What to do now...

Nightmares plagued me as I slept.

Twice, Zach had to wake me up because my power would activate to defend myself. He'd always ask what I dreamt of, and I never answered him.

Casmir wouldn't leave me alone.

He had seen what I'd done to Jabez, and was furious about it. Each time he struck me down, I felt like I had actually been attacked. I'd sometimes wake myself up, gasping for air, and checking over my body for new injuries.

There never were any.

Was I finally cracked? The girl who could heal others from their minds, but was now broken herself? It was almost ironic.

I gripped the ends of my pillow in an attempt to calm myself, shivers and shakes hitting me. Zach glanced at me, concern on his face. I waved him off, asking for my friend Rowan. She was the only one I could confide in.

"Rowan is helping David with capturing Jabez, and Ceollach. Since she's proven herself more than capable-"

"Wait, what? What do you mean?"

Zach gave me a puzzled look, handing me some water. "You didn't know she entered the program to become an operative? Right now, she's behind the scenes in trying to track the runaway group down. They almost had them, until Jabez attacked you, then left."

I let his words sink in; Rowan, sweet, yet headstrong Rowan, was now a part of this.

Before I can say anything, Zach helps me up from the bed, his hold on my arm secure and firm, his other arm supporting my upper torso. I feel a slight dizziness, but continue on anyway.

"Can I leave now?" I ask him.

Zach doesn't have time to answer, before a man in a white lab coat steps in, a stethoscope placed around his neck. He has graying curled black hair, black wired glasses perched on the tip of his nose, dark gray eyes meeting my own.

"We are letting you leave the Med-Area Laney, but considering what you went through, David sought you to stay in one of his guests' house in case you know..." he trailed off at the look on my face.

"I'm sorry, Dr..." I ask, sitting up, my legs already swung over the edge of the hospital bed.

"Dr. Radley. We just think that for your sake-"

"I need my dog. My dog Silk, she's worried and I have to find my own home to live in, and my stuff is packed in storage now. I can't just walk away from my life." I say, arms trembling.

"You don't have to worry, we already have the house set up for you-"

"I didn't agree to this though. Did you make the decision when I was still unconscious?" I ask him, an angry red flush covering my face.

Dr. Radley looks uncomfortable at my sudden outburst, and he looks at Zach. I glare at both of them, yanking out the I.V they placed in my hand, muttering nothing but swear words.

"Laney, we just want to keep you safe." Zach says, as his hand grab on to mine.

I yank my hand from his, watching as a brief flash of hurt cross his face. I lean away from him, in case he tries to grab me again.

"The one thing I was worried about in helping David was that I wouldn't be able to solve this problem. But because of him, I now have a target on my back. I'm leaving while I still can." I say, turning away from the both of them. I grab my clothes from a chair that's placed in the corner of the room, and walk out the office.

I'm out of the tower, dressed.. No one has followed me, but I know they're going to be tracing my every move.

Paranoia has settled in my body, and every few seconds I look over my shoulder as if Casmir or Jabez are going to attack me with no warning.

My phone is in my back pocket, and I slip it out, taking out the battery from it. Frowning, I squint, until I'm able to see a small black square attached to the back of it. Two small red letters are stamped on the back of it, a D and L.

I'm able to rip it out of the phone, tossing the tracker as far as I can. Taking some steps, I begin to walk, taking fast steps away from the building.

I have no idea where I'm going; my apartment is on the other side of the city, I don't have money on me to call a cab to drive me over there since I pretty sure if I were to ask for a car, there would be a tracer to aware David of my location.

I'm starting to feel anxious, my mark glowing softly. I continue down on the sidewalk, cars driving past. I'm trying to figure out a way to get home, when my shoulder bumps into someone. It's enough force to drop the plastic bags she was carrying.

I quickly stop, picking up the discarded grocery items, the woman leaning down to pick them up as well.

"I'm so sorry, ma'am, I was distracted and not really paying attention to where I was going-" I stuttered out, placing a can of peaches in the bag.

"It's alright, sugar. I should have been paying attention as well." she replies, a southern drawl coloring her words. I glance at her, taking in her green eyes, and black hair she has braided down to her back. She wears a yellow sleeveless sundress, with red flats, her smile genuine.

"Still, I should've been more careful." I apologized again, walking alongside her instead of handing her the groceries.

"Again, it was no trouble, sweet pea. You must have a lot on your mind if you bump into strangers in broad daylight." she chuckled, walking next to me.

"Oh right, of course. My name is Laney, ma'am."

"Why, Laney, you're as pretty as a peach. My name is Rosie, and my car is just down that way. I can carry some of those bags, hun, I bought a lot on my spree."

I handed a couple bags back to her, following her lead. I tried to sense anything from her, but the raging paranoia and fear that David would find me cover every other sense.

Rosie pulled out a set of keys, unlocking a blue car with them. She opened the trunk, placing the bags in there. Taking the ones that I had, she closed it, smiling back at me.

"Well, thank you so much Laney. And I hope whatever issue you're going through fixes itself."

She walked to the driver's side, stepping in. I hesitated for a moment, wondering how much I could trust this stranger.

I decide to risk it.

"Actually Rosie, there's a favor I kind of need to ask you."

"Yes?"

"Would...would you be able to give me a ride home?"