"Wait, so how can you speak English?" I ask, twiddling my thumbs and feeling Zero's heavy gaze resting on me.

I most likely could have worded that question differently to sound more like an intellectual, but oh well, might as well just roll with it now.

"A long time ago, a stranger managed to sail to our island. I believe his name was Christopher Dumbass or something like that."

I snort a laugh, my hands clamping around my mouth to hold n my laughter. "You mean, Christopher Columbus? The guy who sailed the ocean blue In fourteen hundred ninety two? That Christopher?"

He nods. "Yes. What did I say?"

I let a little choked laugh out, shaking my head. "Nothing, you can continue."

He eyes me like he thinks I will interrupt him again, but I make a mouth zipping motion, which seems to confuse him momentarily.

"This Christopher human met up with a few of our people and learned a bit of the language we speak, which you people now call English. He told us of his travels, and his mission. Once our people learned of the greedy, land hungry humans, we had to protect our island. The Bermuda Triangle was created around the same time my people came into existence, so there are no records of how or why it was created, but we can only assume it's a sort of protection for us."

"Okay. So tell me about your island." I say, eager for him to keep talking.

Zero's eyes light up, the grey almost seeming to glow. "It's name is Dalton, and the people there are separated into three groups."

"Like races?" I ask. He pauses, before nodding.

"Close. You're either a Darkling, a Lightling, or a Kinling. The Darkling's rule one side of the island, where a dormant volcano rests, while the Lightling's take up the other half, which is jungles, plains, and a mountain. The Kinling's reside in groups all around, they don't belong to either group and are more a nomadic people."

"What are you?" I ask, shifting in my seat. He swallows, his Adams apple bobbing and looking almost uncomfortable for a few seconds. I'm worried for a few seconds that what I asked was rude, but he speaks up before I can take it back.

"I'm a Kinling. We have basic control over the Elements. Nothing big, just temperature among other things. The Darkling's hold the power of destruction. Although most Darkling's have a more muted ability when compared to the High Commander's power."

"Who is the High Commander?" I interrupt again.

Zero just smiles, seeming pleased with my interest. "The High Commander is the one who rules over the species. Trust me when I say you do not want to meet the Darkling's High Commander."

I wasn't planning anytime soon to go meet the person who rules over beings of destruction, but I decide to keep this sarcastic comment to myself.

"What about the Lightlings?"

"They have the power to create. Like I said, a common Lightling's power is very muted compared to the High Commander. The Lightling's High Commander is a woman named Malia. I think you would like her." He says thoughtfully, to which I nod along.

Suddenly, a thought strikes me, making guilt wash over me in a wave. I don't know Zero's name. The revelation makes me feel horrible, but then I remind myself that I didn't even know he spoke English until today.

"Um, Zero? I was wondering, since I finally know you can speak, what your name is."

"Oh, right. Why do you humans call me by the name Zero?"

I pause for a moment and try to think of the best way to explain.

"Well, they think that you can't speak English, ad since you haven't said anything to clue them in to your name, they just called you after the experiment number, which is for some odd reason Zero." Suddenly another question pops into my head.

"Speaking of which I'm curious as to why you hid the fact that you could speak English."

"It was out of necessity. If they learned I could speak and understand their language they wouldn't go through all the trouble of taking their time to teach me and may turn to some faster....and darker.....methods to obtain information from me."

I was expecting exactly that answer, but for some reason hearing it only makes me feel worse.

"You still have not told me your name." I finally remind him after a pause of silence, deciding to change the topic to something a little lighter.

"For now, Zero should suffice. I don't want to tell you anymore, in case the humans decide to use you."

I'm about to protest that they wouldn't do that, but when I think about it, I realize they may actually do that. Without my father's consent of course. I think back to that look I had seen in Mrs. Clark's eyes, shivering when I recall that.

To say it outright, that woman gives me the heebie-jeebies.

"Wow. I mean wow. I can't believe I'm actually having a conversation with someone who's not human and lives on an island smack dab in the middle of the Bermuda triangle. The island must be pretty big to hold three different races of beings, and you all live in cohabitation. That is honestly pretty cool." I rant on, my curious childishness coming out.

I look up to see Zero looking sad, and I grow somber. He must miss his home. I shouldn't have been insensitive and droned on about it like that.

"I'm sorry you were taken from Dalton." I apologize, and for some reason this simple apology feels like it's lifting a huge weight of my shoulders. Of course, it'd probably feel a lot better if I helped him escape from Braun lab, but for now the apology is all I can offer.

"No need to be sorry." Zero shakes his head, a corner of his mouth lifting in a half-smile. "After all, I got to meet you."

I smile back, feeling entirely touched in that moment and wanting so badly to hug him. I think that'd be a bit too much though.

"All of what I've told you is only the basics, there is much more you still don't know, and since the humans yearn for this information, it's important you keep it a secret." Zero says, his eyes dead serious as he looks at me.

"I promise I won't say a word about anything," I nod, holding his eyes and hoping they convey my sincerity," But you should probably go before they notice you're gone."

Now that I think about it, he may have had my key card, but how did he get past the security guards and cameras?

I'm just about to ask when he stands up, going over to the window, before pausing.

"Why doesn't your room have a sink and cot?" He asks and it sends a guilty pang through my heart. Zero doesn't understand that he's the only one in a cell. He must think all humans live in rooms like the one he's in.

"The scientists don't trust you in a normal room, so they put you in a different one. I can try to convince them to get you more furniture if you'd like...."I trail off, offering the probably the only thing I can do for him at the moment.

He shakes his head. "They won't understand your good intentions, but thank you anyway. Goodnight, Ashie." He says, before climbing out the window. I walk over to it and meet Zero as he turns back around to face me.

"You know you can call me Ashley now, right?" I comment, wondering why he still calls me by that nickname if he understood perfectly well what I was saying when I first told him my name.

"I prefer Ashie," He says with a wink that leaves me gaping.

I watch him sprint down the beach, turning into a blur, and sigh, closing the window.

The bed gives a warm embrace as I lay down, relaying the entire conversation we had over and over in my mind until I eventually drift off to sleep.



* * * * *



That morning I dress in white pants and a light blue blouse. I braid my brown hair and put on a light coating of mascara. I smile at myself in the mirror, before humming while walking into the kitchen. Without sparing a glance around, I grab a bowl and fill it with cereal. Taking the milk out of the refrigerator, I twist the cap off then turn around and-

I scream, dropping the milk which starts to spill out across the kitchen.

"No! I exclaim while quickly bending down and picking up the milk, huffing as I look up at the reason for the spilled milk.

"Peter." I state flatly, looking at the man himself while I set the milk down on the counter and grab some paper towels to start mopping up the liquid.

He joins me a split second later, helping to pat down the paper towels to absorb the milk.

"Sorry, Ash. For someone so observative, you really are oblivious." I stand up with the soaking towels in one hand, whacking him across the head with the other one.

I place the milk, now closed, back in the fridge.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, turning to face him while leaning against the counter.

"Your father asked me to get you. Said something about you not wanting to see him."

"I could have just walked." I mumble. Walking would be way better than facing this embarrassment. Not to mention the multiple times I've walked to the lab before.

I grab and Apple out of the fruit bowl, deciding to ditch the cereal and leave it out for Dad to eat. We may have had an argument, but I still have to make sure he eats.

A tense silence fills the air while I chomp on the fruit. Finally, I pause my eating, clearing my throat.

"Do you want a fruit?" I gesture to the fruit bowl.

"Now thank you, I'm fine."

I nod, finishing off the apple. It was one of those small, snack-sized apples, and I doubt it's going to keep me filled up for long, but I'd hate to eat anything else with Peter just standing there.

"Are you ready?" Peter asks after a few seconds of awkward silence. I nod and follow him out the door to one of the Guard Cruisers. It's basically a black and blue golf cart that is given to the guards who go back and forth between the harbor and lab. It can be used in case of emergencies or disturbances, which basically means it goes fast.

I hold in my annoyance as Peter zooms on the road leading to the lab, going nearly sixty miles an hour. Peter just laughs, the wind blowing in his hair as the jungle whips past us.

The speed he was going allowed us to reach the lab in record time, and I stumble off the death Cruiser, taking note to never ride in one of those with Peter driving ever again.

I storm into Braun labs, quite ticked that the hair I had carefully braided is now a wind-blown mess. It's the first time I've tired to change up my look in a while and of course something like this happens.

"I guess I'll see you during Zero's fitness hour!" Peter calls after me as I reach the elevator, obviously not taking the hint that I'm annoyed with him. I don't bother responding, except to give a very flat stare his way as the doors slide shut.

I reach the bottom floor and step out, thinking to make a beeline straight for Zero's cell, only to pause right in my tracks.

Shy and Jack stand there, chatting with Mrs. Clark. I remember meeting them when the experiment with Zero was first beginning, and how angelic the both of them seemed when compared to Sylvia. After the Sylvia incident, Mrs. Clark had only kept me from the team because I was the only one getting a valuable response out of Zero. Part of me feels extremely guilty for that, but if I'm being honest I'm really happy to see them again.

Then my eyes travel to Zero's cell and I nearly do a double-take, inhaling sharply as I free.

There's a person inside Zero's cell with long, familiar bleach blonde hair and glowing tan skin.

Sylvia.

I blink, hoping she will disappear, but she doesn't. The Queen of Tasers is back.

Anger takes over me in waves as I watch Sylvia standing in Zero's cell, surrounded by guards and smirking. Zero stands as far away as he can get, looking like a cornered animal.

This prompts me into action.

I storm over to Mrs. Clark, nodding at Jack and Shy, before dragging her away towards a corner of the lab. She huffs, straightening out her blouse and looking annoyed.

"What is she doing here?" I nearly exclaim, stabbing a finger in the air towards Sylvia. Mrs. Clark looks to where I'm pointing and realization dawns on her face.

"Oh right. I believe you remember Sylvia." She says, as if that wasn't obvious.

My frustration grows at her relaxed tone. Is she honestly okay with Sylvia being here?

"Didn't you say you sent her to shore?" I ask, although it sounds more similar to a demand.

"Yes, but then I called her back, just in case we have to resort to other......methods with Subject Zero." She says, and I feel my eyes widen. Zero was right, Mrs. Clark truly has been debating the idea of torture. But why Sylvia?

"Are you insane? She electrocuted him, which was uncalled for and extremely unprofessional! And if it's information you want, Sylvia is the least likely person to torture him for it. She wouldn't want to get blood on her designer heels or whatever." Mrs. Clark holds up a hand, cutting off my rant.

"No, Ashley, I'm not insane. And I'm not planning to torture him, merely coax some information out of him by bringing back a familiar person to Zero. Besides, Sylvia knows the rules this time. She'll stay in line."

"Did my father approve of this?" I ask her, hating to resort to the dad card, but thinking this may very well be my last card to play. Sylvia needs to leave, no matter what.

Mrs. Clark lets off a dark chuckle, leaning forward until she's in my personal space.

"Oh, honey. Your father will be gone soon enough so I won't need permission. If you don't want to speed up his impending absence, I suggest you stay quiet about this." She holds my eyes for another second before turning on her heel and walking off, leaving me in a confused and angry haze.

So Mrs. Clark is finally starting to show her true colors. There were hints before, but now I'm sure of it. She is not someone I'd ever feel safe around, not in a million years.

"Are you alright?"

I whirl around to find Shy standing there, giving me a small, shy smile. I force a smile back, trying to wipe everything that just went down off of my face and stepping in for a hug. She hugs me back, stiffly though, like she doesn't know what she's doing.

"I'm fine." I sigh once I pull away. "It's great to see you're back. I've been surrounded by boys ever since you left...besides Mrs. Clark I mean." Bringing up her name so soon after what just happened makes me clench my hands into fists, but I relax them soon after.

Now's not the time to get angry, I need to have some patience.

She nods, her eyes darting around. "We all came back on the same boat together, even Sylvia. Jack couldn't stop saying how excited he was to go back, and Sylvia nearly threw a guard over board because she couldn't find her straightener."

I growl, looking over to the cell where Sylvia's finally exiting.

Wow, did I just growl? Zero's rubbing off on me. "Sounds like her." I mutter, turning back to face Shy.

There's the sound of heels clicking against the tile floor, and I prepare myself for round two with Mrs. Clark, but the person moves into my line of sight and I see it's Sylvia.

"Miss me, Ashley?" She asks with a growing smirk, every word that comes out of her mouth sounding like they were directly from the script of the movie Mean Girls. "Don't worry, Zero, you, and I will be having a lot of fun to make up for the lost time."

I resist the growl again, instead trading my scowl for an imitation of her smirk.

"Hello, Sylvia. Back so soon? Were you too crazy that even the mental asylum kicked you out?" I retort, wincing at how lame it sounds. I've never been good at come backs, period.

"I'm not crazy." She states forcefully, taking a step forward. She pauses, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. When she opens her eyes, they're bright and she's smiling. "I have work to do. See you around, Ashley."

I watch her prance off, all the blood draining from my face. I have no doubt about it now. Sylvia is mental.

"That was weird." Shy mutters from behind me.

I nod, my eyes connecting momentarily with Zero's before I turn to face Shy.

"Yeah, but something tells me its about to get a whole lot weirder."



Hello, readers! Thanks for reading! Comment and vote! That's right, Sylvia is back, along with Jack and Shy. This chapter has now been edited, and I hope you all enjoyed. if you were Ashley, would you have been patient and smiled, or given Sylvia exactly what she deserved? Lots of love,

Dangeroustoken