Mara had never packed that quickly in her life.
She moved around the room, pulling clothes from drawers and stuffing them into an old travel bag.
Kade watched from the mattress.
"Where are we going?"
"I don't know."
"That's not an answer."
"It is the only one I have."
Kade looked at Kane.
Kane was standing near the window, watching the street.
The black car was gone.
But that didn't make him feel any better.
"Mama," Kane said, "who was that man?"
Mara stopped.
She didn't turn around.
"Someone from my past."
"What does he want?"
"I don't know."
Kane frowned.
"You do know."
Mara looked at him.
For a moment, she seemed ready to tell them everything.
Then she looked away.
"Get your shoes."
Kade sighed.
"You're doing that thing again."
"What thing?"
"When we ask you something and you pretend you didn't hear."
Mara gave him a tired look.
"Kade."
He stopped.
"Fine."
The boys put on their shoes.
Kian stood beside the door.
He looked frightened.
"Are we coming back?"
Mara didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
They left before sunrise.
The streets were almost empty.
Mara kept the boys close as they walked through the back roads of the city.
Kane carried the bag.
Kade complained about the weight.
Kian said nothing.
They had been walking for almost an hour when Kade finally stopped.
"Mama."
She turned.
"What?"
"I'm tired."
"We're almost there."
"Where?"
Mara looked ahead.
"An old friend's house."
Kane noticed the way she said it.
Not my friend.
An old friend.
Someone she hadn't seen in years.
They reached a small apartment building near the industrial district.
Mara knocked three times.
Nothing.
She knocked again.
A woman finally opened the door.
She was around Mara's age, with short curly hair and tired eyes.
She stared at Mara.
Then at the boys.
Her expression changed.
"Mara?"
"Can we come in?"
The woman hesitated.
Then stepped aside.
"Quickly."
The boys entered.
Mara followed and closed the door.
The woman locked it.
"What's happening?"
"They found us."
The woman stared at her.
"Who?"
Mara shook her head.
"I don't know exactly."
"You said nobody knew."
"I was wrong."
The woman looked at the boys again.
"Are these..."
"My sons."
All three brothers stood together.
The woman stared at them for several seconds.
"They're identical."
Kade smiled.
"People say that a lot."
She almost laughed.
Almost.
"My name is Lena," she said.
"Kade."
"Kane."
"Kian."
Lena nodded.
"Nice to meet you."
Kade looked around.
"So this is where we're hiding?"
Lena looked at Mara.
"How long?"
"Until I figure something out."
Lena sighed.
"Then you better figure it out quickly."
She led them into the back room.
It was small but warmer than their apartment.
There was a couch, a television, and a bookshelf.
Kade immediately dropped onto the couch.
"This is better than our place."
Kane looked at him.
"Don't get comfortable."
Kade smiled.
"I'm already comfortable."
Kian sat quietly beside the window.
He watched the street.
Mara noticed.
"Come away from there."
Kian turned.
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
He moved.
For the next few hours, they stayed inside.
Lena made them food.
Kade ate enough for two people.
Kane ate slowly.
Kian barely touched his plate.
Mara sat across from them.
She kept looking toward the door.
Eventually, Kane spoke.
"Mama."
She looked at him.
"You said Dad was a mutant."
Lena stopped eating.
Mara looked at her.
Kade noticed.
"You know about him?"
Lena slowly put her fork down.
"Mara..."
"It's time."
Mara nodded.
She looked at her sons.
"Your father was named Elias."
Kane waited.
"He could change his appearance."
Kade's eyes widened.
"Like us?"
"Yes."
Kian looked at his hands.
"What happened to him?"
Mara took a breath.
"He disappeared before you were born."
"Why?"
"He was being hunted."
"By who?"
"The government."
The room went quiet.
Kade stopped eating.
"Why?"
"Because his ability wasn't the only thing that made him dangerous."
Kane frowned.
"What else could he do?"
Mara looked down.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"I knew him for a short time."
Kade leaned forward.
"Then how did we happen?"
Mara gave him a look.
"Kade."
"What? I'm asking."
Lena almost smiled.
"Still the same, I see."
Mara ignored the comment.
"Elias disappeared because he discovered something."
Kane's attention sharpened.
"What?"
Mara hesitated.
"Something about mutants."
Kade frowned.
"Like what?"
"I don't know."
"Then why did they hunt him?"
"Because he knew enough to become a problem."
Kian finally spoke.
"Is that why they're after us?"
Mara looked at him.
"I don't know."
"But they called you by name."
Mara's face tightened.
"Yes."
"Then they know who we are."
She didn't answer.
A sudden sound came from outside.
A car door.
Everyone froze.
Lena stood.
"Nobody move."
She walked toward the curtain.
Slowly, she looked outside.
Her face changed.
"What?"
Mara stood.
"What is it?"
Lena turned.
"There are two cars."
Mara's stomach dropped.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Kane moved toward the window.
Mara grabbed his shoulder.
"No."
"But—"
"No."
Outside, footsteps approached the building.
One.
Two.
Then several.
Kade whispered,
"How did they find us?"
Mara looked at Lena.
Lena shook her head.
"I didn't tell anyone."
Someone knocked.
Three slow knocks.
Mara closed her eyes.
The same pattern.
The front door handle moved.
Lena stepped backward.
"That's not normal."
Another knock.
Then a voice.
"Mrs. Vale?"
Lena's face went pale.
Mara stared at her.
"You told me your name was Lena."
"It is."
"Then who is Vale?"
Lena didn't answer.
The voice came again.
"We know you're inside."
Kade looked at Mara.
"Mama..."
Mara's eyes were fixed on Lena.
"Who are you?"
Lena swallowed.
"I can explain."
The front door suddenly shook.
Someone had kicked it.
Kane grabbed Kade's arm.
"Kian."
Kian looked at him.
"We need to get out."
"How?"
Kane scanned the room.
A back door.
He pointed.
"That."
They ran.
Mara grabbed the bag.
Lena followed.
They reached the back door.
Locked.
Lena searched her pockets.
"My keys."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Another crash came from the front.
The door was beginning to break.
Kade looked around desperately.
"We're trapped."
Kian stepped toward the lock.
Kane looked at him.
"Kian..."
"I can try."
"You've never done it on purpose."
"I know."
The front door cracked.
Mara shouted,
"Do it!"
Kian pressed his hand against the door.
Nothing happened.
He closed his eyes.
The sound of another kick echoed through the apartment.
Kian's breathing became faster.
"I can't."
Kane grabbed his shoulders.
"Look at me."
Kian opened his eyes.
"You can."
"I can't."
"Yes, you can."
The door at the front cracked again.
Kane looked directly into his brother's eyes.
"You're not disappearing."
Kian frowned.
"You're getting through."
Kian took a breath.
His body flickered.
Then disappeared.
Kade's mouth fell open.
"Kian?"
A second later, a voice came from the other side of the door.
"I'm here."
The lock clicked.
The back door opened.
Kade stared.
"You actually did it."
Kian smiled weakly.
"I think I did."
They rushed outside.
They ran through the narrow alley behind the building.
Mara held Kian's hand.
Kane stayed behind them.
Kade kept looking back.
The apartment door finally burst open.
Several men rushed inside.
One of them stepped onto the balcony.
"Check the back!"
The brothers disappeared around the corner.
They ran until the sounds behind them faded.
Eventually, Mara led them beneath an abandoned bridge.
Everyone was breathing heavily.
Kade dropped onto the ground.
"I'm never running again."
Kane looked at him.
"You said that last time."
"I meant it this time."
Mara sat beside Kian.
"You did well."
Kian looked at her.
"Mama..."
"What?"
"I was scared."
"I know."
He looked down.
"Does that mean I'm dangerous?"
Mara pulled him closer.
"No."
She looked at all three boys.
"None of you are dangerous because of what you can do."
Kane looked toward the city.
"Then why are they hunting us?"
Mara stared at the distant buildings.
"I don't know."
A voice suddenly came from behind them.
"Actually..."
Everyone froze.
A man stepped out from beneath the bridge.
He was dressed simply.
No weapon.
No uniform.
Just a dark coat and a calm expression.
Mara immediately stood in front of her sons.
"Stay back."
The man raised both hands.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
Kane moved beside his mother.
"Then who are you?"
The man looked at the three brothers.
His eyes lingered on each of them.
Red.
Blue.
Green.
Then he looked at Mara.
"My name is Adrian Vale."
Mara's face went completely still.
She knew that name.
And judging by the fear in her eyes, the boys were about to learn something about their family that she had spent six years trying to hide.
Adrian looked at Kane.
Then Kade.
Then Kian.
"I knew your father."
End of Chapter Six