1 Chapter One: The Cold Hard Facts

"Hugh it's time for school!" My mother's voice was like nails scraping across an old school chalkboard. Stupid old women didn't even comprehend the fact that I was always up and ready before she screeched my name in the morning. I got up at 5:15 am every morning and got ready just as she would call my name to get up at 6:30 am. I hated her voice and the fact she thought she was being motherly by forcefully calling my name every morning to wake me for school. I shook my head and gave myself one last glance to make sure everything was perfect. My dark hair slicked back keeping all strands perfectly in place. My button up dark blue shirt perfectly pressed without a wrinkle in sight. My matching blue tie was also wrinkle free and tied perfectly around my neck. I then looked at myself making sure I had no blemishes. Feeling satisfied I grabbed my homework from my desk ad started to pack my laptop bag. Just as I swung my pack around my shoulder, a knock sounded at my door. This was odd because no one was in the house but mother and well, me of course. It could be my mother but she was a fragile old thing and never ventured upstairs.

"Hugh," her voice came from the other side of the door.

"What?" I swung it open and glared at my mother. Her long gray hair ruggedly pulled into a bun and she had a large cup of plain coffee in her hand. The lines in her faces pulled as her frown deepened. The crows feet that etched her skin near her clear blue eyes sharpened as she gave me a glare.

"You're going to be late!" She scolded me with a sharp tone.

"So? Since when have you cared?" I stated my sarcastic tone having a hint of malice behind it. My mother was never the loving type and the most love she ever showed was harsh insults which I feel is her way to encourage me to be better. My short-tempered reply was answered by a quick and harsh smack across the cheek. It however didn't faze me much as I glared at my mother who had struck me so many times before.

"You're getting weak." I spat as I brushed past her careful not to knock the weakened woman down. I quickened my pace until I was descending down the stairs. When I hit the marble floor below I pivoted so I was heading for the kitchen. Without skipping a beat, I grabbed a pop tart and neglected to put it in the toaster. I used the Kitchen door as my exit and unwrapped my breakfast. I raised my keys to my car and unlocked it with a click of a button. I slid into my Mercedes Benz and popped the clutch into reverse. I sped to school eating my pop tart along the way. When I went to park, my car irritation flowed into my veins when I saw my usual front parking spot taken. Everyone knew this spot was mine! Everyone knew I would personally fuck up anyone who took it. With narrow eyes, I made a mental note to get out of class early and to meet with this person so they understood the rules. With a faint reluctance, I took a spot near the back of the parking lot and quickly walked to school.

When I entered the school, I noted the bell had rung and I was late. I almost neglected to stop my locker due to the foul mood I am in. I grabbed the book I needed and turned to go to class only to find someone blocking me.

"Hugh De Paine?" This person was not normal and they wore a hooded jacket that tightly covered their face. The person's voice was transparent so I could not tell if it was male or female. The person's image was vaguely familiar and just the thought of that angered me more. If they were familiar I should know them by name and face. My memory was near perfect and the fact that I might have forgotten a face enraged me.

"Are you the bastard that parked in my spot?" I indirectly accused without giving an answer to their question.

"Hugh De Paine they will come for you and when they do you must run." This person disregarded my question as I had so ignorantly done to them. Not liking this fact, I tried to slam this person up against the lockers across from us. Instead of feeling the satisfaction of their body colliding with mine I went crashing to the ground like a fool. I turned to look at the person but only to see I sat alone.

"What the fuck is wrong with me." I cranked my head to look around trying to find the hooded freak but to no avail. Shaking my head I picked myself off the dirty school floor and dusted myself off. I then hurried to class where I would be over fifteen minutes late too. I hated being late and this would be my first time this year. If I ever saw that hooded freak again I'd let them have it!

"Mr. Paine you're late." My first period teacher Mrs. Scoffland said as she looked up from the book the class was reading out loud together. I took my seat at the front of the class and flipped open my book to the proper page. The teacher began to read and I zoned out after a little while. The person was like the one from my dream my memory finally pieced together now that it had time. The one and only dream I have ever had since I was a child. I had told my mother of the dream and all it got me was a less than meaningful beating. I was told never to tell anyone about my dream. That I was to never speak of it again. As much as you think that would be easy it wasn't. I dreamed it every night and sometimes I could feel the pain, smell the blood, and feel the overwhelming sensation of fear. A sharp pain burned up my spin and across my shoulders. I gripped the edge of my desk as I was snapped harshly back to reality. I let my eyes slide across the room so as to not alert anyone to my personal situation. The pain intensified and I quickly stood up, no longer being able to sit.

"Mr. Paine you have already interrupted my class once today I suggest you-"

"Shut the hell up!" I roared, blood pounding in my ears drowned out her response, my temper snapped like burnt firewood. I felt as though my spine and shoulders were one fire. The look on her face was appalled with a hint of surprise. The class room was silent as all stared at my unprovoked outburst. I didn't wait for her response as I darted from the classrooms prying eyes. The pain was so intense I was almost in a blind run. My head started to throb and my vision started to blur. This wasn't going to be good. Gritting my teeth I threw myself into the lockers trying in some profound way to rid myself of this pain. I tried to use other sources of pain to counter the surreal pain that flared up my back. I managed to stumble into the bathroom and rip my shirt off causing buttons to spill onto the floor. I tossed my ruined shirt aside and turned around, twisting my body to see my back. My brain took a few moments to process what it saw.

I stared at it, eyes narrowed so I could see it clearly. I prodded it gently with my finger. I hissed as the pain made me punch the bathroom wall.

"Damn it!" I cursed; I was a man of logic but this, how do I explain this? This was not right! This could not be happening yet how could I deny it? With this thing burning in my back? This defied everything and I hated to admit it...even to myself but I was at a loss. For once in my life even back during my childhood I did not know what to do or what to make of my situation, - Situation was putting it lightly. It was more like a predicament...because that also meant difficult. This fell under that category because I was unable to explain what was happening.

Yeah it was one of those.... This was one hell of a predicament.

I paced back and forth looking at it time from time to time deep within my own thoughts. That was until I heard footsteps making me freeze mid step. Had my commotion caught someone's attention? God damn it, could anything else go wrong? I cannot believe what is happening. I didn't know how to explain what was happening. All I could tell was that my back was bleeding and in the shape of a cross... It started at the top of my neck where my skull met with the neck. The blood infringed upon my hairline making it slick and clumped. The cross continued downwards across my shoulders and ended about at my mid back. I heard the rhythmic pattern of footsteps coming down the call and froze in place. I waited silently until I was sure the footsteps were not heading my way. I then grabbed some paper towels and started to clean the blood. I had to know if this was just blood or something else, something more permanent. I hunched forward towards a mirror over the sink. My hand hovered above the base of my neck with a wad of paper towels. I drew in a deep breath and made contact.

Let me tell you one thing about cleaning a raw wound this size, it hurt like hell! I clenched my teeth to the point I thought I would snap my jaw but I wouldn't stop until the blood was gone. About a second later, I threw the bloody paper towels in the trash and went back over to the merrier. So I was right it was far more than just a blood cross... It was more like a tattoo. The lines were perfectly straight and nothing random could have done this. I put back on my ruined shirt just as the five-minute bell rang signaling that the halls would fill soon. Today wasn't my day and school was the last thing I needed. I quickly started to walk to my car.

"Hey where are you going?" I looked behind me to see a hall monitor. I took off at a run and for once, I was glad I parked so far away. I was much faster than the old man that acted as the hall monitor. I quickly lost him and got within a few feet of my car. I was feeling triumphant that made me forget one very important insignificant little detail. The buzzing sound made me turn around to see a drone hovering above me.

"What in the absolute fuck." I murmured as I watched it slowly start to circle around me and if I hadn't ducked through me like it couldn't see me. I sat crouched to the ground looking up as the drone seemed to be looking into my car. This couldn't be a coincidence I assumed as I watched and even heard the faint sound of clicking noises like it was taking pictures of the inside of my vehicle. If it couldn't see me I didn't want to alert it that I was here. It would look very suspicious if I hopped in and started to drive. It could very well tail me. I had a gut wrenching feeling that I needed to be afraid of this drone. I wonder if I walked away would it follow me or stay with the car? I start to slowly make my way towards the road out of the parking lot. It didn't follow, thank god it didn't fucking follow me. It hovered around 7ft in the air, I wasn't a short guy I stood around 6'3 in height. It circled slowly around my car and all I could think of was how this must've been related to the symbol that appeared on my back. I noticed a flag sporting our school symbol on it a few feet away. I could use the flag to take down the drone. Obviously it didn't know I was here, it couldn't see me. I can't just take off in my car because it was monitoring it, looking for me or so it seemed. I walked briskly over to the flag that stuck out of the ground and wrenched it from its place. I didn't hesitate to walk back over to the drone that still hoovered closely to my car. Using the length of the pool I swatted it out of the sky and watched as it bounced against another car. I quickly covered it in the flag and proceeded to stomp on it multiple times. I was frustrated and confused that this thing deserved to be demolished. The feeling of utter satisfaction only lasted a few fleeting moments. As I entered the car and forgot one simple very important fact.

That my fucking back was on fire and during my moment of self satisfaction I had forgotten. The steering wheel to my Benz seemed like the perfect place to take out some anger and frustration. Not until my fists felt nice and sore did my mind send the signal to tell my body to stop because by then my spine had calmed. I fished my keys out of my pocket and kept a mind on not touching my back to anything especially the car seat. I started my car and popped it into reverse. I drove with my back erect and my hands clenched tight to the steering wheel. My right hand only moved to shift gears and I for once in my life I wished I had an automatic. Every movement killed my back, almost making me want to scream like a lunatic. My house wasn't far but for some reason it felt like miles. The two red lights I hit seemed like hours ticked by without another car coming insight.

"Do you have visual yet?" It was another voice but different from the first. I looked around my car but found no one in it. I was now starting to question my mental health. The voice prompted me to go faster and I feared to hear it again. I pulled up to my house and punched in the code to open the gate. Satisfaction filled me when the gates pulled open and I was able to go park my car. There was one person I was almost certain knew what was going on.

"Mother!" I shouted as soon as I threw open the doors. My shout reverberated angrily off the walls. Vibrating with my pain and confusion. I stalked into the living room and sat down feeling extremely faint.

"Mother," I whispered as soon as I felt her presence besides me. I heard her gasp at the sight of my now bloodied shirt and sweaty form. Without a word, my mother ripped the shirt from my back making me roar with pain.

"Watch it!" I demanded as she started to examine my back. Just like her no words, no are you okay? Straight to business. It was as if she was immune to the world, no emotions, not even for me, her son.

"When did this happen?" My mother's voice was sharp and decisive like that of a doctor trying to get information about a patient's pain.

"Just after I got to class." I muttered as I felt her cold hands edge the lines of my wound. She was muttering things to herself again, a habit she had.

"Anything else like voices?" She asked coming around to face me. Oh, just how coincidental is that, my mother did know something. Please note my tired sarcasm.

"Yes once before the cross appeared on my back and once after when I was driving home. It sounds to me like you know what is going on so could you please, enlighten me?" I asked, looking her straight in the eyes. My mother's fragile form slumped to the marble floor. For once in my life, I could see tears shining in the edges of her eyes. I was seventeen and had never seen her cry.

"I can't explain much now because they are probably on their way here. What I can tell you is that I have been on the run for a very long time." I didn't know how to react. My mother never looked so emotionally weak in her life. I wanted to reach out to comfort her but I was never shown how to do that so I sat frozen. I knew what the word meant but my mother never did anything that involved touching me in a loving mannerism.

"Um, mother?" She looked up at me when I said this, "are you okay?" I continued making her shake her head sadly no.

"It is time for phase two." She whispered as she wiped her tears away and stood straightening her form. My mother had once been a strong and confident woman. She was a very unpredictable woman and sometimes even though she is my mother, I wondered if I truly knew her. We hardly ever talked and when we did it usually ended in argument.

"Go pack some clothes and meet me in the kitchen." I opened my mouth, "but-

"I said go pack your things and I said to do it now." Her stern tone and sharp eyes made me stop mid sentence. I would often contradict her. I wanted to know what was going on but this time I felt as if I should trust her. Something I begrudgingly did as I got up and started for my room. I packed slowly, mostly my good clothes. I wore Prada, polo, nothing less than the best. At least that is what my mom said when she used to send me shopping. I skipped two steps at a time going down the stairs. When I hit the floor I found my mother already waiting for me packing my pop tarts.

"Give me one." I said snagging a box and ripping it open, cinnamon not my favorite but it would do. I began to munch on it nervously as I watched my mother flip through her little black contact book, yes my mom was that old school. She obviously found the number she was looking for as she ripped that particular page out of the book before tossing it aside.

"Leave your cell phone." I gulped down a bite before tossing my cell onto the kitchen counter without questions.

"Here take these." My mom handed me some of her pain medication.

"It's for your back." She added as the three white pills dropped into my palm. I quickly ran to the sink and turned it on. I popped the white pills into my mouth and bent over the counter to get a drink straight from the sink. The pain still burning in my back had only been subdued by my adrenaline.

"Good now let's go." She said walking to the garage door making me follow close behind her. The lights took a minute to flicker on but when they did, it shined on my mom's favorite old school car. A 1988 black corvette sat as if it was still on the showroom floor. My mom got in the driver seat, which rather scared me since I have never seen her drive in my life. If I wanted to go somewhere when I was younger, my mom had a personal driver on call for me. She never left the house unless necessary even then she was a nervous wreck.

"Say goodbye to our home Hugh. We won't be coming back." I looked over at her watching as she put on her sunglasses. Was she being serious? I wanted to ask her why but I do not believe I would get much out of her. When my mom said she would do something, she kept her word. Therefore, I would just have to wait for her to explain, that however turned out to be agonizing. My mom didn't talk and all she did was puff on her menthol cigarettes. Her addiction was as bad as my pop tart one... Mine however was a tad bit healthier. I stared out the windows we lived in Miami and the sun was high in the sky. If you don't know where Miami is then you need to go back to school. Anyway, it's in Florida you know the oddly shaped state at the bottom of the United States on the east coast. Yeah, I hate it here. It was a short minute later before I realized where I was going.

"The airport?" My mom nodded her head to my question.

"We have a private airplane ready." She informed me as we pulled off the freeway exit to the airport.

"To where?" I asked her to shake her head, "somewhere safe." That didn't tell me much but at least we had somewhere to go to be safe from... whatever is chasing us. I put a hand to my temple and began to rub. I felt a headache coming on. We were walking to the terminal when a very tall man in a pilot's uniform greeted us.

"Mrs. Paine?" He inquired with a polite smile, which my mom returned.

"Yes are you our escort?" My mom asked, making the man nod briskly.

"Yes, yes I'm Raja it's a pleasure." He said taking my moms hand in a limp shake. I could tell that by the way his wrist bent downwards. I shook my head. I hated when I noticed such small details like that. It always got me distracted. I followed my mom and the limp handed pilot to a door that was marked for employees only. The pilot scanned a card and then punched in a few numbers on a keypad. The door buzzed and we walked through without any bother. We followed in silence after many doors we came to a white one that led outside to the PVT sector of the airport. The pilot threw our bags in for us while we got into the luxurious jet. It was an off-white color with one dark blue pin stripe going down the sides. It was a older jet but I didn't expect anything less.

I felt unsure of what to think as I looked around the jet sizing it up. My mother sat next to me and crossed her legs before placing her entwined hands on top of her knee. Her steel blue eyes are like a fortress holding back all her emotions making her impossible to read. Her back was as stiff as a board and I waited patiently for my mom to relax enough to explain whatever in the hell is going on. I was not stupid something serious was going on. I had always wondered why my mother never appeared in public. One of the reasons for my resentment was that I felt like she never wanted to spend time with me. When I was younger, she never took me places. We used to have a nanny until I was old enough to take care of myself. My mother never allowed people on the property. Not friends, not family, no kind of maintenance hell we didn't even have cable or internet. I never thought of it much until now but did my mother's strange behavior have reasoning behind it? She was hiding us, I knew that much but from what or who I had no idea. The pilot finally made his way into the plane and secured the side door before heading for the cockpit. The door slid shut and cut us off from the pilot once more. The jet's engines rumbled to life and soon after, I could feel the familiar shift of the jet as it began to move. Only when we were in the air did my mom's demeanor change. Her eyes shifted from her hands and to my eyes.

"I thought I was doing it for you. I wanted nothing but the very best so believe me when I say this Hugh." I didn't know what to think when she said this. So I kept silent waiting for her to continue.

"I signed you up for a program your father was involved in. He was a scientific coordinator..." My mom paused, "for a department that I never quite found out what it truly was..." She trailed off wearily. I cleared my throat to snap her out of the daze she seemed to have plunged into. She jerked back to reality upon hearing me and shook her head.

"What I didn't know was what they would be doing to you. When I was at work, your father would take you with him and when you got back, I thought nothing of it at first... You were just a baby when they started and I only noticed a difference when you were four." My mom smiled at me in an almost forced fashion.

"You were reading a history book... Four year old do not just read history books. It had no pictures and when I asked why you were reading it, you replied because mommy all the other books are boring. That is when I confronted your father and learned what they had been doing to you." She paused to take a handkerchief and wipe her eyes gracefully. I watched her silently not knowing what to think or say... What did my father do to me that had my mother so freaked out?

"Promise me Hugh that you won't interrupt me not even for a second because I fear if you do I won't be able to continue. I need you to listen. I will only say this once... I know what you are about to hear will be hard but please promise me." I nodded my head to her showing her she had my full compliance. My heart thudded in my chest frantically threatening to burst from my ribcage. My hands gripped the chair tightly out of pure anxiety.

"I thought your father was just taking you to work because I thought I signed you up for the father son program he said he had at work. I did not realize the only reason he was taking you was to do experiments. I didn't know that they had implanted a chip in your brain or that they were enhancing you physically. I didn't know what to do. It took me another year to figure out how to get us away from him. In that year they did more to you because I had to act normal so that you father didn't suspect anything. I was making friends with the other scientists in his department. I didn't like what I was doing but I only had you in mind when I was doing it." I watched as my mother's grip tightened on her satin skirt as if remembering something she had locked away in her mind years ago.

"I finally made a breakthrough with one of his friends, Ted, if I remember right. It took a lot of convincing but I got him to neutralize the chip they had implanting in you as a baby. I was so blind those days. I should have known, the money, the technology, you... They were grooming you, your father said. The chip allowed them to implant information into you as a child like that of mathematics. You started coming home more tired than ever and when I asked your father why he would simply shrug and tell me it was for the best. Now that you are almost eighteen, I fear they have figured a way to reactivate your chip. If that is true then I fear my time with you will be short." She paused, reaching for my hand I let her take it.

"They will kill me if they find me Hugh there is no doubt about that." My mind reeled like an old movie projector. I felt confused, angry, and sick all at the same time. A chip was implanted in my brain. Great. I was being groomed. Great, none of this made sense... Fucking great!

"Okay so let me get this straight," I said putting up my hands trying simultaneously to cool myself down.

"When I was a baby dad took me and did massive amounts of experiments in which you have no idea what they truly did to me or why?" My mother's gray hair had come loose from its classic bun and her gray strands fell indecisively in front of her face. I watched her nod her head, tears hitting her blouse.

"I'm so sorry Hugh. I was a horrible mother. I should have known and I should have put a stop to it sooner." Her thin lips quivered and I quickly changed my hands position from being under neither hers to on top so I could squeeze it reassuringly. My mother had always been strict and reclusive this time however it all made sense.

"Stop apologizing it's not going to help now. What I need to know is why this is all happening now." My mother shook her head at my question I had spoken slowly and directly. From what I understood, my mother did not know much when it was happening and she knew even less now. My mother's head shook no and I knew then it was hard for her to relive those days.

"I don't know..." I groaned, releasing her grip. My so called bi-polar personality crept out to make an appearance.

"This is insane you know? How do I know you're not crazy from never seeing the goddamn sun?" I hissed irritation and confusion taking its toll on me flipping my attitude like an unfinished pancake. My temper has always been foul and now it was even worse. I glared at my mother who hardly spoke to me and shunned me most of my years. I couldn't grasp the concept and it made me want to blow a fuse. I did not like not knowing. I disliked my life, yes, but not because of how I lived it. No it was my mother that made me hate my days but now as I see her crumbling before me, a shell of the mother I knew. I couldn't help but feel confused by her sudden onset of emotions.

"I know it's hard to understand now. I knew this day would come, yet I didn't tell you anyway. I'm sorry for this Hugh I've made more mistakes then I can count. It seems the only thing I did right was getting you away from there. At least if they do catch you, you will not be one of them. You will have your own mind, thoughts and feelings towards what they have to say. You won't just go along and be a mindless drone!" My mother's voice rose and the glint in her eyes made me seriously doubt her mental health. Even when we started the conversation, I had doubts about her mental state of mind. She locked herself away for years there had to be some repercussions.

"Mother please can you tell me who the enemy is?" My mother's eyes closed softly and stayed shut as if trying to think of the right thing to say. The easiest way to put it to a seventeen year old.

"The government." I almost literally face palmed my forehead but I held myself. The government? What was this some sort of conspiracy that my mother has gone off her rocker about? In any case, I had to find the underlying cause of this. Was my mom a lunatic or was there something to what she said?

"The government?" I asked flatly it must have been the way I said it or the look I gave it with but for whatever the reason my mother slapped me hard. My cheek stung and I turned my head back to face her. She had never been good at holding her temper either. I guess that is where I got it from.

"You're not taking me seriously enough Hugh! Isn't the tattoo proof enough that there is something far beyond your seventeen year old minds comprehension! Don't forget I am your mother and I will not be taken as less." The spark of my old mother was back making me sit back straight in my seat. My mom was all about manners and being proper. Something she had trained into me since childhood.

"Sorry," I muttered quickly just now remembering the tattoo. Those pain killers were certainly doing their job. I do not know why I doubted my mom so much.

"The painkillers..." I explained vaguely, making her shake her head.

"You should probably get some sleep. We won't be landing for awhile plus I don't feel like talking anymore." I nodded my head slowly, finally feeling how tired I was. I pulled back the window cover a few inches to peek outside. The dark sky landscaped in front of me with gray clouds hanging in the edges of my view. I let it go and reclined in my seat.

"Wake me when we get there." I murmured as I let my eyelids slide shut and a yawn escape my lips. So many things ran amuck in my mind. I got a few answers but with it a shit ton of questions. No wonder my mother never wanted to talk about my dad. He did things to me and my mom still doesn't know what. Does that haunt her to this day? It sure seems like it... Does she believe because of that incident she wasn't able to protect me properly? One last single thought ran across my mind. She told me that they would kill her if they found us. I will not let them find us. As much as I had problems with my mom I loved her and she was the only one in my life that showed me any kind of love, even if it was tough.

I didn't fall asleep fast, not with the tapping of my mom's foot. I knew my mom probably wouldn't sleep. She had insomnia which made her stay awake in a zombie like state. I tried hard to sleep and it was in vain. No matter how hard I tried, sleep would not come. Thoughts swum threw my head running crashing into one another. I didn't know what to think so I didn't know how to feel. It was utterly frustrating to say the least. The only feeling that was clear to me was anger. Why couldn't we have just been a normal family? Why did something as bizarre as this have to destroy everything I knew to be right. The best concept I could come up with was that my mother ran from some government organization and, or branch. Taking me- their test subject with her. She hid herself away for years to avoid detection but how did I avoid it? Wouldn't they know what I looked like or something? The drone from earlier that day didn't seem to be able to see me at all. Am I being cloaked somehow? Something just didn't add up... if this was the government we were talking about as the enemy then... we should have been caught years ago... So why now? Why let my mother go with me? Why reactivate the chip now? Things didn't add up and it was driving me up a wall. As I thought more I didn't seem to notice a dark subconscious laugh... not my subconscious but someone else's. I listened as voices started to float into my mind... Draining into my head.

"It's back on we've got him." The voice was definitely female, "they're moving."

"Good is she with him?" The voice was deep signifying it was a male. I felt my body twitch and my eyes opened. Without my consent my eyes flickered to my mother who was looking out the window with long smoke in hand. I closed my eyes and it made a sharp pain trigger like a shotgun threw my head.

"He's resisting, his chip might be damaged." The female stated I heard a clicking as if that of a computer keyboard.

"Can he hear us?" Silence followed the man's question. My heart thudded and pounded in my chest. My head hurt making me grit my teeth this day just wouldn't stop would it? My reaction was stunted by one simple fact: what could I do? The best course of action was to listen carefully so I could gather as much about the enemy as possible.

"I don't believe so... The chip isn't meant for that. If anything we should be able to hear them but it seems the chip is damaged." The girl replied after a pause that was filled with her typing away at a computer.

"Good when can we get a recon team to their location?" The male asked, making me inwardly gulp. This was bad if they found us my mom said they would kill her, If I lost her.

"They will-" The voices faded into nothing and I sat up slowly before opening my eyes. I drew my hands to my face, dropping my throbbing head into them. I tried to calm myself. I had to tell my mother. She needed to know they are already coming for us.

"Mother..." I tried to make my voice strong but it cracked lightly making her eyes shoot up to meet mine.

"I heard them... they know where we are and they are coming for us." My voice never rose above a whisper. I couldn't let them get my mother. I thought I'd see some worry but instead my mom seemed utterly calm. A small smile imprinted on her face.

"I knew it was time to stop running." Her response made me realize she had no plan and she was willing to give herself in.

"Isn't there something we could do? Land somewhere else?" I asked trying to find a solution.

"Hugh there is no more running we are talking about the government here in America there is no such thing as privacy. This was my one and only plan and it has failed. When they catch us they will take you and they will kill me. Those are the cold hard facts." My mother's voice was hard and cold.

"How can you just say that? Just roll over and die don't you want to fight!" I yelled standing up for the first time in the jet. I waited to be slapped but it didn't come as my mom simply stared at me.

"I fought my fight years ago and now it's time you fight yours. I might not be by your side but just remember what I taught you. My spirit will be with you forever just remember that." I sat back down distraught unable to think of anything to say. My hands shook uncontrollable and my headache still hasn't ceased. Was this the way to spend my last few hours with my mother? I could bring myself to talk to her even when I had so many questions.

"What was dad like?" I asked absentmindedly making my mom look over at me as if mauling it over in her brain whether or not to answer.

"When I first met him? Charming, handsome, smart, nice, everything any woman would want. I loved him and all he did was use me. Everything was a set up and a lie from the beginning. He only wanted me because he wanted a baby from me, he wanted you." I frowned at her answer. What did she mean when everything was set up from the beginning?

"What do you mean?" I asked, watching as she took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"They wanted the Paine name Hugh. We are late descendants of Hugues De Payens the founder of the Knights Templar. That is also why he named you Hugh I never made the connection until later." I went to open my mouth and speak, but my throat became dry, unable to form words. I simply closed my eyes. I wanted to wake up from this nightmare. I looked up at my mother who was offering me a drink of water. I gazed at the glass and my dry throat prompted me to take it with haste. I drank it down only to realize too late that my mother had dropped sleeping pills into it. The pills didn't hit fast but when they did I glared over at my mother.

"Why, I want to spend time with you." I muttered, yawns escaping between my words.

"I'm sorry Hugh but I don't want you to see what happens next. I love you Hugh don't ever forget that." I fought to stay awake as my lids became so heavy I felt as if they were made of lead.

"Mother!" I tried to stand only to find myself slumped on the floor.

"I love you please.... Don't die...I need you." The last thing I saw was my mother's teary blue eyes. I'd never forget her face... It held so much love, so much passion... So why? Why did she do this to me? If she loved me, I would understand that I need her here.

Mother, why?

I awoke hours later, my mind was foggy. I still had a faint headache. When my eyes cracked open the first thing I could see was blood, the next thing that hit me was the scent of it.