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Chapter 25

Tina watched Frank walk away; he seemed more alert than usual, as though he could sense danger coming from everywhere. Tina sighed; she wasn't much better herself, but seeing how they were living, it wasn't surprising that everyone was on edge. Pulling a cracker from her pocket and biting into it, her thoughts turned to Nigel. She was pretty sure he was a multi-personality. Everything he did, how he behaved, and his guardedness indicated he was on assignment but was it at this safe house? For that to be true, it would mean that the man she felt she owed her life and sanity to would be a ... she didn't want to go there, except her mind flowed down its own path. Frowning, Tina recalled his mutterings to himself.

"Oh," she gasped as some pieces fell into place, “no… could it?”

She didn't want to believe someone attempted to kill Nigel while Devon defended the children ...

Could it be true?

Could Nigel have an assignment here among them?

If so, why and who was the target?

Also, why was he so ingratiating with Breanna and Craig?

Was he trying to butter them up so he could have free reign of this safe house?

Was he going to give away the location of this safe house? If he did, everyone here would be in danger.

Did he think he could get his plan past every one of them? Tina shook her head. What was his mission if not to give away the safe house's location?

Even if Nigel thought he could get whatever he was planning past the adults, some children distrusted him, automatically going on the defensive. Some of the older children had been cold toward her after they had noted her talking to him. Did they think she was in league with Nigel? She certainly hoped not.

Questions flew through her mind as Tina mulled over his quick retreat; everything about it was strange ... and just when Frank appeared. What was it about Frank that Nigel didn't like, or was he afraid of Frank? If so, why?

Activity at her mid-drift made her wince, "Wow, guys, that was sudden," she frowned as she felt their abilities, "hold up before you go off on a spree; tell me what's going on?"

Following their promptings, Tina turned in a circle, her eyes darted over the area as a weird sensation filled the air around her, and her right palm erupted with a ball of fire.

"Easy," she whispered, "let's not burn the house to the ground."

Moving toward the centre of sensation - a floor-to-ceiling window - Tina found a pair of feet sticking out from under the curtain. Pulling it aside quickly, she met a face that resembled Nigel. Yet, the eyes indicated someone else resided in this version, and it was a version. She knew instinctively this was not the actual human. Something new for her to think about in her quiet moments.

"I think you're lost," Tina said, stepping aside, "Nigel went that way. It may be a good thing to catch up with him."

"Thanks," the husky rumble ran like needles over her skin, tearing at her nerves, "good to meet you."

"Who are you?" Tina asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Part of Nigel," the needle-racking voice said before walking away.

Tina shuddered. Letting the curtain drop, she placed her hand protectively over her mid-drift. Feeling ill.

"Huh, it's the ability of Nigel's clone that makes me feel this way," Tina muttered, "interesting and not a good ability."

"Have some chocolate," a child's voice spoke softly.

Turning, Tina found the young girl with the waking nightmare holding some chocolate.

"Hi, Gina," Tina crouched next to her, "everything okay?"

"Eat the chocolate," Gina handed Tina a large block of dark chocolate, "quickly."

Biting into the chocolate, Tina watched the edgy child look between herself and the retreating form of Nigel's clone. Realising she felt better as she finished the chocolate, Tina tried to engage with the child again.

"Gina, tell me what that was about?" Tina asked.

"Can you make me a hot chocolate, please," Gina asked, firmly gripping Tina's hand and tugging urgently.

"Sure," Tina frowned, "marshmallows?"

"Marshmallows," Gina smiled, glancing nervously over her shoulder as they moved away from the area.

Marvelling at the level of evasion Gina wielded, Tina could only wonder what she had experienced?

Why was this child insistent on getting away from that particular version of Nigel?

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Perhaps more information could be gleaned while they had hot chocolate. It was something to look into, maybe even raise a precautionary alarm.

Craig shifted on the seat as he sifted through the information packs Michael had sent. He was ready to go with weapons loaded and in place on his utility belt, his gear bag at his feet. The information packs held information about eat of the newcomers. Michael felt it would help the Agency team understand and relate more easily. Looking at the various assembled gear packs lined up against the training room wall, Craig shook his head. He was unable to place what it was about Nigel that bothered him. At first, Craig considered the sensation rooted in jealousy but knew it to be untrue when Nigel spoke. It was as though Nigel knew the details of the trips and events. Information someone on the inside would know. When Nigel thought he wasn't being watched, Craig saw someone or something else take his place. He knew Breanna had noted it as well. It was all in the eyes and the slight changes in the expressions on his face and voice.

Darcia and Madden were known for pushing the envelope regarding human genetic enhancements and what could be done to the human body. It wouldn't surprise him to find some form of personality manipulation. Perhaps Tina was one of the experiments to correct the procedure, but Nigel may be the end result. Craig frowned. Could Darcia have gotten the idea from Valencia and Birgit when the split was accidentally done? If that were true, how many other people were either like them or Tina? Or worse, what if they were like Nigel.

Was Nigel a willing experiment, or was he manipulated into doing the process?

Looking down at the open information pack, Craig began to read. Knowledge was power, and he needed to know what he was going up against. Craig read, wincing as the information of what was done to one of the newcomers was retained. It was brutal, and he marvelled at the sanity of this particular person. Closing the file, Craig rubbed his hands over his face as his mind returned to the changing of Nigel's eyes.

Picking up the pile of folders, Craig began to search, looking for Nigel's. Strange. There wasn't one with Nigel's previous information; they knew nothing about him.

"Craig," Kelvin called from the doorway, "we are heading out."

Pushing to his feet, Craig bundled the files together, locking them away, "I'm coming," he felt unsettled by the lack of information on Nigel. Quickly sending a message to Michale and pocketing his mobile, he joined Kelvin, and the two men headed toward the departure point.

"Something wrong?" Kelvin asked, glancing at Craig.

"Have you gone through the info packs from Michael?" Craig asked.

"Not all of them," Kelvin frowned, "why?"

"I wanted to check something about Nigel," Craig said, shaking his head, "there isn't one."

"What do you mean? There has to be; perhaps someone else has it," Kelvin frowned.

"Micheal sent all of us the same packs," Craig sighed, "if I don't have it, no one else does."

"Maybe he forgot to hand it out," Kelvin said, waving at the other team members, "we can look for it when we get back."

"Yeah, when we get back," Craig said, instinct telling him there wouldn't be one, which could only mean that Nigel was not an injured bystander; he was an infiltration.

Tina kept thinking about the Nigel clone she had come across. Gina had refused to discuss her strange behaviour over hot chocolate. Instead, she continued to distract Tina with stories of the place she had been. Although it was interesting, Tina knew Gina was using her ability of evasion to keep any questions being asked.

Why hadn't Nigel told her about his multiple personalities? If her guess was correct, he was an updated version of herself. Usually, those helped by The Enforcement Agency wanted to be here and were open about their abilities, capabilities, nightmares and other demons. Thinking over the others who had arrived, each had sought help in one form or another ... even Devon. Tina frowned ... everyone except Nigel. The urgency running through her pushed to need to know more to the fore.

"Devon," Tina called as he ambled past where she sat, "have you seen your Dad?"

"Um ... I think he said he was going to the study or library," Devon said, shifting from one foot to the other.

"Thanks," Tina said, pushing to her feet and noting the nervousness of the teen, "are you okay?"

"Um ... yeah," Devon nodded, glancing around nervously before looking at her, "have you ever thought you may have been mistaken in an acknowledgement of someone."

"Yes. Often," Tina said, "are you mistaken in someone?"

"I ... think I am," Devon frowned, "I want to put it right, but I don't know how."

"Is it someone I know?" Tina asked dread racing through her, leaving its icy path in her veins.

Devon nodded, "Nigel."

"He's not your father?" Tina asked.

"He told me he was," Devon said, "but he is not the man in my dreams."

"You dream about your father?" Tina asked, astonished.

"Since I can remember," Devon shook his head, "I have dreamt of my parents. I know they are my parents; I sense they are my parents, but I don't remember their names ... only their faces."

"Got it," Tina nodded, "the man in the dream is not Nigel."

Devon shook his head, "They don't even look similar."

"Why would Nigel say he is your father?" Tina asked, gently laying a hand on Devon's shoulder.

"I don't know," Devon sighed, "I keep feeling like there are more of him."

"Explain that," Tina tensed.

"More ... sides to him," Devon tried to explain, "literally. I found him watching the children while they were drinking hot chocolate that night. The look in his eyes reminded me of a ... predator waiting to make a kill."

"Devon," Tina whispered urgently, "who was he watching?"

"I can't say," Devon shook his head, "with all the laughing and chatting among themselves. I couldn't find one he was singling out."

"You have a knack for protection," Tina smiled, "I'm going to need some help watching the children .. can we do it together?"

"You don't mind me helping?" Devon asked, his eyes lighting up.

"There are many of them," Tina grinned, "I need the help."

"It's something I've always done," Devon smiled, "protecting them ... that is."

"Then I know you'll be a natural," Tina nodded, "Devon, thank you for letting me know about your reservations ... and dreams."

"I'm just happy there is someone here I can trust and talk to," Devon returned her smile, "it hasn't always been that way."

"That is the best thing I have ever heard," Tina said, "now let's put some safeguards into place ... sort of like procedures and protocols."

"Oh, I know about those," Devon nodded, the confusion leaving his eyes, "let's chat ... hot chocolate."

Tina chuckled, "Everyone loves hot chocolate ..." Devon grinned at her, "Okay, let's get some."