December 2028

  After the meeting, Padma heads home. Aminu is already back from the Institute. She tells him she’s in the mood to cook and starts chopping some onions. Crying in the process.

  Aminu is in the living room, watching over and over the earthquake and the tsunami that hit the islands.

  “I think there’s a good game tonight. Can you change the channel, please?” Padma asks.

  Aminu doesn’t answer and continues to rewind and see the video of the tsunami. Over and over. The news report. The people wondering where their loved ones are.

  “Aminu! Are you listening to me?” Padma asks louder this time.

  She goes around the kitchen and heads to the living room. All an open space. He’s fixated on the screen.

  “Aminu!” She touches him and he flinches immediately.

  “What, o?!” He shouts and taps his right hand on his left shoulder continuously. Avoiding looking at her.

  “Aminu… what’s going on?” She puts herself between him and the TV screen.

  He gets up and goes around her, focusing on the screen again.

  “The earthquake was on the same day that we ran tests in Florida…”

  “Tests?” Padma scratches her head.

  “Yes. Me. The element controller. I amplified his ability in Florida. So that when we meet Rachel Moore again, it’s stronger.”

  “What about it, Aminu?”

  “What if the earthquake was us?” Aminu doesn’t raise his eyes to meet hers.

  “Aminu, I’m sure the tests were run with the optimal safety measures. The element controller is from Florida. It’s safer there than here after everything that happened in the factory. Also, no one has mentioned anything in my meetings. They would if it was their doing, even if accidentally.”

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  “Are you sure?”

  “Aminu,” Padma smiles, “I promise you. None of this was your fault. These disasters happen, unfortunately.”

  Aminu smiles and forces himself to look at Padma. He hands her the remote, and she changes to the sports channel. The hockey match will start in a few minutes.

  Padma returns to the kitchen. She keeps preparing everything and joins him while the rice cooker works its magic.

  They shout whenever their team scores and lose focus on the plate of rice in their hands. Padma looks at Aminu, sees his hoodie, the one Abigail gave him, and knows in her heart that at least there, he can have some moments of joy.

  She wakes up on the next day to the sound of her alarm. I should text Marianne. She won’t say it, but she is probably worried about her daughter. Or at least angry that she betrayed us. Why didn’t she tell me Sophie was her daughter?

  Padma takes a shower, puts her skincare and makeup on, gets dressed and calls Marianne. She answers.

  “Marianne, how are you? I’m concerned.”

  To Padma’s surprise, Marianne’s tone is serene and gentle. She explains that Sofie is very close to the Angel of Death because they grew up together. It’s a betrayal, but one that Marianne can understand. She’s sure that Sofie will eventually see that the specimen can’t be trusted and come back home.

  ***

  Zachary tried his best to prevent Veronica from seeing the news. An impossible task. All the accusations that their parents face, the interviews, all in repeat on the channels from the United States. Only a brief report on the Eurasian news.

  “You know it’s a lie, Vero.” He says.

  She just nods. “Why are they lying?”

  “Because mom and dad told the world the truth about the government. It’s a tactic. Claim that the messengers are liars. More than that. That they are horrible people. No one will believe the message.”

  “Where are they?”

  “I don’t know, Veronica…” He smiles widely. “Everything is okay. I promise you.”

  “Are you lying, Zachary?”

  His smile disappears.

  ***

  After several flights, Rebecca Lewis and Mark Parker land in Germany. They have new identities and radically changed their appearance. A citizen of the United States, long-time, business partner, greets them at the airport and drives them to a hotel nearby.

  “You have to lie low for a while now,” He warns them. “Stay here. Avoid any form of communication. We’ll handle everything with Veronica and Zachary. The plan is for all of you to meet in the Netherlands. Veronica and Zachary are probably being closely watched now. We’ll keep their routines and see when it’s the best time to move them.”

  “Shouldn’t we do something?” Rebecca asks.

  “No, you two need to stay put. Food will be delivered to you. Clothes cleaned here. Stay here until we move you. The United States of America is preparing to accuse you of several crimes. Put an international arrest warrant in your name. We need to be one step ahead of them. Bring Veronica and Zachary before it happens and put you all under protection.”