The fact that CJ was even in my house had been confusing enough, but seeing my sister sitting in his lap was even more confusing. My mother had quickly ushered me inside and locked the door behind me while I sat down in the chair facing parallel to CJ. Madison was happy to see me as she jumped out of his lap and ran to give me a hug which I quickly welcomed.

“Whats going on?” I whispered as my mom sat down next to CJ taking his hand in her own.

“You are not gonna believe this.” She whispered back before rushing up the stairs and closing the door behind her.

I looked back and forth between my mother and CJ and I was trying to make sense of what was going on. My mom and CJ definitely seemed to know each other as my mom seemed way too comfortable with a man I had just met, who had also never even been mentioned in all the years that we had been on the run. Not to mention they didn't look the least bit the same in size or stature. CJ looked like he was easily 6’4’’ while my mother was merely 5’6’’ and not to mention my mother always held a firm strong hand as I’ve only known CJ for a few hours and I could tell he was a more laid back person despite being built like a tank.

And yet the way they were regarding each other in front of me spoke volumes, so much so that I was almost too terrified to ask.

“So… either one of you wanna explain what's going on?”

They both looked to each other and seemed unsure of who should start talking. Eventually my mother sighed and turned to face me again.

“Well for starters this is Clarence Giles, and CJ… this is your son.”

As soon as my mom said CJ and I began to stare at each other once again; the both of us were unsure of what to say, and yet I couldn't get this feeling out of my mind.

Because for whatever reason I wasn't surprised at all. Even if it hadn't been for the obvious affection they displayed for each other, or the fact that I met him prior this evening, but simply because everything about this man felt incredibly familiar and I had finally figured it out.

His eyes may have gotten older, but they were still the same for the last time I had met him. The only problem was that I couldn't remember the last time I had seen him. Everything about him felt familiar from his smile to his calm demeanor, and yet I couldn't remember when the last time we had met was, but I was certain it hadn't been that long ago.

Suddenly it all clicked as I let out a light gasp.

“You were there when Madison was born...I was only nine.” I said simply as their eyes grew wide confirming that I was right.

Before I could ask any questions my mom began her story.

“I told you that in order to keep you hidden we had to keep moving… but that was a lie.The day you were born I held you for about five minutes before you were rushed out of the room. No one would talk to me or explain what they were doing with you, but you and I stayed in that hospital for two weeks before we finally left.” My mom looked to me to see if I had any questions but I was at a loss for words. “On the day that we left I was approached by a man-”

“Mr. Jameson” I growled as my mom didn't even look surprised that I knew his name.

“ He took your grandmother and I down through a lower floor of the hospital were we saw that children were developing powers like your father and herself-”

“Wait herself? Grandma has powers too!?”

My mom just looked at me apologetically and continued her story without answering my question

“He made me an offer: Your father and I would be paid a considerable amount… if we let him take you.”

I froze in my seat as my mom finished that sentence as I felt like I was gonna throw up. After a pause my mother continued. “Naturally I refused and that enraged him. He began yelling at your grandmother and I and accused us of being monsters from keeping him from his.. Prize” My mother recounted what I assumed were bitter memories as her voice dripped with disgust as she talked about the man. “He assured me that he would have his way eventually… so we've… I’ve been running ever since.”

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but one thing still didn't make sense to me.” Where were you?” I asked CJ as I realized mom hadn't mentioned him in her story at all.

“Well…” CJ finally spoke “To put it simply I was working. My job has me traveling all over the world with my brother so I only found out about the situation when your mother found a way to get a letter to me. I wanted to come back immediately, but..” He stopped before giving my mother a sideways glance. “Your mother insisted that I stay away in case she needed to move across the country fast. I hated the idea of you growing up without me, but we didn't have that many options.”

The frown on CJ’s face only seemed to grow bigger as he told his story and that's when something dawned on me.

CJ was lying and he didn't like it.

I may not have known him long enough but his mannerisms were making it too obvious. The way he kept fidgeting, the fact that he couldn't meet my gaze, and the fact that he kept glancing at my mom, almost like he was asking for her permission before he continued speaking. I wasn't sure why he was lying, but against my better judgement I let it go. With everything that they were telling me I decided that if they weren't giving e the whole truth it was for good reason, and I was too terrified to wanna find out what that was tonight.

“So… for years I thought I was the problem.” I chuckled as I looked towards my mom. “When all this time you were just trying to avoid a psycho that managed to find us anyway hm?”

“What are you-”

“All that running you did was all for shit. He's been keeping track of us and my blunders since we left California.” My mom looked both surprised and terrified by those words.

“How-”

“Oh and that's not all!” I interrupted her again, my anger seething through my veins. “One of his kids took it upon herself to threaten me and everyone I love if I don't prove useful since apparently the guy you're so scared of has been one of my teachers for the entire damn semester!”

I got up from the chair fire erupting from my hands as the window shutters began to shake violently from the wind I was stirring up. The sink in the kitchen exploded as water gushed from the faucet but I didn't care. I was way too pissed off.

“And the icing on the cake- I have a month to build up a power I can barely fucking control just so I can compete in this stupid field day at school where not making the top 10 could very well mean certain death for all of us!”

My mom seemed at a loss for words as she started to cry, but as terrible as this makes me seem I didn't care at that moment.

“I’ve been keeping this to myself because I was worried about upsetting you, scared that you would be angry with me for getting in this fucked up situation! I missed out on a lot because I’ve spent my entire life stressing over making sure I kept you happy when in the process I missed out on a happy childhood, I didn't get to know my dad, and now we're all gonna die because I can't protect any of you.

Without another word I ran upstairs to ashamed of myself in that moment. The last part of my rant had been more towards me than at my mom because that's how I felt at that moment. My family was in danger, my friends were in danger, and all of it was my fault for even being born.

All I wanted to do in that moment was die