We made it back to the house just as dusk was upon us. Lex and I chatted idly along the way back and she told me some stories of us as children. The stories were lovely to hear, but they saddened me in a way I hadn’t experienced yet. I longed so deeply for the memories of my past, but they were still beyond my reach. And with the new information about my parents, my journals might not be completely accurate.

Lex opened the front door of the house and we slipped inside.

“Finally.” Liam said sharply when he saw us enter, “Where were you?”

“A park. I just needed some space.” I explained.

“Charlotte, there are people after us, you can’t just run off.” Liam said.

“Yes I can, Liam, if I want too.” I said, annoyed at his reaction.

“You could have gotten hurt.” Liam argued.

“So? I’m not your responsibility.” I pointed out.

“Charlotte-”

“Liam, shut up!” Lex snapped, “We have more important things to do than arguing over Charlotte’s decisions.”

“Lex is correct, we have much to discuss.” John said from his perch on the sofa. The rest of the group had cleared out of the living room, more than likely either upstairs or in the kitchen in the back.

“Alright, John, talk.” I demanded, “Tell me what’s going on here.”

“Before we begin, Charlotte, I have to warn you that what I tell you will be, well, unpleasant to learn.”

“Just talk.” I drawled, my patience wearing thin at his stalling.

“Alright, well, when you were born, you contracted a deathly virus. There was no cure and no hope that you would live. Then, like a miracle, a man named Greg came along claiming to have a serum that could cure you. Your parents, not the people you live with now, your real parents were desperate, so they agreed. Greg administered the serum, and within an hour you were remarkably healthy.” He paused, and with a deep breath continued, “But your parents failed to realise that Greg required payment for his services. He didn’t want money, but you.”

“Wait, so you’re saying I lived with this Greg when I was growing up?” I scoffed and John sighed at my interruption.

“No, you didn’t let me finish, this is a lengthy tale, Charlotte.” John said and I motioned for him to continue his story.

“Right, so, your parents obviously did not want Greg to take you, so they fought and won. They whisked you away to a safe place with others like you. However, this only lasted until just before your 12th birthday. Greg and his men found this safe haven and massacred the entire place. The other children ran before they would be captured, but you stayed with your parents instead of leaving. Greg brutally murdered your parents in front of you, then for a reason none of us know, let you go. When the police came, you were just standing in front of all the bodies. That was when you lost your memories, Charlotte. That’s when part of your abilities helped activate a sort of safety mechanism. You couldn’t handle what had happened so your brain locked those memories away, and for added measure, continued to do so every 30 days. You were able to become Charlotte Peters and be safe.” He paused again and gave me a sorrowful look, “Then on your 17th birthday, we came looking for you. Your full abilities should have well come into play by then and we wanted to help you. But Greg found us first, he kidnapped all of us, we were there for months before Mike, Henry, and I were able to escape. You beat us to freeing everyone else, so thank you for that.”

“Why should I believe this? And how the hell do you know all this?” I asked, arms crossed over my chest.

“Because I am the only flesh and blood you have left.” John snapped.

“Fine, so let’s say I believe you. Then how do you propose I turn off this ability of mine? And what exactly is the other part?” I questioned.

“To turn the memory loss off, it’s hard to fully explain, but we see it like flipping a switch in your mind.” He explained and I quickly tried to do so, but I didn’t feel any different.

“Didn’t work.” I said and he sighed.

“Charlotte, you have no practise, of course it didn’t work!” Lex said and I jumped slightly in surprise. While John was telling his story I had forgotten we weren’t alone.

“I’d like to try something, to help, if you’d let me.” John said.

“What exactly?” I asked, wary.

“Lex, Liam, please give us a minute.” He smiled at them.

“Charlo-”

Lex cut Liam off with a jab to his ribs and said, “You sure, kiddo?”

“It’s fine.” I nodded and Lex directed them out of the room, leaving me alone with my supposed uncle.

“Good.” John smiled, with a hint of sinister undertone, “Let’s begin.

From my perch leaning against the wall, I watched as John stood and cracked his knuckles. Then, before my brain could catch up with my eyes, he rushed towards me and wrapped his thin, cold hands around my neck. I gasped in surprise and at the change in air supply as he lifted me off the ground, squeezing tighter and tighter.

I clawed at his hand and kicked out with my feet, but to no avail. His grip was secure on my throat when black spots began to cloud my vision.

The last thing I remember was hearing a combined shriek of my name from Lex and Liam.