"Relax, you're perfectly safe. I'm not Darcia," Breanna said, trying to smile, but her cold lips only twitched in response, "Darcia is my twin sister."

"How can we believe you?" the man frowned at her.

Pulling up her sleeve, Breanna revealed the twin punctures in her arm.

"I doubt my sister would leave all that fun after a procedure," Breanna said quietly.

"Fair point," the man seemed to relax slightly.

"Oh, thank God," the woman sighed, "you must be Breanna then."

"How did you know her name?" the angry man swung his gaze to the woman.

"I used to hear about Breanna while in The Madhouse," the woman said, "she caused Darcia a lot of trouble. I remember someone saying the trouble Breanna caused would have had anyone else either dead or retrained."

"Huh," the man muttered, "that's a random thing to remember."

"Found I have a gift for it," the woman grinned.

Unimpressed, the man shook his head.

"You okay?" Jesse sank next to Breanna.

Breanna nodded. The warmth of the house crept slowly into her muscles. She could feel the tremors starting again. Noticing her shivers, Jesse frowned.

"Can we get something warm to eat and drink?" Jesse asked, pulling off his jacket and folding it around her, "we've been on the move for about two days. The last stretch was brutally cold."

"Certainly," the man said, leaving the room.

Breanna struggled to her feet, looking around the contemporary furnishings of the lounge. The white and gold décor held clean lines. It was the splashes of blue, either in the painting of the ocean or throw rugs draped over the back of the sofa and the scatter cushions, that saved it from a stiff, formal atmosphere.

Wrapping his arm around her waist, Jesse moved her to an armchair.

"Sit down," Jesse pushed her into a soft armchair, "give me the backpack."

Breanna sank into the soft chair, complying with Jesse's command. Leaning forward slightly, she met his gaze.

"Thanks, please pull it off."

Jesse reached behind her relieving her of the bulky pack. Releasing a sigh, Breanna pulled his jacket around her, settling back and closing her eyes. If she could regulate her breathing, perhaps she could get a handle on the tremors before they became too bad.

Jesse watched Breanna breathe deeply, beginning to relax. He hadn't seen resilience like this in a long time. Although there were short breaks during the gruelling hike, they were not long enough to replenish their energy or strength. Jesse studied Breanna before looking over at the other woman. The pictures he had seen did not prepare him for her mesmerising presence.

Fiery auburn hair floated around her head, resting on her shoulders. Deep, meadow green eyes watched Breanna's every move while nibbling on a full pink bottom lip. Long eyelashes framed almond-shaped eyes, and a flush of pink ran the length of a pair of high cheekbones.

"You must be Valencia," he croaked, "glad Reilly could help you live another day."

"I understand that it's thanks to you," Valencia smiled, "how did you know?"

"Ear to the ground," he said, returning her smile, "Reilly was closer to town than I."

"Oh, then the cabin in the woods is true," Valencia said quietly, "are you going back?"

"Ah ... no," looking over at Breanna, he sighed, "this was the last time I'll be there."

"Why?" Reilly asked, entering the living area with a tray of hot coffee and two plates of steaming meat stew.

"Breanna was replenishing herself after the ordeal of escaping hard on the heels of a procedure," Jesse said, "I saw a few well-armed heat signatures in the surrounding woods."

"Not friendlies," Reilly said, "so you got out of there."

"We did," Breanna said quietly, "amongst a lot of cave-ins, dust and rubble."

"You activated the emergency procedure?" Reilly sat forward, his drink in his hand, his arms resting on his knees, "how many were there, Jesse?"

"When I stopped looking," Jesse sat on the floor next to the coffee table, helping himself to some stew, "about fifteen."

"Fifteen," Valencia spluttered, "that is a little excessive."

"A little," Breanna said softly, sipping her coffee and accepting a plate of food from Jesse, "and very dusty."

Valencia chuckled, "So not all that dust on you is from the walk? Didn't you find somewhere to wash off?"

"There was a stream we came across," Jesse nodded, forking food into his mouth, "but we needed to keep moving. Darcia was not going to let someone like Breanna slip away."

"Someone like Breanna?" Reilly sounded confused.

"Breanna wasn't kidding. Darcia is her twin sister," Jesse pointed his fork at Breanna, "Darcia can use her to get into places and do things for her. Control her."

"How?" Valencia asked.

"The necklace," Jesse shrugged, "when I destroyed it, there were various colours before the liquid went clear."

"That's new," Reilly said, "before the water stayed a single colour."

"Right," Jesse nodded, "meaning the military cut the funding for more than one reason."

"Not just the snatching of civilians and rumoured kidnapping of military staff," Reilly said, thoughtfully.

"We don't know about the latter," Jesse continued eating.

Breanna sat forward, "What are you talking about?"

"You don't know?" Reilly asked.

Breanna shook her head, confusion chasing concern across her face.

"It would seem she doesn't know," Valencia said, her eyes twinkling, "I don't know what you are talking about, and it would be nice to know what you are talking about."

"Okay," Jesse nodded, a chuckle slipping from his slightly parted lips, "can we finish eating first? I don't know about Breanna, but I'm starving; protein bars keep you going but don't feed you."

Valencia couldn't stop staring at Jesse as he ate, his jet black hair dusted with sand and small bits of rubble while his grey eyes sparkled. It seemed he was oblivious to the effect the combination had on others.

Valencia couldn't imagine him being a bubbly kind of person; he fascinated her. She was drawn to him, like a bee to a sweet-smelling flower.

"How did you know I was enhanced?" Valencia asked, watching Jesse lay down his fork from his last mouthful.

"Wow, that was literal. Thank you for waiting for me to finish before you started," a rusty sounding chuckle bubbled up.

Valencia didn't answer; she waited. Watchful of every movement, expression and emotion coming from him.

"One thing we can all do is know someone who is enhanced," he cleared his throat, "one enhanced being may know another but not their enhancements, only that they are different. However, with you, it was hard. It took a while. Your ability keeps coming and going."

"Interesting," Valencia nodded, "so if you were in the cabin in the woods, how did you know about me?"

"A text from a blocked number," Jesse extracted his phone, finding the text and the photo of Valencia entering her workplace.

"That was Wednesday," she whispered, "two days ago."

"What does the text say, Jesse?" Breanna asked, sipping her second cup of coffee.

"It reads," Jesse glanced around before continuing, "in danger, discovered and retrieval underway. Doc Chem dispatched to work with finders."

"That's why you texted requesting an extraction?" Reilly asked.

"Don't know about any of you," Jesse shrugged, "no one should be at the mercy of Doc Chemical."

"Doc Chemical?" Breanna frowned.

"Yeah, middle-aged guy, only one that doesn't talk mechanically and smells of chemicals all the time," Reilly said.

"Oh, him," Breanna shuddered, "he seems to take a perverse delight in the pain his concoctions bring. I think Darcia calls him Dr Maden. I heard her refer to him as darling once."

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"This is all fascinating, but it doesn't answer the question of how anyone knew I was enhanced?" Valencia stood up, walking toward the heavily curtained window.

"I thought I answered that," Jesse sounded confused.

"In a way, you did," Valencia said, "that photo came from inside the Facility," Valencia felt panic rise, scorching the back of her throat. "Don't look at me like I'm crazy. I know it to be true because ... I have an enhancement making me undetectable as a genetically enhanced person, even to others who are."

Breanna watched Valencia pacing. Puzzle pieces that had been floating randomly in her head for the past few days began to fall into place.

"Hold on," she shook her head, "Jesse, what is the time on that text?"

"Ah … four twenty in the afternoon," Jesse said, "why?"

"What was the time I arrived at your doorstep?" Breanna pushed herself into a standing position, finding Jesse frowning at her in confusion, "I mean, I collapsed on your porch, and you destroyed the necklace."

"Oh," Jesse frowned thoughtfully, "about five … five-thirty ... in the afternoon."

"Your cabin is not anywhere near the Facility," Breanna mused, "it should have taken me longer, but I didn't take the normal route through the forest. The procedure I had just come from sapped all my energy, and when I woke, there was a bag of something emptying into my arm very fast."

"Why do you say it was being given to you fast?" Reilly asked, looking at Jesse to see if he understood Breanna. Jesse shook his head before looking back at Breanna.

"Usually, charts are hung near the door if an experiment is in recovery," Breanna stood and began pacing, "mine still hung on my drip pole. One of Darcia's technicians came to take me for another procedure."

"A double procedure?" Valencia gasped, "what for?"

"I don't know," Breanna shook her head, "but I knew I wasn't ready for another procedure. I hadn't recovered from the first one; whatever it was, I still haven't recovered completely."

"What does this have to do with someone divulging details about me?" Valencia's voice rose in pitch as the sentence ended. Breanna winced.

"Still have sensitive hearing," Breanna gasped, plugging her ears with her fingers, "I'll explain."

Valencia sighed, "Sorry... go ahead."

"A few days ago," Breanna stopped short, "what is today?"

"Thursday," Reilly supplied, he continued after Breanna's questioning look, "Thursday, May 12," he shook his head, "why?"

Breanna frowned; there was information she couldn't focus on at the edge of her mind. Breathing in deeply, closing her eyes, relaxing her mind and concentrating on that point of memory, Breanna waited.

Deafening silence filled the room.

Snapping her eyes open as knowledge filled her with a heavy dread Breanna turned to the others in the room.

"Oh. My. Goodness." sinking onto the side of a nearby chair, Breanna forced herself to breathe deeply. "It all fits, all of this. Every piece."

"Breanna," Jesse called, "what are you talking about?"

"Sorry," Breanna blinked, refocussing, "just follow what I'm saying …" standing, she began pacing once more. "May 5, a report comes in about the unauthorised permanent deactivations of random necklaces. Darcia killed two mechanical speaking technicians and the messenger of the report. May 6, another report comes in of the detachment she sent to investigate, not returning. She found out later they all wound up in a local mortuary," Breanna turned and continued pacing, "no one died then due to the losses already sustained. May 9, the location and address received, the individual presumed dead was found alive." Breanna shuddered, "Darcia ecstatic ordered procedures for everyone." Breanna continued to pace, "May 10, a suspected leak within the Facility, Darcia ordered memory wipes for all high-level experiments."

Valencia stared at her, "Are you telling me I was the presumed dead experiment?"

"You live on the shoreline of this town," Breanna nodded, "you are two blocks from the Tavern," Breanna frowned, continuing thoughtfully, "good tacos and tequila."

"Yes," Valencia whispered, her pale face becoming whiter, "are you saying she was planning to retrieve me?"

"Initially yes," Breanna nodded, "but then I escaped. Thank heavens for that," Breanna muttered. "Initially, you were to be intercepted, a new necklace deployed, and a dose of whatever the current obedience drug Darcia is handing out injected into you." Breanna pointed at Valencia, sitting before continuing, "if the capture of Jesse and myself fell through, it would be up to you to intercept and get us back to Darcia and her cronies." Breanna stood again, "there was one problem with that plan."

"What?" three voices questioned in unison.

"You would have still gotten that information," Breanna sighed, pointing at Jesse's phone, "even if the capture of myself was a success. Reilly would still have brought Valencia here."

Reilly rose from his seat, pacing away from them before turning and coming back, "That didn't come from a high-level experiment, did it?"

"No," Breanna shook her head, "that came from an experiment still in that hell hole but one that Darcia has finished with," Breanna frowned, "finished with but still controls for some reason."

"There is an inside man?" Jesse spluttered, "who?"

"Wish I knew," Breanna put her hands on her hips, "whoever it is, Darcia hasn't detected. There are not a lot of them either."

"Darcia planned for me to meet you, gain your trust and turn you in?" Valencia spoke in the silence, "she wanted to use my ability to be undetectable to lure you back into the Facility."

Breanna nodded, "It wouldn't have worked."

"How do you know?" Jesse asked, pushing himself up from the floor.

"It took me a moment," Breanna shrugged, "but I knew they were both enhanced the moment I lifted my head."

"How?" Valencia frowned.

"The colour of your aura," Breanna said by way of explanation.

"What?" Valencia and Reilly looked at each other, confusion rippling in the air around them.

"Aura," Breanna said, "the coloured light around a person."

"You can see and read those as well?" Jesse shook his head, "what don't you read?"

"I'm going to have to find out," Breanna sighed, "the chart that was on my IV stand indicated my level moving from a six to a seven."

"That's not possible," Reilly said quickly, "Darcia only goes to a five."

"Well, apparently, she is extending the levels of genetic modifications and enhancements," Breanna blew out a gusty breath, "you were right, Jesse; I'm exhausted."

Reilly blinked quickly. Breanna jumped from one topic to another without any indication giving away a change in her train of thought.

"Let me show you to a guest room," he started walking in the direction of the passageway, "do you have anything to hang up or put in drawers?"

Silence met him; turning, he came face to face with Breanna, two steps behind him. The look on her face was disturbing, as though she could sense his intentions, see his thoughts and know his emotions. Coming to a slow stop, he met her steady gaze.

"Anything wrong?" he asked quietly.

"When did you meet Jesse?" the words came quietly on the air.

"We were in the same unit for a while," he said, "once released from the Facility, I ran into Jesse, who told me his discoveries about the necklaces."

"Hmmm," she hummed, her head cocking slightly to the right as she watched him, "you're telling the truth. Interesting."

"Okay," he breathed out, turning and walking to a nearby door, "the bedroom is in here."

"Nice room," Breanna murmured, stepping across the threshold, nodding as she looked around, "two single beds?"

"There are only three bedrooms currently being used in the house," Reilly shrugged, "Valencia will be sharing with you. Is that okay?"

"No problem," Breanna smiled slightly; the movement looked rusty and unused, "it will be nice to have someone else around. You said, "Currently in use" there are more unused rooms in this house?"

Reilly smiled a little, "Yeah, the bathroom is through here, and the kitchen is at the end of the passage."

"Thanks," Breanna whispered, "who has the other two bedrooms in use?"

"One is Jesse's," Reilly spoke quietly, "it doubles as his office, and the other room is mine. Also, doubling as my office."

"Who do you two work for?" Breanna turned to him, narrowing her gaze on him.

"I freelance my logistics skills," Reilly sighed, "Jesse is still in contact with the top brace of his old unit."

"Do either of your contacts know about Darcia?" Breanna's words fluttered on a terrified whisper.

"Jesse's contacts know about Darcia. Why?" Reilly watched Breanna's eyes grow wide, "if you're worried about them thinking you're Darcia, please relax. If Jesse hasn't notified them about who you are yet, he will."

Breanna nodded, "I think I'll get some sleep," she rubbed her forehead above her nose, "Jesse predicted I would be tired after the procedure; he was right."

"Hold up," Reilly paused, "when did you have your last procedure? Before escaping."

"Right before getting myself out of there," her words filled with exhaustion, "why?"

"I understand everyone received memory wipes about three days ago."

"Oh," Breanna frowned, "that could be the second procedure they wanted to do. Who told you?

"A text I received," Reilly pulled out his phone, showing Breanna, "much like the one Jesse got." Reilly moved to the door, "Valencia will be along in a moment. She had a rather hectic evening as well."

Stepping out of the bathroom, Breanna found Valencia entering the bedroom. The women stood motionless for a moment, staring at each other.

"Sorry," Valencia muttered, "I'll get used to seeing you. I know you're not Darcia. It's… wow … you are identical in every way."

"Physically, we are," Breanna nodded, "I understand people are usually terrified of me and what they think I can do."

"What can you do?" Valencia blurted out, her face blushing almost as fiery as her hair.

"No brain mouth filter, hey?" Breanna grinned at Valencia, "it's okay."

Valencia shrugged, "Never been able to get a handle on it."

"Darcia never did tell me what she did to me. I'm discovering my .... abilities ... as I go along." Breanna walked to the bed in the corner, sighing as she sat on the edge, "I do know I can knock people out with mental and emotional pressure. If I hit hard enough, I can kill them. I sense emotions, truth from lies and then the aura thing."

"That's a bit," Valencia nodded, "why did Darcia want to wipe your memory?"

"Why did she feel she needed to wipe everyone's?" Breanna posed the counter-question.

"Good point," Valencia sighed, sinking onto the edge of the opposite bed, facing Breanna, "unless she didn't know who had seen that document."

"That could be the assumption," Breanna nodded, "Reilly said something about you having a hectic night."

"Oh, yeah," Valencia nodded, "it was a little scary, but at least he was there to extract me."

"What happened?" Breanna asked quietly, her senses detecting the other woman's anxiety.

Valencia chuckled dryly, absently playing with her medium length nails, "I came home, found things rearranged on my patio. A listening device and camera on the edge of my vase of flowers, a letter under one of my patio boulders, Doc Chems ... Dr Maden's jacket over a chair in my kitchen." Valencia shuddered, "I went to the Tavern, a French man and a very muscular military type man approached me. I think the second guy posed as one of the bouncers. When I left the Tavern, another fanatic from Darcia's Facility followed me."

"That is an exciting evening," Breanna nodded, "how did you get here?"

Valencia sighed, "Trying to escape from Tavern guy; I found an alley hoping I could hide, he followed me. I was desperately trying to hide when a hand covered my mouth," she closed her eyes. "It was Reilly, except I didn't know it. He pulled me into a hiding place put his one hand up as Tavern guy came around the corner," Valencia frowned. "I don't know what he was doing. The tavern guy didn't see or hear us. When he left, Reilly brought me here," Valencia scoffed. "Actually, Rielly dragged me here if I have to be accurate."

"You are fortunate that he did," Breanna said, everything mulling over in her mind.

"I wonder who the person is texting Reilly and Jesse," Valencia frowned again, "how do they know their mobile numbers?"

"Good point. Could be that mystery insider," Breanna chuckled, "who knows, perhaps we'll become a Sci-Fi movie hero."

"Oh better, we could become the next superhero crime-fighting team," Valencia added, laughter bubbling up in both women.

"We could be anything we want to be," Breanna sighed, "right now, I just want to be far away from my sister and her insanity."

"I hear you," Valencia raised her hand, palm facing forward at shoulder height, "I never want to see the inside of that place again."

"No one should be in that place," Breanna said, "so you have a house. Must be nice to have a place of your own."

"Two places," Valencia nodded, "Tyler and I received one each, two houses side by side. They were our parent's homes. He signed his house over to me. He said he didn't want it."

"You have two places?" Breanna felt the possibilities in that sentence.

"Yeah," Valencia yawned, "don't know about you, but I need sleep."

"Same," Breanna crawled between the soft covers, sighing as her body relaxed on the soft mattress, "oh yes, I think I'll sleep well."

"Night," Valencia called from the bathroom.

"Night," Breanna murmured, "sleep well."

Closing her eyes, Breanna drifted off into blissful oblivion. Tomorrow was full of possibilities and another day.