When Mary gets home, she’s as white as the wall. Thomas doesn’t notice it. She comes near him and after a few minutes of silence, he finally looks at her.

“What’s wrong?” He asks, while continuing to read the newspaper.

“The Parkers denied our request to give the Institute more money.”

“That’s a shame… oh well, I’m sure the money they already send there every month with the other investors will be enough for the new lab.”

“Thomas, please look at me properly!” Mary shouts. “You are not hearing me!”

Thomas shakes his head and puts down the paper, “go ahead.”

“They cut the funding altogether.” Mary’s voice lowers almost to a whisper.

“What did you say?”

“When I got to the office today, the millions on the Foundation’s account had been wiped clean. I told them to move some money from their company to the Institute, and they said that would startle the shareholders.”

“But you-”

“When I told them to sell some of their ridiculous patrimony, they said they had their children to think about. They have trillions. I’m sure neither of them would starve if they sold a couple of properties.”

“But you…”

“They cut us all off. Our company is out of their capital until everything is cleared.”

“Mary…” Thomas’ hands cover his eyes momentarily.

“I know.”

“Do you?!” Thomas gets up and points his finger at her. He softens his voice, “I’m sorry, my love, is just… without their money, things will get so complicated and Edward-”

“He’ll understand, Thomas. You have done so much already.”

“Mary, anyone on that table is replaceable, anyone but Edward.”

“He wouldn’t-”

“Hurt me?” Thomas laughs hysterically. “We’ll find out soon enough, Mary.”

***

Rebecca and Mark enter their house, still laughing hysterically. Taking turns imitating Mary. Katryna isn’t around. She asked them to have the day off and they decide to pour some drinks, put on the music in the living room.

Upstairs, Alex, Abigail and Rachel are already waiting. They teleported a few hours before to Abigail’s room and held their breath the entire time.

“They’re home!” Alex whispers.

Rachel looks at Abigail, “are you ready to face them?”

“Let’s go.”

“Alex, stand a bit back in case we have any surprises there. Close enough for me to absorb teleport, please.”

“As you wish, sis.”

They softly follow Abigail, slowly descending the stairs. The music is playing loud and Rebecca and Mark's laughter echoes through the entire house. Abigail is seen by the door as they turn around.

“Abigail…” Mark drops his glass, and it breaks into a million pieces on the floor.

Rebecca’s tears fill her eyes, and a wide smile begins to form, only to disappear when from the shadows, Rachel Moore is in sight.

“You leave her alone, you monster!” Rebecca points her finger at Rachel and shouts.

“Mom, please,” Abigail puts herself in front of Rachel, “she hasn’t hurt me, I swear. Those videos…”

“Are fake,” Mark puts his hand on Rebecca’s shoulder.

Abigail’s eyes widen as she faces them.

“How…?”

“How do we know?” Rebecca says and faces Rachel, “Abigail, did you think we were just going to sit back and do nothing?!”

“Mom…”

“Thomas, the President of the United States, their promises meant nothing. We wanted you here! We wanted you safe! Alive!” Rebecca shouts.

“We hired a team of hackers. They showed us right away that it was fake.” Mark says.

“So, we knew then… that if that monster,” Rebecca points at Rachel again, “was hurting you, at least it wasn’t filming it and showing it to the entire world.”

“When we discovered Ánh's involvement. That confirmed it. Ánh…” Mark looks away.

“Sweet Ánh would never hurt you, Abigail. Would she?”

“No.” Abigail's voice breaks.

Mark curls his hands into fists and keeps staring at his garden.

“No. She wouldn’t. Sweet Ánh wouldn’t manipulate you and Emily to abduct you. That’s not Ánh!” Rebecca says while shaking her head.

“Ánh has nothing to do with this. I tricked your daughter and Emily Roberts. I.” Rachel swallows her saliva. “I abducted them!”

Rebecca laughs immediately and so does Mark. Rachel’s forehead wrinkles raise, and Abigail stares at them incredulously.

“What...?” Rachel tries to keep her voice steady.

“We know our daughter, Rachel Moore,” Mark grabs a glass and pours some water into it. He approaches them and hands it to her.

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Rachel accepts it.

“We knew you weren’t responsible for the videos. We suspected that you weren’t hurting them. Now facing Abigail in the eyes…” Mark laughs.

“You didn’t even take her! She went on her own. Didn’t you?” Rebecca shakes her head.

Abigail avoids meeting the gaze of her parents. “Yes.” She says almost inaudibly.

Rebecca turns around and puts her hands on her forehead. Mark goes nearer her and holds her.

“My wife thinks that you are a monster, Rachel Moore,” he turns around to face her. His voice maintains a calm tone. “I understand that. Surely you can understand it, too.”

Rachel faces him and tries to maintain the same expression.

“But I believe that who we are is not the same as who our parents are. Now,” he laughs, “don’t misinterpret me. I do think Matthew Moore and Amanda Anderson were monsters.”

Rachel tries to maintain a serene expression.

“Not because they were on the other side of the war. They did terrible things to innocent people...” he scoffs, “and showed little to no remorse afterward. The same could be said about Amy Anderson.”

Rachel’s serenity disappears. Alex crosses his arms and takes deep breaths in and out softly.

“But then again, so are we. Me and Rebecca. Monsters.”

Abigail’s eyes open wide and Rebecca turns around.

“We have done things… and we have shown little to no remorse, too. But our children, Rachel. Our children aren’t monsters just because we clearly are.”

Tears stream down Abigail’s face.

“You're playing right into dangerous people's hands. You see, Rachel… You may say out loud that you are peaceful. You may try to change the minds of people with the videos of corruption… sure. You may try to convince the ordinary human that deviants aren’t a violent threat.”

He takes a deep breath in and out. Rebecca reaches out for his hand and their shoulders touch.

“Rachel… The fact that your last name is Moore. The fact that the Angel of Death is part of your group. The right people can easily weaponize this combination. People may believe that you aren’t your father. But do they not fear one day you’ll become him?”

Rachel’s eyes fill with tears. Her hands shake. She’s fighting her impulse to form ice spikes.

Keep your cool, please, sis. Alex’s voice echoes in Rachel’s head.

Abigail reaches for Rachel’s hand and the urges disappear.

“We are on the same side here, Rachel. Ever since Abigail was born that Rebecca and I started caring about what happens to deviants. And we have picked our battles and fought in the shadows. We have achieved more for deviants’ rights in this country than you have. Than the Five ever did.”

Rachel shakes her head and gently pushes Abigail’s hand away.

“This is the truth.” Mark lowers his gaze momentarily before continuing, “We are behind every law that passed. We put them there, the lawmakers. The president that died, allegedly shot by you… we put him there. There were compromises, the vice president had to be anti-deviant, otherwise it would be harder to have him win. That was a…”

“Miscalculation on our end. We never thought they’d kill him. Whoever they are,” Rebecca continues.

“And we never thought, honestly never, that our best of friends… were the ones betraying us.”

“Dad…” Abigail comes nearer him.

“What happened, Abigail? What happened that you thought your only option was… this?” Rebecca points at Rachel.

“I met Rachel on that day… at the Institute. She saved Emily and then when the group identified the shooters, one of them was a boy that used to work for the Roberts. I convinced Emily that we should follow her family. We couldn’t follow Thomas, so we went after Joshua and…”

Abigail's voice breaks and Rebecca holds her tight, side eyeing Rachel.

“He had the weapons from the massacre at the Institute and had bodies of deviants. Rachel’s group had identified an ominous lab… hidden from plain sight, that was responsible for abducting students from the Institute. Students that came from abroad and never made it there. They also took people over the years. There was a clear connection between the Institute and this lab… so when you told me who managed our funding …”

“When we told you that Mary’s company has the full control of the foundation,” Rebecca says.

“Yes… Then I didn’t know. I didn’t want to believe it. I never believed it. But part of me feared…”

“That we knew,” Mark’s voice breaks.

“That was smart, Abs. If we were part of it, you would’ve been hurt. You did the right thing.”

“Mom, I never really thought you’d be part of it. I just…”

“Abigail, I’m hurt, but I’m proud that you made that decision. To look at the information you had and to play it smart. You weren’t sure if we were part of it. I’m sure that was devastating for you. Not trusting us.”

“The video that you’ve seen. Of Megan-” Rachel begins.

“Megan?” Mark asks.

“The one you call the Angel of Death.”

“What about her?”

“That video is real. She has three powers. But what it doesn’t show is where she’s using it, and why. We located the lab. Megan destroyed it and inside there were children, the ones Abigail just told you about. They need to return home, Mr. and Mrs. Parker, and we do not have the means to do it. You do.”

“Sure, Rachel Moore. Whatever you ask for shall be given. Under one condition… Abigail stays,” Rebecca smiles.

“Mom, I know we have a lot to talk about, but I’m not staying.”

“Oh, darling, of course you aren’t. We are moving to Eurasia. None of us are staying. We just have some… unfinished business to attend to. Destroying the people behind this.”

“Madeleine Clark.” Rachel says.

“We know.” Mark tells her.

“Anything for some extra millions, that idiot.” Rebecca rolls her eyes.

“Aymee Ortiz.” Rachel continues.

“The daughter of the Ortiz empire, of course…” Mark says.

“Saif Ahktar.”

“We know. Saif was here with that girl… what was her name, Rebecca?” Mark asks.

“Padma.”

“Padma?!” Abigail faces her mother in horror.

“You know her, Abs?” Mark asks.

“Yes… she…”

“She has nothing to do with this. I’m sure of that.” Rebecca says in a sharp tone.

“And their leader… Edward Hall.” Rachel tells them.

“That we didn’t know. Thank you.” Mark nods at her.

“We’ll destroy them all and then we’ll leave. You, too.” Rebecca puts her hands on her daughter’s shoulder.

“Mom…”

“Abigail is free to stay if she wishes, Mrs. Parker. But if she wishes to go, and if that’s your condition to help us, then we have nothing further to discuss.”

“Rachel Moore…” Rebecca laughs. “You leave with Abigail, and I promise you this. We’ll. Hunt. You. Down. My. Dearest.”

“Mom, please…” she turns to her father, “Dad.”

“Rebecca…”

“Not now, Mark. Not now!”

“Mom, that’s enough!” Abigail shouts and faces her mother. “You can’t keep doing this. This thing that you do!”

“This thing that I do?” Rebecca’s eyes open wide.

“Zach left.” Abigail strengthens her voice. “You hugged him and wished him the best. Off he went to Médecins Sans Frontières! I remember how you said…” her voice breaks momentarily. “How you said you were proud that he was choosing his path. Vero did her entire bachelor and master’s in Eurasia. You supported her decision every time. Flew in and out constantly whenever she needed you, but you let her stay there! You said…” she takes a deep breath in and out. “You were proud that she was making a life for herself. But when it comes to me… You never let me!” Tears roll down her face while she shouts.

“I can’t, Abigail! You almost died in my arms! I held you there for days while you… you… killed yourself!”

“That was ten years ago! Ten! How can I have a future if you keep me buried in the past?!”

Rebecca wipes her tears and looks up instead of facing her daughter.

“I know what I did to you. I am ashamed and I hate that I put you through it. But that is long gone. I am perfectly capable of choosing. I don’t need you to protect me from myself.”

Rebecca is about to respond when Abigail continues.

“I love you, mom. And I’m sorry that I hurt you. But this is my life. I have to live it. I’m not pushing you away, I’m not cutting you off. But I’m not staying, I’m not going to Eurasia, I have things to take care of with the terrorists! I’m asking for your help now. Help us bring those children home safely. Without anyone knowing.”

“Rachel Moore, I’m sure you are a terrible influence on my daughter, but I also know that you have the ability to keep her safe, if necessary,” Rebecca looks at her, “so I’m trusting that you won’t put her in harm’s way. That you’ll do anything in your power to keep her safe.”

Rachel nods.

“Mark is right… if you want a better future for deviants, you should step aside and end the movement. No matter how hard you try, no one will ever see you as anything other than your parents. Mark sees it, but I don’t, for instance. That’s unfair to you, but it is what it is. And there’s a reason why no one bats an eye whenever the media blames you for another attack.”

“We’ll have a private plane ready. Whenever you want. We’ll bring those children home.” Mark tells her.

“And in the meantime?” Abigail asks.

“In the meantime, the ‘Institute’ won’t receive another dime from us, because apparently, someone stole the entire money from the foundation,” Mark laughs.