Jean can still feel the numbness of her body and the deafening of her ears because of the explosion but her neck is hurting like it had been hanging downward for hours. She slowly opened her eyes. She tried to lift her head slowly as well. She was right, her head was bowed down for a couple of hours or so. She was sitting, tied up in a wooden chair. She scanned the room she was in. It was a room built of woods. She heard footsteps coming towards her. She saw a face... A very familiar face...
"Sleeping beauty is awake! Surprise, surprise!!!" The guy in the grey suit said. "How's your sleep, my rose? Or should I say, Sylvie Mendoza." the man stated.
She tried to speak but only muffled sound came out of her mouth. She was gagged and it made William Pierce Fienes laugh.
"What a very smart move of you to go to my party, don't you think? I do it every year in hopes of finding your mother to get to where you are but, goodness gracious, how lucky am I? You fell right into my trap! I even threatened Roland to tell me where you are but your boss is kind of loyal to your mom. What can I say? They were the ones who helped you escape in the first place. But I don't hold grudges. With that being said, Roland, why don't you say hello to your waitress?" he said and looked on the other side of the room.
She turned her head to where Fienes is looking and saw her boss Gary, whom he called Roland, all bloody and weak. He coughed some blood and 2 of Fienes' goons carried him out of the room. Her eyes were all blurry because of the tears. Her tears flowed down her cheeks. Fienes wiped them off. She glared at him.
"Awww, are you angry because of what I did to him? Wait until you see what you can do to him, sweetie. Also, don't worry, sweetheart. In a short while, we'll have a small reunion with your adoptive mother as well. We found her actually, thanks to you. You know what, you're all good in playing hide and seek but one small mistake and you all gave yourselves voluntarily to me." He grinned.
Fienes snapped his fingers happily and left. The room was shut and she was alone again. She cried in despair but his words finally sunk in.
‘They are the ones who helped you escape.’ Escaped from where? Does the theory of her being an experiment baby true? Her mom... Adoptive mom? What the hell is that man talking about?
*****
At the MARVELOUS Compound, Freeman, Cain, Sheila, and ALLIANCE’s Nightingale, Christina Grey, came to check on the members. The place was a mess, Harold and Penelope was busy helping Vera tending to the members’ wounds.
“What’s their status?” Christina asked Vera.
“Pierre, Simon, and Rodrigo are still unconscious since they were thrown due to the explosion. The rest are just taking some rest.” Vera answered. She went to Tin.
“How about you?” Christina asked.
“I’m fine. I just wanted to get this over with because I need to find my sister.” Vera answered, not taking her glance away from what she was doing.
“Your sister?” Christina asked again, puzzled.
“Yes. MY sister.” She finally looked at Christina. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she frowned.
“Nothing. What can I do to help?”
“You can check Pierre and the others, see if you can heal them back to shape.” She said and returned to patching up Tin.
Christina went to the lab and saw the three still lying unconscious on the hospital beds. Anthony, Benedict, and Nash were with them.
“How are you, guys?” she asked, upon entering the lab.
“We’re good. Vera was able to fix us up.” Nash answered.
“How are they?” she asked again, referring to the three.
“They’ve been unconscious for hours.” Benedict stated.
“Let me heal you up entirely, then.” She said and she emitted a bright aura which covered the whole lab. In a matter of minutes, all their physical injuries were healed and the three slowly opened their eyes.
“Jean!” Pierre blurted out as he immediately took his seat.
“Calm down, kid. You just woke up from coma.” Anthony stated as he stopped Pierre from standing.
“But Mr. Stanton, Jean was abducted and---“
“We know, and we will do everything to rescue her. But for now, your hysteria will not help her.” Nash explained.
Pierre calmed down a bit but his worrying was evident in his face.
“How are you feeling, Pierre?” Christina asked.
“Ms. Grey! I didn’t notice you. I feel fine.” He answered.
“Good to hear. How about you, gentlemen?” she asked her co-agents.
“I am okay now. Thanks, Chris.” Simon said.
“As if nothing happened to me.” Rodrigo smirked.
“Glad to hear that, but you still need to rest for an hour for any injuries that might appear later.” She stated as she walked out of the lab.
Everyone in the living room were exhausted and injured but all of them were also worried as seen on their faces.
“Let’s fix you up entirely so you can all do whatever it is that you need to do.” Christina announced.
They all looked at her and fixed themselves in the couch. Just like what she did in the lab, she emitted a bright aura and in a matter of minutes, they were all healed.
“Do not rush yourselves in doing laborious tasks. Wait for an hour so that we will know if there were unhealed injuries inside you. I will just need to recharge. I will meet you all in an hour.” She said and went to the lounge outside.
“I know you are all worried about Ms. Duque, but you need to have some rest.” Freeman said.
“We need to find her right now!” Vera exclaimed.
“I know. But you cannot do it if you are not fully healed. You will risk your lives.”
“Time is of the essence here.” Leinth finally said.
“And so is your welfare. We will discuss this after an hour and that is an order.” He asserted and he went outside to take a seat on one of the chairs there.
They all slumped on the couch.
*****
                Jean tried to untie her hands but the rope was too tight. They really know what she was capable of. She heard murmurings outside her room and she could also hear footsteps pacing back and forth. How long was she here? How were they back at the compound? Were they injured? How was Pierre? He was in front of the box before it exploded. And Vera? Was she okay? She was the one holding the box before it exploded. She needs to get back to them. But how? She can’t feel any electricity running around the area. Could it be that it was solar paneled? She can’t even feel any metals around. They really planned this through. Were they really looking forward for this moment of capturing her once again?
                She heard loud thumping outside her door. After a while, it stopped and the door opened. It was Fienes again. She glared at him.
                “Why are you looking at me like that, sweetie? Don’t you want to see my surprise for you? I know you missed this person so much. You haven’t seen each other for almost 2 months.” He said, beaming with enthusiasm. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot you were gagged.” He said and walked towards her to remove the gag in her mouth.
                “What do you want from me?” she asked.
                “I want everything, of course. But we’ll talk about that some other time. Why don’t you say hello to your mother? Bring her in, boys.” He said and his goons brought her mother inside.
                “M-mom… Mom!” she cried.
                “Jean… Jean oh my goodness! Please, Fienes, let go of her. Just take me. Please.” Her mother plead to Fienes.
                “Why would I let her go? She is the one I need. You’re just an accessory.”
                “Please, don’t hurt her. Please.” Her mother said, pleading and crying, kneeling in front of Fienes which added to her hatred towards him.
                “Why would I hurt her? Why are you asking me? Ask her not to hurt you. Do your pleadings to her, Doctor.” He said.
                “Doctor?” Jean asked. Then her nightmares… are her memories…? Is she Diane?
                “No. Don’t listen to him, Jean. He’s just trying to manipulate your thoughts.” Her mother went to her. They can’t even hug each other since they were both tied.
                “Mom, please be honest with me, for once.” She pleaded.
                “Aww… she didn’t tell you who you are? And you’re telling her that I am trying to manipulate her thoughts, Doctor Tessa? Wow. You really have no shame.” Fienes said.
                “Am I Diane, mom?” she asked again.
                Her mother did not respond.
                “Mom!” she raised her voice.
                “Would you like me to do the honors, Doctor Tessa?” Fienes taunted.
                “Yes… yes, you are Diane. But I only concealed the truth to protect you!” her mother exclaimed.
                “I understand mom. Thank you for being honest. And thank you for raising me.” She said. Her mother looked at her.
                “Why are you not mad finding that out?” Fienes asked, puzzled.
                “Because unlike you, I don’t hold grudges.” Jean leered at him.
                “We’ll see about that. Boys, take the doctor away.” He said and his goons took her mother away.
                “Be strong, Jean. Don’t let him manipulate you!” her mother shouted as she was dragged out of the room.
                “I will give you the same advice, sweetie. Be strong because tomorrow, we will start to regain your memories.” He said and caressed her face. She bit his hand. And with his free hand, he slapped her hard. “You’re tough now but we’ll see how long you will be able to show that toughness.” He said and left.
                Little did Fienes know, she bit him to get his tie clip.