Tina grinned as she watched Devon with the younger children. Although he was gentle with them, the new role as their protector brought out a slightly sterner side to what they were used to. However, they still responded to him and surprisingly listened to his cautious warnings. Knowing everyone to be in good hands, Tina moved toward the kitchen. Breakfast had been a messy affair, and it needed a good cleaning. One thing she needed more than anything else was rest, a good night's sleep without questions in her mind or the constant worry about the safety of the children.

"No, put the plates in first," the words filtered to her ears through the kitchen doorway, "then the cups ... pack the cutlery in the rack; it goes in last. It looks like you missed that corner of the floor over there. Wipe all the counters and the tables ... there will be an inspection."

Stopping in the doorway, Tina smiled. One of the older girls had the younger ones packing the dishwasher, scrubbing the counters and tables, and sweeping the floors. It reminded Tina of her family before the car accident leaving only David and herself. Tina leaned against the door frame drawing the attention of everyone.

"Thank you for your help," Tina smiled, "I do appreciate it."

"It's the least we could do," the teenager smiled at her, "my name is Ezri ... it means helper."

"Thank you, Ezri," Tina nodded, "you definitely are helpful. I don't think I've met everyone here."

Tina felt surprised as the children grouped at the far end of the room, gazing at her fearfully.

"Did I say or do something wrong?" Tina asked.

"They don't really deal well with strangers, especially adults," Ezri whispered, "unless they know you well, they don't interact with ... enhanced strangers."

"I'm not enhanced," Tina frowned, "why? Do you think I am?"

"If you're not enhanced ..." Ezri's eyes dropped to Tina's mid-drift, "you're carrying enhanced children."

"Yes, but it still doesn't make me enhanced," Tina said, glancing between Ezri and the group of children, "does it?"

"Not particularly," Ezri said distractedly, "I'm glad you approve of what we're doing. Why don't you rest while we finish cleaning up the kitchen."

"That would be nice. I've been so worried about all of you. It will be nice to put my feet up for a bit," Tina said, smiling at the children, "if you need me, I'll be in the general area."

Ezri nodded, "That's the large room with all the chairs and the pool table, right?"

"Yes," Tina said, "if you need extra supplies, you'll find them in the pantry area just off the side."

Ezri followed her direction nodding her thanks, "Let me get them back to work before they think they getting a holiday."

"Chores are important but being children is also important," Tina said, watching the girls ease back into their duties. Just remember here you can do both. You have a choice."

One of the younger girls smiled, "We'll keep it in mind." The others looked at her in surprise, "She has kind eyes which don't change into anything else. We can trust her.

No one answered her as they returned to their tasks. Tina watched them for a moment before wandering toward the general entertainment area. It was silent. Tina sighed in appreciation ... the silence was good, and she didn't have enough around her these days. A movement caught her eye. Nigel sat in an oversized winged chair, staring out a floor-to-ceiling window.

"Hey Nigel," Tina greeted, noting the slight flinch when his name was spoken, "how is everything going? Settling in, okay?"

"Why are you following me? Watching everything I'm doing and saying," Nigel snarled, glaring her way.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Tina's eyebrows rose in surprise, "What are you talking about? Are you alright?"

"You think you were the only one cloned?" Nigel grimaced and squirmed. "After I helped you, I was stupid enough to show interest in the process of ... many versions of one. You have actual bodies you can see ... talk to ...interact with ... mine walk around with me … in me … when I was used for ability bait …" he shook his head, shuddering hard. "I could never fight back. Not because I didn't want to but ..." he gasped as though struggling to maintain control, "due to the high dosages of sedative, I couldn't... wanted to ..." he sucked in air, gasping, "couldn't."

"Oh my ... how ... when ..." Tina's hand flew to her mouth, "that is awful.

"Darcia and Madden played with procedures. The latest one was to make multi-personalities..." he shuddered. "They knew of my interest. When my personality splintered ..." he shook his head, "under all that ...hate, and when I say several ..." he gasped again. "I have at least five living inside, all fighting for control. When Darcia found out she … played with them," Nigel sighed, a single tear running down his face, "it's so cramped in there ... I think one left."

"Why do you think one of them left?" Tina frowned.

"There is more space ... I can feel and think ... a little," Nigel sighed, "I don't know where it's gone."

Shuffling and angry words brought their gazes to the archway as Jasmine appeared, holding a version of Nigel by the shoulder. Tina watched Nigel in the chair groan and close his eyes.

"It's worse than I thought," he rose, walking toward them, grasping Nigel's shoulder and meeting the identical gaze; he whispered, "you need to go back. Now."

Tina watched Jasmine's Nigel disappear, and only one Nigel remained.

"Tina," Jasmine said, blinking rapidly, "you may be required to drive a cluster out."

Tina nodded, joining Jasmine as they watched Nigel walk away, talking to himself.

"If that happened anywhere else," Tina indicated the area Nigel had been standing, "it would be classed as weird, insane and abnormal."

"But it happened here, and we watch it, chalk it up to something new and get on with life," Jasmine grinned, "I know, isn't it awesome."

Tina's gaze snapped to Jasmine's, bursting into laughter, "Oh heavens, you're a treat. Now, tell me where I'll be driving from," Tina said, pulling a map out of the back pocket of her jeans.

Moving to the table, the women spread the map. Jasmine began to debrief and explain what was happening, pointing to the area and possible routes and ways out.

The voices were hushed, but she could still hear them; her abilities had been on overdrive since the refugees arrived. Sitting in an oversized chair, an open book in her small lap Gina watched the two women discussing another rescue of children and people like herself.

Usually, she hid in the library, but the clone had been hunting in all her usual spots. Fortunately, no one had discovered or noticed her ... yet. She was too scared to sleep, too afraid to eat without someone to watch over her while she did. She tried to distract herself from the debilitating feeling of having another episode as it had been branded. She may only be eight years old, but there were real monsters in her world that could cause real pain. The last time she felt this way was a year ago. The man naming himself Devon's dad started to divide as he was now, causing friction wherever he went. Her waking nightmares had started with his arrival. Memories of the night when part of him had fractured physically away from itself played in her mind like a movie that would never end. It had been horrifying, and the carnage that version of him caused was unforgettable. Many children had tried unsuccessfully to stay out of his way but lost their lives anyway. He seemed to think it was fun to harm the innocent. Gina frowned as she wondered which of the clones had derived a plan to get into this place of safety.

"Hey, Gina," John whispered as he knelt beside the chair. "I went looking for you in the library. Why are you here?"

"Nigel splintered again," Gina whispered, "I just saw that lady with Tina bring him back, and the real Nigel made him go back inside. There is another Nigel in the library; I don't think he is there. They are hunting again."

"That can't be good. Did you have another nightmare?" John whispered.

Gina nodded, "This one showed me what was to come ... in a few hours."

"Is it bad?" John asked, carefully taking Gina's tiny hand and rubbing his thumb over its back.

"It may be for her, the one looking after us. The one called Tina," Gina nodded toward the women talking at the table, "she is the nicest person I've met."

"She is," John sighed, "we'll have to do something to ensure she is safe."

"It's not up to us," Gina smiled sadly, "there is another that will need to make the call to help her."

"Another?" John frowned, "she has someone else in her life?"

Gina nodded, "A man. I don't know his name, but they are close. Apart at the moment but close."

The children watched as Tina and Jasmine folded the map, hugged and went their separate ways.

"Let's hope he makes the right call," John said quietly, "you need to eat. You're beginning to tremble."

"Perhaps some juice," Gina said quietly, " ... and a sandwich."

"Good," John smiled, making her feel safe and warm inside, "I'll stay with you until you're finished."