We sat there, each panting from exertion and trying to slow our breathing. Since we had a moment to relax, I decided to test a theory. I activated my power and looked at the siblings. I could see the brown branching patterns glowing through Melody's body. Before, I wasn't sure if she had any powers, but I thought it was likely due to her age.

When I looked at Victor, my other theory was confirmed. Ever since I showed up at the camp and saw him, I never heard him say a single word nor make any other sound. When I looked at him, he had a Siren's familiar red mass of energy that lazily flowed around his body.

"So," I eloquently broached the subject. "Melody, I was wondering if you were a Carpenter, a Welder, or if you had any powers?

"Well, everyone who was a kid and survived the plague has powers, so yeah, I'm a Carpenter, but I don't like to call it that."

"Wait, everyone has powers?" I asked incredulously.

That wasn't what they told us in the camp. They said it was only certain people, but if all the adolescents had abilities, keeping us to protect others was a blatant lie. I told Melody what they told us about the population and why we were in the camp.

"Most of the camps that have been liberated were the same," she said, nodding and looking contemplative. "The government was still controlling them before it collapsed, and what they told everyone and called everyone is usually the same. That's one of the reasons why I don't like being called a Carpenter. It makes it seem like I was in the camps, and they have some type of power over me."

"What do you like being called?"

"A wood bender," she said proudly, and I looked at her quizzically, so she explained. "There was this old cartoon that I remember watching where people could manipulate elements like fire and water, so I decided to be a wood bender."

The show sounded familiar, but I played more video games then, so I wasn't sure.

"So, what about your brother?" I asked softly. Melody looked at me and smiled mischievously to my instant horror.

"Victor," Melody looked at her brother. "Night, night," she said and thrust her chin in my direction.

Victor looked at me, and a barely perceptible "shhh," slithered from his lips.

A sharp pain stung my face as I awoke from sleep. I opened my eyes to see the blue sky, the tops of trees at the edge, and Melody's concerned face. I wondered why I was asleep, but after a moment, it all came rushing back. I touched my face where it stung, just to the right of my eye on my cheekbone. It was tender when I felt it, and when I took my hand away, some blood was on my fingers.

"I'm so sorry," Melody said. "You must have hit the ground harder than I thought. I thought that your tougher Carpenter skin would protect you. I'm so sorry." She indeed looked very sorry, so I didn't worry about it. Besides, it was a good reminder that everyone thought I was a Carpenter, so I had to be careful to not blow my disguise.

"It's okay," I said. "Really, I'm fine, and it doesn't hurt." The last part was added to alleviate her worry, but more so that she wouldn't wonder how I could be hurt so much. I looked at her purposefully so she knew I was serious, and it seemed to work.

"Well, I really am sorry," she repeated again. "But let's go back to camp and get you cleaned up before people think I'm abusing you." She added the last part with a smile.

"Good. I think I need to talk to Enzo about some things, too," I said.

With Melody's admission about everyone having powers, I realized what I had to do about the camp. I escaped to get answers about my parents because I knew that the camp was lying to me, but it turned out they were lying to everyone about being dangerous. If I could help liberate them, I would do everything I could.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

We walked back up to the campsite. Melody and Victor kept shooting me quick, pitiful glances to ensure I was okay, but I pointedly ignored them. Getting down to the river had been simple, but making it back up was a chore. When we got to Enzo's tent, I was winded, and my side hurt.

Melody checked to see if he was in, but he had already left for other business. I waited at the tent with Victor for the company as Melody went to find Enzo and let him know I wanted to talk. She was only gone for a few minutes before coming back. He was on patrol, but they radioed him and said he would be back shortly.

I had to wait about an hour, but the time went by quickly since Melody and her brother stuck around to keep me company. I took a few minutes to clean the blood off my face, and we began gutting and cleaning the fish. It was pretty disgusting, but I had a lot of fun, and I found out Melody screams when threatened with fish guts.

We were all cleaned up, and Victor had taken the fish to the cooks when Enzo showed up. He had his head down as he walked up a slight rise in the terrain. He stopped in his tracks when he saw me and my newly swollen, red cheek.

"It's only been a day, and she's already abusing you, huh?" he asked me, looking at Melody.

"No, it was an accident," I said in her defense, afraid he was mad at her.

"Relax, kid, I'm just joking," he said with a grin. "Geez, you're so literal." He walked past me and waved for me to follow. "Let's go sit down and talk."

"I'll be up at the tents when you're done," Melody said as we walked in. I waved and nodded to her so she knew I heard her.

Enzo's tent was dark again, and he set about rolling up the flaps to let the light in.

"So, did you remember some information?" he asked while working on the flaps.

"Yesterday," I began. "Well… I wasn't sure how much information to give you." I paused to see his reaction, but he kept working. He must have known I was apprehensive about giving him information. "But also, I couldn't give you information because I didn't know anything about the building you showed me on the map. Except for one area, everything is underground." He paused for a moment, and I heard him curse lightly under his breath.

He finished tying up the tent flaps and then returned to his table. We started to go over what I knew about the building and the layout, which wasn't much. But then he pulled out a separate sheet of paper and a pencil and had me draw everything I knew and how they connected.

With some questions and additional prodding, I managed to draw a sufficient base map, at least all I knew.

"Where is the exit on this schematic that you came out of?" Enzo asked once I finished.

I pointed to a small hallway that was just off the briefing room. "It's here; some stairs are leading up to it."

"And do you know where the exit is on the map?"

I looked over the map for a minute. It was challenging to figure out. "Where was it that you found me?" I asked. He pointed to a spot. I thought about how I had followed the stream, how I had run, where I encountered the scout, and finally, which way we traveled from the base's exit.

"I think it was around here," I said, pointing to a spot a little north of the base next to a narrow zigzag road.

Enzo pulled the large drawing he had of the base and placed the two drawings next to each other. "Are there other places where you have to use the stairs?" I nodded and pointed to them.

He seemed happy with my information. He asked me a few more questions about the places I knew, like the gym, garden and library. I didn't know what he was planning, but I could see him processing information like a philosopher learning the meaning of life. We talked for a while and discussed the workings of the camp and the cadre.

"This is good stuff, Aidren. It's really going to help." He gathered up the papers and rolled them up. "With this information, I think we can make a plan to get the rest of the kids out. I'll just have to talk it over with the others." He went to his chair and sat down, facing me. "So, I need to know, do you want to go in there?"

"Yes, sir," I said without any hesitation. I couldn't allow others to go in there without me to free the people I had lived with for so long. I could help in ways they didn't know because if I was right about the scout, I had the same abilities.

"There is one more thing," I said flatly.

"Hmm?"

I took a deep breath. "It's about the scout," I let out.

"So you know what happened to him? Has he been captured?"

I told Enzo the truth about when I encountered the scout. How he was killed by Jace, and how I was unable to help him.

"Damn," Enzo said. "Well, I knew he was either killed or captured. The operation would be easier with him, but I wasn't counting on him being around.

"Alright," he grumbled and stood up. "Thanks for that information. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to send out a letter to the General that I loaned him from. She's not going to be happy about that. I'm pretty sure they're related."

He slapped me on the shoulder. "I think we'll have a meeting tomorrow to discuss all this. Will you be willing to come?"

I nodded as he let me out of the tent. Before he went back inside to plan some more and presumably write a letter, he mentioned he would send someone for me before the meeting but that I should just relax until then. I slowly walked back to my tent.

Even though I was in the tent for a while, there was still a lot of daylight left. Melody wasn't there when I got to our site, and I didn't see her brother either. I didn't feel like sitting still. So I started walking up the mountain to do some solo exploring.