Tina met the incoming party as they came up the stairs to the general living room. Excitement raced through her at the sight of Craig leading the group.

A woman holding a frightened child in the centre of the intimidating, weapons-dripping men and women surrounding her locked on Tina as panic filled her gaze. Tina glanced at each of the faces, keeping a smile on her face. Something was wrong. Something had happened. Craig looked frustrated, angry and ... there was something else, but she couldn't name it.

"Welcome back, everyone," Tina called, meeting the gaze of the newcomers, "hey there, I see the Protectors brought you back with them."

The woman looked around her as she moved with the group. Fear, anxiety and confusion ran across her face, mingling and sinking into her soul as she clutched her young child. Both displayed bruises on their faces and arms, and a gash on the mother's cheek slowly oozed while the daughter hid her face and refused to let go of her mother's neck. Their emotions pulsed along the air around them.

"What happened?" Tina asked, looking at the group before settling her expectant gaze on Craig's tense expression.

"Morgan demanded her daughter and beat her when she refused to comply," Craig said crisply. "They will need medical attention, food, lodging and quarters."

"Of course," Tina nodded, surprised as Craig walked past her without another word. Turning, she watched him stride away. Tension in his shoulders rode down his back, making him appear stiff and unmoving.

"Everything okay between the two of you?" David asked.

Tina waited for the rest of the group to move past before shaking her head, swallowing hard and looking at her brother.

"It's been difficult these past few weeks," Tina sighed, "something happened out there that has changed him. I'll find you later after I settle these two," Tina said, turning toward the woman and child, "my name is Tina. Let me show you where you can stay."

"Thank you," the woman whispered, glancing at David's retreating back before meeting Tina's gaze, "I'm Aegle. My daughter, Macaria."

"Aegle and Macaria," Tina smiled, "those are different but beautiful names."

Aegle smiled while her eyes wandered away from Tina, taking in her surroundings.

"This is a beautiful place," she whispered as Macaria shifted, lifting her head and following her mother's gaze.

Tina found the child enchanting, the dark blonde hair falling to her shoulders, a button nose and abnormally full lips. It was the violet eyes that drew and held Tina's attention. She had seen similar eyes before and on a much younger child.

"Did Morgan hurt either of you?" Tina asked, walking the pair down a passageway.

"Yes, both of us," Aegle shuddered, "I tried to shield Macaria as much as possible, but his blows were brutal and fast."

Tina nodded as she rounded a corner, stopping in front of a solid wooden panel door craved with a floral design. Marcaria reached out, letting her tiny, thin fingers drift down the doorframe, and a smile tugged at her lips.

"If you need anything, you only have to ask," she said, opening the door and waiting for them to enter.

"Oh my," Aegle whispered, looking around, "this is very … opulent."

"Where did you live before?" Tina asked.

"A small apartment off an alley," Aegle sighed, "after Macaria's father left, it was ... challenging."

"Do you know where he went?" Tina frowned at the mention of another father disappearing.

Was it becoming a trend?

What exactly was going on?

What did these enhanced fathers leave their loved ones?

Aegle shook her head, "He said there was someone he needed to speak to in Europe ... or Asia. The length of time for him being away all depended on the location. He said they were told of a place this person was being held."

"They?"

"Those like him," Aegle said, "he told me of the nightmare he lived at the hands of the "mad-one". A woman so evil you could feel it to your bones."

"We know her," Tina nodded, "most of those who live here have experienced her insanity. Is your daughter a little of both of you?"

Aegle nodded, "She is different. She does strange things, and sometimes they frighten me. To me, it is not normal."

"When I was exposed to this world," Tina smiled, "it was scary, confusing and sometimes terrifying, but I made friends and soon found a purpose for myself. You are not alone."

Aegle swallowed hard, "Thank you."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

A knock came at the open door; Daisy stood at the threshold holding a tray with two covered plates, a jug of milk, a pot of tea and a glass of fruit juice.

"I was told we have newbies," Daisy smiled at the gaping Aegle and Macaria, "my name is Daisy."

Placing the tray in the centre of the round table and lifting the domes displaying two plates of roast chicken and vegetables. Turning as Iris arrived holding two plates of custard.

"Daisy, you forgot their custard," Iris smiled at the pair, "hi … I'm Iris."

"You all look the same," Aegle whispered, "are you triplets?"

"No," Tina shook her head, "I was the only one before I was under the insanity of Darcia … the mad-one."

"How many are you now?" Aegle asked sadly.

"She cloned me four times," Tina said, "although it was painful, I wouldn't change it now. I have sisters who are different."

"Are you different?" Macaria asked, her voice sounding mellow like a babbling brook or the sound of soft rain falling.

"No," Tina shook her head, "I'm not ... different."

"You live with your sisters in the world of the different," Aegle said, concern riding her words, "but you aren't different."

"I do," Tina nodded, "eat while it is still warm. You'll find the bathroom through there," she pointed at a door on the side of the room, "the wardrobes have clothing of many sizes; you should find something clean to wear."

"If you need anything at all," Iris said, "use the intercom, press nine, and someone will assist you."

Turning, the three women left the room, closing the door behind them.

"Did you see the child's eyes?" Tina whispered.

"Yes," Iris said, "they are the same colour as Mandy's."

"Daisy, want level is are Macaria's abilities?"

"Considering how young she is, her abilities are at least a level three," Daisy frowned, "that is high for a young child. Who is her father?"

"I don't know," Tina shook her head, "she seems to have a natural ability to trance with her speech."

"That sounds like a familiar ability," Daisy frowned.

"Can you imagine if there are more half and halves out there?" Iris shook her head, "not understanding what they can do, with no help controlling their abilities and no structure or restraint."

"It seems Darcia enhanced some experiments differently," Tina said, walking toward the tech room, "what if she has built her "army" on a similar structure of society."

"There are various layers to what we call normal society," Daisy said, "if enhanced people can live among and breed with normal people. Clearly, they can reproduce children with abilities who can fit into life with normal people."

"You're describing a typical spy infiltration method," Tina nodded, "having "sleeper agents" everywhere. When the time is right to manipulate them to work for you or get yourself into a position where you run the company they work for ... that kind of thing."

"Darcia or Maden must have something in all their paranoid babblings regarding these experiments," Iris said, "let's have a look once more, Daisy."

Tina watched them pick up the pace, "You do that. I'm going to chat with Bre."

The pair waved acknowledgement and continued walking, still having an in-depth discussion. Tina turned to find Craig coming out of their bedroom suite.

"Are you alright?" Tina asked, noting his increase in edgy restlessness. He had showered and put on a new set of black fatigues.

"I'm calmer," he nodded his head, closing the gap between them, cupping his hands around her jawline and kissing her deeply.

Startled at his actions, she gently placed her hands on his chest, running them over his muscles and around the back of his neck. She could feel his desperation. Finally, he lifted his lips from hers, resting his forehead against her own.

"Please talk to me," she whispered, "what is wrong? What is happening?"

"I ... its ..." he swallowed hard and rough, "I … want you safe. I want our children safe ... I ... sorry. I … can't."

Kissing her once more, he dropped his hands, his haunted gaze drinking her in as he stepped around her leaving her standing alone in the passageway. Tears gathered and slid heedlessly down her face. Pain ripped through her heart and spiralled to pool in her belly. Sucking in a breath, she turned, opened the bedroom suite door and slipped inside.

The clock ticked in the silence. Glancing up from the laptop, Tina noticed it was past midnight, her research was wrapped up, and an email was sent to Breanna. It would have been preferable to discuss her findings face to face. However, Tina was in no mood or emotional condition to endure the probing looks and fending off Breanna's abilities to know emotions and intentions.

At this moment, hurt and anger at Craig for shutting her out rode high on her emotional scale. She understood his need to shelter and protect them, but this was something else. She could sense something was troubling him, and she battled the unusual anger boiling low in her belly. Slowly closing the laptop, she waited.

"I'm not feeling angry," she whispered, "it's one of you."

Gathering up her crockery and cutlery, she moved to the sink. Placing them in the cooling water, she leaned on the counter.

"I don't have a monitor to see you, so ..." she sighed, "could we try something else without my body being used to communicate."

She felt silly talking to herself but had to try, "Why are you angry?"

The anger built, seeping into her veins and rolling into her fingers where a tingling could be felt. "With your father?"

The anger subsided a little, "I'm taking that as a yes. Your father is a good man, a stubborn man sometimes but a good one, and he loves us enough to try and protect us. I know not many men would sacrifice themselves for their families."

The anger subsided into nothing. Sighing, Tina wondered if she had answered the unspoken question correctly.

"I feel so lost trying to figure you all out," Tina whispered as she washed her dishes. "It may be easier if I knew what every one of you did, but I won't get to know that until you're born, and that is if we all survive."

Panic raced through her, robbing her breath and making her clutch at her chest and the counter simultaneously. Gasping, she sank to the floor.

"Stop panicking," she panted, "if I have anything to say about it, we will all make the journey and meet each other."

Dropping her head into her hands, she waited while her emotions settled. Leaning her head against the cupboard doors, she closed her eyes and waited. The flutter was almost undetectable at first, then another joined it, followed by a third and fourth. Placing her hands over her belly, she chuckled. Each of her children was happy with the decision she had made.

"I'm happy to have made that decision as well," she whispered, "now ... if none of you mind, I think it's time to rest."

Rolling up from the floor, Tina padded to the bedroom and slipped into bed. Closing her eyes, allowing the exhaustion to seep from her as slumber embraced them.