing, and the silence grows along with my panic. What if they didn't bring him with? What if he's lying back in that train car, slowly dying. What if he's already dead?  A small voice in the back of my mind says, but I shove it away. No. He can't be dead. There's still time. 

The vehicle I'm in slows to a stop and I hold perfectly still as I hear voices from the outside. My eyes shut just as light floods into the compartment. Someone climbs into the truck; I can feel them walking around. 

"At least she's still asleep." The first voice belongs to a man, gruff and low, like he's swallowed one too many rocks. 

Someone else grunts in response. "She's just a little girl."

"A little girl who practically scratched my eyes out," the first man argues, and I barely hold back a smile. Maybe I'm not so helpless after all. 

"She's restrained and unconscious. I think you'll be fine." 

The cot I'm strapped to moves and jostles as the men push it out of the vehicle. I keep my eyes shut until the cot hits the ground. Then I hear the shouting. 

My eyes fly open and I strain my neck to see someone being hauled out of the truck next to the one I was in. Four soldiers are trying to restrain him, but he's fighting back with all he has, his dark hair wild and unkempt. And for a second, his blue eyes meet mine, and I can't help but whisper his name. He's alive, and they've brought him with. 

Cade's eyes go wide as he sees me and his fighting renews with vigor. "Gis!" A soldier tries to buckle restraints on his hands, but he isn't giving them a moment. "Let go of me!" He swears as he is shoved face-first into the ground. 

"Cade!" I begin fighting against my own restraints now, even as I'm being wheeled away from Cade. "No!" I scream. "Let him go! Don't hurt him!" The soldiers don't seem to care what happens to him. He's on the ground, completely pinned, while one of the soldiers jams his boot into Cade's side relentlessly. Over and over again. They're hurting him, even as I'm brought out of the large garage and into the familiar sterile halls. 

Once Cade is out of sight I settle down, able to think more clearly. Struggling won't help me. But maybe if I listen and am docile, then they'll let their guard down. Maybe if I pretend I want to be here then they won't keep me prisoner. 

I can only hope Cade holds on until then. 

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The two men escorting me stop before a door I haven't seen before. I don't recall ever being down this hallway before, so I try to take in as much as I can while one of them opens the door and the other pushes me inside. 

The room is small and empty, with only a flourescent light on the ceiling. The cot I'm on is pushed against the wall opposite the door, then the men leave without a word. I watch as the door clicks shut, and I'm left alone. 

I hadn't exactly expected that. But if they are going to leave me alone so soon, I might as well take advantage of it. My eyes wander to the straps around my wrists and ankles, studying the strength of them. They aren't too tight; if I'm careful, I might be able to slip out of them. 

Careful to keep my eyes on the door, I pull at the restraints, trying to wiggle my wrists out. The restraints have give, but they aren't making it easy. Well, they aren't supposed to make things easy, Gis, I think wryly. 

"I wouldn't do that, dear," a crackly voice fills the room, pausing my actions. I look around, trying to locate the source of the noise, and my eyes land on a small black circle on the ceiling. A speaker. Of course. How could I have imagined they would leave me alone even for a moment? My whole life was monitored in this place. 

I sigh and relax, realizing I'll just have to wait until an actual opportunity presents itself. Part of me wonders if that will ever happen, but I know I can't give up. Cade is still alive and also in the hands of these monsters. I have to keep fighting, if only for him. 

Several minutes pass in silence, even though I know I'm being watched. I hold still, though my eyes are open. I refuse to give them anything to watch or study. The very thought of Doctor Acosta watching me sends a wave of revulsion through me so strong I can scarcely breathe. 

The door opens with a click, pulling my attention and thoughts away from Doctor Acosta. A doctor I haven't seen before enters, and behind him, Doctor Acosta. She meets my gaze the moment she enters, her appearance exactly the way I remembered it. Not a hair out of place. I used to think it interesting to study her. Now I can barely hold myself still from the disgust I feel. 

Oh, how things have changed. 

"It's good to see you again, Gis," Doctor Acosta says, accompanying her fellow doctor to my side where she watches the man take my vitals. I let him without a fight, watching Doctor Acosta with a stone cold stare. 

When Doctor Acosta realizes I'm not going to answer, she clears her throat. "Well, there's someone who would like to finally meet you." She looks like she wants to say more, but she composes herself and turns to the other doctor. "Finish quickly. She'll be here in a moment."

I almost ask her who is coming, but then I remember all she has put me through and I shut my mouth in fierce anger towards her. If I speak to her again, it won't be anything pleasant. 

The doctor finishes taking my vitals then he slips out of the room. Not a minute passes in silence before hand raps on the door and Doctor Acosta calls for the person to enter. I suck in a breath as it opens, revealing a tall woman. She strides in, wearing a grey dress suit and carrying a powerful demeanor about her. Her cool, collected appearance rings with familiarity, but I can't place her. Have I seen her before somewhere? Her dark hair is shoulder length and I can see specks of grey in it. Her eyes, which must have been stunning once, are now a faded grey-blue color. 

The woman stops a foot into the room, her eyes still on me. Doctor Acosta greets her, but the woman doesn't even acknowledge her. Instead, she rounds the other side of the bed I'm lying on and leans over me. 

"So we finally meet," the woman says, her voice lighter than I would have imagined. "Of course, I've known you your whole life. But to meet you in person is quite exciting."

"Who are you?" I manage to say between the lump in my throat and my dry mouth. I can't stop staring at her. Her... her eyes... something about them is strange. 

The woman smiles, but it holds no warmth. "My name is Ilene Lestat and I am the Director of this program. Of the program that brought the world you, Gis." 

My mouth opens, but no words leave. I had always assumed Doctor Acosta was the head of this facility, but apparently there were always higher up people watching me. The thought sends a shiver down my spine. I try to come up with something to say in response, but words fail me. 

Then a single thought pounds into my brain. What about Cade? Is he okay? Maybe this woman will have answers. 

I push back the familiar fear I felt so often in this place and meet Ilene Lestat's gaze. "Where is Cade? What have you done with him?" I force the words out in the hopes that they will sound strong despite how I feel. 

The Director barks out a laugh in surprise. "Cade? You are concerned for Cade?"

I frown. "Yes, I am. Now tell me where he is."

"Not to worry, dear," Director Lestat says after a moment, taking a step back and turning to the door. I'm about to ask her what she means, when the door opens again. Two soldiers enter, bearing a limp body between them.

The boy's dark hair hangs limp over his face as they drag him inside. I stop breathing as they lift Cade, my Cade, up to his feet. His face is bloody, his lips cracked and his left eye bruised. I can only stare in horror as he cracks open his eyes. What did they do to you? 

"Here he is," Director Lestat says, clapping her hands once. I flinch and she smiles, looking from me to Cade. "How are you, Cade?" Her voice holds familiarity as she addresses him, and I want to spit in her face for speaking to him. 

Cade finds the strength to look up at Director Lestat, and I can clearly see the anger in his handsome eyes. He says nothing as Director Lestat's smile widens and she ruffles a hand through Cade's dirty hair.

"It is good to see you again, son."

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