“I didn’t expect to find you ready and awake this morning, Mackenzie,” my father says as he opens my door. I meet his eyes in the mirror I’m staring in.

“I have training,” I reply with a neutral voice. I look back at myself in the mirror, pulling my long black hair into a high ponytail. I smooth down the black leggings and tank top I found to wear. I have knee high black boots on that I found and fell in love with, and after applying a little makeup, I think I look decent. I need to look halfway good to have the confidence to get away with all the pretending I have to do today. I’m not letting them beat me anymore, I’m damn fucking stronger than this, and East needs me to be strong enough to get us both out of here.

“It’s good to see you are coming around to our ways, maybe we could have dinner tonight?” he asks and I turn around, smiling, and hoping it doesn’t look as fake as it feels.

“That would be lovely,” I reply, and he turns around, walking out my room with the guards following. I walk out, shutting my door behind me, before following him down the endless corridors to the training rooms outside.

“Good luck today, my daughter,” he says, smiling like he’s won the lottery. I walk into the training room and the door shuts behind me with a loud bang. I hold my head high when I see Ryan, Enzo, and the twins talking in the middle of the room. They all turn to look at me slowly, hearing the door shut, but I don’t look away. Remembering the same thing I told myself last night as I couldn’t sleep. I’m stronger than anything they can throw at me.

“Kennie, you came back,” Ryan comments and smiles widely as I walk over. I don’t reply as I go to the middle of the first row of seats and sit down on a chair. I cross my arms, leaning back in my seat, and raising my eyebrows at them all as they stare at me.

“This is training, right? Or is it just making pointless statements class? Or staring at me class?” I reply. Enzo chuckles darkly, before coming over and sitting in the seat directly behind me. Locke and Logan give each other a worried look, before going to sit behind me next to Enzo.

“Today’s training is going to be—” Ryan goes to say, before the doors open once more, cutting him off. I turn to see Verity walking in, her high-heeled boots clicking across the floor, and she’s dressed in all leather again. Her brown hair is up in a bun, her face is covered in makeup, and I hate to admit that she looks good.

“I’ve decided to join the training class today, Ry,” she tells my brother, using a friendly nickname that makes me grit my teeth. She then moves to sit in the row of seats behind me. I turn to see her sat right next to Enzo, her eyes trailing up and down him before turning to look at me, with a small smirk. I catch Enzo’s dark eyes as I turn around, noticing how they watch me and the fact that he didn’t look once at her. It only makes me feel a little better, before it makes me remember how I’m not meant to like him. He betrayed me.

“Fine, Verity,” Ryan says, moving in front of the white board again, “Today’s class is going to be about learning how to use your powers in combat. We will pair off, and take five minute rounds before switching,” he says and I jump when Enzo kicks the back of my chair. I turn in my seat to glare at him, but pause when I see Verity’s hand on his arm.

“Kennie, you’re with me. Come on,” Ryan tells me as I stare at her hand, anger burning through me, and all I can think about is pulling her stupid high heeled boots off, and stabbing her with them.

“Kennie?” Ryan asks as Enzo moves Verity’s hand off his arm and I look up at him. He shakes his head, before kicking my chair once more.

“Are you deaf?” he asks me.

“No, I just can’t hear people that speak constant bullshit. All the people in this room seem to have a talent for it,” I say and then mutter more quietly, “That and being brainwashed idiots.” I get up before Enzo can reply to me. The twins watch me, both of them look like they are bursting to say something, but can’t. It’s weird. I walk over to where Ryan is waiting by the whiteboard. I look back to see Logan and Locke walking off together, and Enzo with Verity. I try not to let it bother me, even if it takes everything in me to look away from them all.

“Let’s go outside for training, it’s a nice day, and you might want some air,” Ryan suggests.

“Oh, so we’re allowed outside? Here I was thinking I was a prisoner, but apparently I got it all wrong,” I say in an overly sarcastic voice, as I walk next to Ryan towards a door on the other side of the room.

“Kennie, I know what your twelfth power is. I know that you need this rebellion to survive. You’re acting like such an ungrateful brat for everything my father, your best friend, and everyone else that cares about you has given up, just to keep you alive,” he snaps at me, before walking faster towards the door. I stop in my tracks, anger burning through me as I call my air mark, slamming a gust of air into the mats leaning against the wall and sending them flying into his side. He falls to the floor, the mats falling on top of him, and he pushes them away with his own air power.

“You’re such a brat. Are you ever going to grow up?” Ryan huffs as he stands up.

“I’m the brat? Me?” I laugh as Ryan stomps over to me and grabs my arms, shaking me lightly.

“Stop it. Just stop and listen rather than letting your ego ruin a good thing for you,” he snaps.

“I will never side with your rebellion, never. Not after what they did to East, and if this really was the right way, why would East be locked up and beaten?” I whisper, not wanting anyone else to hear.

“Kennie—”

“Stop calling me that stupid nickname, stop trying to control me,” I seethe, losing control of my power and a wall of flames appears from my hands, without me calling my mark. The flames slam into Ryan, setting him on fire as he flies across the room. I quickly call my water mark, and make a wave to wash over him as I stand in shock.

“Ryan!” I shout, as I snap out of it, stopping my water mark as I run over to where he is on the floor, burns covering his clothes and arms.

“What did you do?” Locke shouts as he runs over to us, placing his hands on Ryan, and they glow white.

“Get Kelly,” I shout at Enzo as he runs over. He nods, quickly turning around and running for the door as it’s opened. Kelly walks in, holding a clipboard that she drops when she sees us and runs over, sliding onto her knees.

“Ry? Baby?” she whispers as she pushes Logan out of the way, putting her hands on Ryan’s chest, and she starts glowing as tears run down her face. We all stay still as she heals him, none of us making a single sound.

“What happened?” she asks me, once she moves her hands away and to my surprise, there isn’t a single burn on Ryan’s skin. He’s still passed out, but he’s alive, thank the gods.

“I lost control, I didn’t even know I was calling my fire mark until it was too late,” I say, and then I look down at the floor, not able to meet Kelly’s eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt him.”

“Maybe you should learn more control then, Twelve,” I hear Enzo say as I stand up, walk over to him, and whack my hands against his chest as he looks down at me.

“Maybe you shouldn’t be such a jerk,” I say, moving to hit his chest once more and he grabs my hand, pulling me against his chest. All the air leaves my body as he leans down, putting his head so close to mine, I’m practically moulded into him.

“I wish we were in the woods again,” he whispers, reminding me of the time we kissed. Reminding me how he responded to me, how nothing about that night felt fake. I pull away from him, seeing his eyes, so dark, as I stare into them and feel lost.

“It was an accident, I know you would never do that to your brother. We should get him back to his room,” Kelly says interrupting us, and making me quickly step away from Enzo as I look over at her. She has her hand on Ryan’s face, tears still streaming down her cheeks, and it makes me pause for a second. Despite how she betrayed me, and everything that happened, she loves him. That I believe completely in this moment. Logan walks over, holding his hand up, and making Ryan float in the air as Kelly stands up.

“Kelly, if you walk by his feet and Kenzie you go by his head, I can float him back to his room. Just rest your hands near in case he falls,” Logan states. I step away from Enzo, walking over to my brother’s head and Kelly steps near his feet. I keep my hands out as Logan uses his power to move Ryan out the room, and I look back once to see Verity standing close to Enzo, touching his arm again. I swallow the sickness I feel rising to look ahead as we go down the corridors. People move out of our way, not stopping us as we walk in time with each other.

“Kelly, get the door,” Logan says, and she turns, opening the door quickly. I step back while Logan places Ryan on the bed and turn to shut the door behind me, as Kelly sits on the bed next to him, holding his hand tightly.

“Can I speak to you in the bathroom?” Logan asks quietly, but doesn’t wait for me to answer as he grabs my hand and pulls me to the other door in the room. He opens it up, pulling me inside and shutting the door behind us, before turning the lock. Logan walks over to the shower, turning it on, and coming back to me as I lean against the door.

“Will you get in the shower, Kenzie?” he asks, and I laugh.

“Are you joking? Not a chance,” I reply as I cross my arms. He growls as he picks me up. I fight him, not using my powers because I don’t want to hurt him, but he throws me into the shower before I can get free. The warm water pounds down on me as Logan steps into the shower and closes the glass door, shutting us in together. I let my eyes travel down his white shirt, and notice that it’s see through now, and shows off his muscular chest, the way he has that v line that dips into his jeans. My heart pounds as I finally look up, seeing his eyes watching mine as his wet hair drips all over his face.

“What the hell are you doing, Logan?” I ask breathlessly, only seconds before he presses me against the shower wall and kisses me. Forgetting stupid things like asking questions, or the fact I’m mad at him, I kiss back, sinking my hands into his wet hair. The warm water from the shower continues to drench us even more, soaking our clothes right through as we continue to kiss, and forget the world.

He pulls away, making a pained sound as he does, as if he resents the fact he has to move away. “Fuck, I’ve wanted to do that since we got here, Kenzie,” he breathes, and some sense snaps back into me.

“What the fuck do you think you're doing! You can't just act like nothing has happened, act like you haven't betrayed me and East. You don't get to do that!” I seethe, pushing him further away, so he's standing on the opposite side of the shower now.

“Listen I brought you in here to explain--”

“Explain? You think you can just talk your way out of this? No way, Logan. Get out of my way, I'm leaving. Where the fuck are the towels?” I question, as I try to push past him. He grabs my wrists and pulls me back, pinning me up against the wall of the shower again. After what just happened with Ryan, I concentrate on keeping my powers under control, taking deep breaths.

“Let me go,” I demand, once I have calmed myself enough to think straight.

“You can go, but you have to hear what I have to say first. Please, Kenzie,” he pleads. I look into his eyes and sigh, seeing the sincere look in them. Whatever he has to say, he truly thinks it's important.

“Fine,” I say reluctantly. Sighing agian as I lean back against the wall, the water still pouring down over us.

“I'm not meant to be telling you this, fuck I may be ruining the whole escape plan here, but I can't stand seeing you hurt like this. I can see why East did what he did now, I think his job may have been the easier one in hindsight.” Logan swallows, and I can see how nervous he is to continue.

I link my hand in his. “Explain.”

“We're here to get you out. Me, Locke, Enzo, and Kelly. Mr Daniels is on our side now too, but he can't break his cover, it's too important.”

“What do you mean he's on our side now?” I ask.

Logan licks his lips. “Well, he really was a part of the rebels, but that's changed now—”

“Like fuck it's changed!” I snap. “Have you not seen him, running around like he's the boss here?”

“Keep your voice down, Kenz. We should be okay to talk in here, but don't risk it any more than we have to,” Logan whispers harshly. “Look, he found out something that changed it all for him, something he wouldn't ever allow to happen. It's to do with you, we can't let the rebels have you, we just can't.”

“I don't understand, is this about the twelfth mark?” I ask.

“Yes, no, kind of? It's what could happen by using it,” he says.

“What do you mean, what could happen? What does my mark even do?”

“I don't know, he won't tell me what your mark does. What he did tell me, is that using it could kill you, Kenzie. There's no records of anyone using the twelfth mark and surviving. We have to get you out of here,” he answers.

“Shit. They're planning on killing me? Does Ryan know this?” I ask frantically.

“He's been told that you will live, that they have a plan to ensure you survive using the mark,” Logan says.

“But that's a lie?”

“It's untested, there's no guarantee their plan would work, and I'm not convinced they care if it fails to keep you alive. So long as they get use of your power first, that's all they care about.”

“But Ryan thinks I'll be okay? He's not...he's not okay with me dying, right?” I ask in a small voice, the betrayed feeling rushing through me already.

“Hey, it's okay,” Logan says as he pulls me close. He holds me tightly to him. “Ryan thinks you will live, he wouldn't do this otherwise. You're his little sister and he loves you.”

“Then why don't you just tell him that I might not live?” I ask and Logan swallows thickly. “You think he won’t believe you? That he might reveal your plan to them?” I question, making a guess.

“Yes, he’s been completely pulled into this, Kenzie. He’s basically brain-washed. Your dad sent Verity to Ryan a couple years ago, and she’s been slowly poisoning him for years.”

“Shit. How did we not realise?” I ask, looking up at Logan.

“We couldn’t have known. Don’t blame yourself, gorgeous, this isn’t your fault,” he says, and I sigh. I don’t believe that, but now isn’t the the time to argue that point.

“What’s the plan? And if you’re here to break me out, why is East locked up right now?”

“I can’t explain the plan now. Just be ready to go at any moment, Kenz,” he says, and I nod. “East is…East is locked up because he couldn’t deal with the thought of you feeling like we had all abandoned you, that we all betrayed you. He didn’t want you to feel alone in this. He knew his rescue attempt was likely to fail, but he accepted that, because he knew then you’d feel like at least one of us was still on your side. He said it would help keep you strong and motivated to escape, so Daniels gave the plan the okay. He wasn’t happy about it though, he knew it was likely that East would get hurt,” Logan explains.

“He knew they would hurt him, if he got caught trying to rescue me, and he did it anyway? To stop me from being alone? He did that for me?” I question softly.

“He did. Fuck, I wish I’d done it. Seeing you hurt, thinking we all betrayed you, it was so hard, Kenzie, I couldn’t do it,” he whispers, leaning down his face closer to mine.

“Really—” my words are cut off as his lips claim mine again, and his body moulds into mine as I’m pressed against the wall. He releases my hands to move his own into my hair, gripping it as he holds me firmly in place.

The shower door is slammed open, and Logan slides me down his body as we turn to face Locke who is holding the door. He reaches in, switching the shower off.

“As much as I don't want to interrupt this, or how much I want to join in, Ryan is awake and asking for you,” Locke says gently, and I step around Logan, leaning up and pressing my lips to his.

“Thank you,” I say, leaning back as he stares at me in understanding. He realises I know everything in one look. Maybe because I'm not glaring at him like I have been since they got here.

“So where are the towels?” I ask looking down at my dripping wet clothes, and making them both smile. I ring my hair out, letting the water drip onto the floor.

“I dunno, I like the wet look on you,” Logan says as he steps out the shower, and my eyes trace his body, wishing we hadn't been interrupted.

“Same here,” I grin, just as Locke hands me and Logan some towels he found. We dry off the best we can before walking out the bathroom, and I see Ryan sitting up on the bed. He looks pale and tired, but there are no burns, which I'm thankful for. I stare at him for a while, not knowing how to process that he’s being lied to. That nothing he knows is real, and all I feel is sorry for him.

“Kennie,” Ryan says, sitting straighter.

“Careful, Ry,” Kelly warns as she watches me from the other side of the room with her arms crossed, wearing a worried expression.

“I'm sorry I've been such a brat, I know I have been and that's changing now. I'm going to try and get along with our father, to help the rebellion,” I say, lying as there’s no way I'm helping them. No, I have to escape before they try to kill me. But at least I know I can trust three of the four people in the room now. Just not my brother.

“I get it, and I’m glad that you’re finally seeing what’s right in front of you. You can trust me, you can trust us,” he says and waves a hand. “Come here,” he asks me. I walk over, sitting on the bed next to him and holding his hand. I just hope he doesn't hate me and everyone else when he realises just how wrong he is about this place, and about our father.