I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF MY CHILDHOOD HOME. There is a gun on the right side of my belt. Energy and power flows through my veins. We had to be close to the end. There is no excuse from us for this to continue.

This will be the end. It has to be.

I focus on the world on the other side of the force field. When I close my eyes, I'm back here for the first time that I could remember. Spencer was by my side as we walked through the streets heading back home for the first time in years. I didn't even know what home was at the time. I still don't think I quite know. He showed me my school, the park, my favourite restaurant, everything that was now nothing but bare land of piles of rubble. Every now and then, people pass by, scared and helpless. The same bracelet is latched onto all of them, signalling that they were property of the Institute. All looked at me with hopeless eyes.

I think I'm still the enemy in their eyes.

Spencer still stands beside me, Tyson to my other side. They watch as I focus to take down the barrier separating us from the outside world. I told Tyson not to hold it up anymore, so at this point it was all my doing. 

This was the only thing that was keeping me from the Institute. 

"Is everyone ready?" I said hoarsely, looking around. Dad, Clayton, Spencer, Kass, Tyson, Jessica, Taylor and the three younger ones. Taylor offered to watch over them, which was fine since she since really the type of person to be on the battle field. I've never seen Kass fight but I guess that didn't matter since she wasn't coming either.

Just before he left the house, Spencer and Kass had the biggest argument, but I had no idea what it was about. He didn't think keeping anyone in the house was safe, even if I said I'd put the barrier up before we leave completely. 

"I can't risk you losing it."

"I won't, I won't."

He planted a kiss on her lips. Sometimes I did forget that they were in a relationship. Through all this, they managed to stay together. The universe probably thinks that it's meant to be.

I wonder what "it" is.

The plan is to invade and overthrow the Institute. Knock out and leave as many Evolutians as we can unarmed, only killing then when absolutely necessary. Spencer and Jess are going to try and find the control rooms, disabling the mind control and the virus in the air. Dad and Clay are going to locate Mom and Mr. Miller. Tyson and I are going to find the Evolutians, and I, secretly, am going to find Kelly.

Plus, we had a whole army on the other side of the field. Aidan really did have a secure connection from all around the world. Everywhere, all around the world,  a similar thing is going to happen, once I give the signal.

"We're good, Lauren," Spencer stated. "Are you?"

I looked up at the moon, still up, bright, and shining. It was the only thing providing light. The barrier glitched, making the moon look glitched too. I gulped, nodding. It took a second for the barrier to come down. We rushed out before I put it back up, securing the others on the inside. If none of us made it, the future ruler was sitting in the basement.

Instantly, we split up. They say safety in numbers but being in a big group was the fastest way to get caught. Spencer and Jess run left, Dad and Clayton run right. I hold back, Tyson with me. He's telling me to start running, but I have to stop. 

All I hear is buzzing. My head it pounding.

"No... no, no, no this isn't happening right now," Tyson curses. "You can't break down on us right now, Lauren. You can't let this happen."

The person you're looking for is not in the palace, Lauren. She's somewhere else.

Mom. I really shouldn't have thought that I could escape her.

"Lauren, we have a plan," Tyson urged. "We have to go meet the others. We have to go invade the Institute. Lauren, the plan."

I shook my head, stepping backwards. "We are established from the beginning, Tyson. When we come up with a plan, we hardly ever stick to it. What's the difference this time?"

I dashed away. There is only one place I can think of that they would be. I've gone back and forth from that location too many things for the last couple years. This time was going to be last.

Each step I took seemed to hit the ground lighter, until it felt like I was running on water instead of solid ground. The original Institute building had all the machines and equipment in it. It was still in use, but the last time I was there they were just finishing up on moving everything. Even if Aidan didn't wake up Jordyn, she'd be awake in the next couple days.

And for the record, yes, I did know that Jordyn was awake that day I went in the room. I had a feeling Aidan was around at the time, too.

I was running and running and running. I had to stop Kelly before she got too strong, because with all that power, she'll be unstoppable. I don't even know if she'll comply to the Institute if she has everything I can do, ruling the world as she would. Kelly was power hungry, even if she barely showed that on the surface.

My body suddenly slammed into an object. I stumbled backwards, my feet tripping over each other. Tyson stood in front of me, and next thing I knew, his hands were on me, forcing me to walk backwards.

"What are you thinking, Lauren?"

"Let go of me," I hissed. "I know what I'm doing. Don't you have a job to do?"

"I sent them into the palace, then came running after you," He explained. "Now, we have to go, Lauren. I know you're trusting the voice in your head, your mom's voice. Do you really trust her, this far into the game? You can't keep on trusting her, you know. It's probably a trap."

"This is not a trap."

"Oh, this is definitely a trap." And a second later, we were teleported away.

- - -

The cool metal is pressed against my skin. I was just stripped of my jacket but it was enough to make me vulnerable. Of course, I was also stripped of my weapon. A clasp went around my wrists and ankles, wires were placed in my hair. I felt hopeless. I was an idiot.

Mom or Mr. Miller were not here, but Mom did tell the truth about Kelly being here. She stood by Tyson, clasping cuffs around his arms and legs so he won't get away.

I'm an idiot.

Dr. Cameron Walker was strapping me up. She didn't dare look me in the eyes, but I could see the sadness. Probably not of what she was going to do to me, but of other circumstances. 

"I'm sorry about your son."

She didn't respond to me, instead gestured for Kelly to come closer. I'm going to die here, wasn't I? This was my end: here, in the place I hate by the person who was supposed to be in my command.

Dr. Walker helps Kelly into a structure similar to mine, clasps around her wrists and ankles and wires in her hair. I couldn't have been more confused. "What's going on? What are you doing to me."

"You see, Lauren," Kelly started, opening and closing her fingers. "we knew you were falling apart for a while now, and we had a feeling you were going to leave us sooner or later. We can't really waste our time with you, so we came up with a better solution."

A man entered the room, clipboards in his hands. He removed his glasses and took a good look at the two of us. "We've developed a method to extract a person's powers and give them to another person, which is going to happen here between you and Miss Green over here."

"Your mother didn't want to kill you so this was Plan B," Kelly scowled. "Can we start this already?"

I already felt my lungs collapsing, struggling to breathe. "Um, is this going to hurt?"

The man smirked. "Extremely."

"What? Is The Lauren Olsen scared for once in her life?" 

Yes, terrified.

I looked to Tyson, who looked calm but there was panic in his eyes. He couldn't sit there and watch but he wasn't able to help me either. This wasn't how it was so supposed to go. Tyson has to go take his kingdom back, he can't be stuck here.

My eyes then fall on the table, a key sitting close to the edge. Dr. Walker was standing next to it. She watched me as I watched her pick it off the desk. It was silent, secretive. Is it possible for her to just...

The restraints around my tightened around my joints and started vibrating. 

"If you're lucky, you'll die in the process," I heard Kelly whisper before the machines began to whir. It filled my ears and the only other thing I could hear were my internal screams. I couldn't find the strength in me to actually scream in pain. 

It was as if a million shards of glass entered my body at the same time and began to flow through my veins. Breathing continued to be a struggle. I could barely open my eyes. I could feel the energy and power drain out of me. It was unlike anything I've felt before, and I've been through quite a lot, frankly. I could barely hold myself up.

But I was able to feel the sudden rush of heat that flowed through my body as I was let go of my restraints. My limbs felt like they were made of jello. My skin in general was ice, and I struggled to keep heat in my body. I was going to die.

"Lauren, Lauren, Lauren, get up, get up, get up." Tyson's shallow breath entered my ears. "We need to get out of here. This place is in flames."

I cranked my neck up to meet his eyes. "How did you..."

He began to pick me up. "We can't have you be weak right now, Lauren. Please not right now. Please fight back, we need you."

I coughed, tasting blood. "Answer my question."

"Aidan's mum, she gave me the key. I blew up the system. Now we have to move." 

My mind struggled to comprehend what was going on. She helped us? I mean, that didn't seem like much of a surprise. I know she worked with Aidan for a bit. She let him know that she was his mother in the beginning of all of this, before I was even in the picture. Dr. Walker probably risked a lot if she did that.

"Kelly... is she still alive?"

"Lauren, if we don't move, we are going to be burned alive, Lauren. You don't want that to be your end, right?"

"I need... to end her..."

I scanned the room, the screen in front of my eyes reappearing after a while. The entire room was on fire, the only way out would be teleportation. Tyson could've teleported us out at the moment if he wanted to. Why did he wait?

But... there was still a body in the room, besides the two of us. I picked up the slow breathing and body heat. I loosen the grip of Tyson's hands around my arms and stumble towards the body. I find a gun on the ground and pick it up, the weapon slipping out of my grasp a few times. 

"Lauren."

"Teleport out of here. I'll meet you in the palace. Please."

I don't wait for a response from him, heading towards the other body in the room. I don't know if the man running the operation or Dr. Walker made it out of here but at this point, I really didn't care. My mind was focused on one person, and I couldn't let her potentially get what she wants.

My feet find her first, or well, I guess she did find me first. I stumble over her legs, she grabs me by the shin, dragging me down. Her nails are claws, digging through my jeans, my skin and into muscles. I bite back the pain, zapping her, then picking her up, pushing her against the wall. 

"I won't let you help the Institute any longer," I hissed. "I know you're bad news. I know that once you're in power, you won't exactly listen to the Institute. You used to be an innocent girl who meant no harm. You are far from that now."

She couldn't move from under my weight. The flames were crawling closer to where we were now. Breathing was slowly becoming a struggle, my wind pipes becoming blocked. She craned her neck to see the weapon between my fingers. A wicked grin spreads on her face. "I dare you to use that on me. You don't have the nerve, now that the Institute isn't making you do it."

I raised the gun, placing it against her chest. Did I really want to do this? If I get rid of her, the Institute has no back up to her, hopefully. "I guess you thought wrong, Kelly."

I licked my lips, pulling the trigger. The explosion rings in my ears. I finally feel the pain in my body. Her blood smears on my jacket, in my hair, on my hands. I let it fall to the ground, her green eyes wide open, watching me even if I know she's long gone. I close my eyes and teleport out of there, letting the flames engulf her body.

I manage to teleport right in front of Tyson. He's shocked at first, and the expression remains as he looks at my leg, which slowly was healing itself. Blood still caked the shreds of my jeans and Kelly's on the rest of my clothes. "You look like you were mauled by a bear."

I shrugged. "Close enough. I'm going to go find my Mom. I have to be the one to find her. Stop her."

His lips press against mine, but only for a second. "Stay safe. I can't lose you." Not again, I could hear him add. I lick my lips still feeling his lips on mine. I've kissed him before, but this felt different.

Betrayal. To a boy I only kissed in his final moments but loved for much longer. 

I can tell Tyson wants to take back the kiss, and I try to make it the least awkward as possible. "I'll try. This isn't goodbye, I'm sure of it."

Any moment can be our last. I really can't promise anything, but I do.

I run off, but not too far away. Luckily I don't meet anyone trying to kill me, but I do meet two familiar faces as I run into the front foyer. 

"Dad...? Spencer...?" Spencer was across the room, holding his ankle. Dad was about to head towards him, but stops when he hears my voice.

Spencer looks terrified as he looks down at my leg. "What the hell happened to you, Laur?" He pockets his knife, limping towards me. But he doesn't make it to me before we both hear the voice that sends shivers up bout of our spines.

"I guess it was about time for a family reunion."

- - -

a/n someone pls remind me to write more of kelly's character in the first two books thank you.