With Avalon back in her room and Chance blowing off steam at the beach, Carmen locked herself in her office. Instead of working, however, she stared at the picture on her desk.

Chance at five years old, cherub cheeked and smiling.

Where did she mess up?

It was hard to say if she'd even messed up, to begin with. Her mentions of Avalon were isolated incidents that he'd complied and twisted, remembering them differently than she did. She had never, never ignored Chance. Not once.

Not ever.

…...

"Mommy"

Carmen turned from her desk, "Yes, Chance?"

"I wanna build a robot"

"Okay," Carmen picked up the squirming four-year-old and carried him to Sarah's lab.

"Teach him to build a robot," she ordered Sarah who looked at her as if she'd grown another head.

"But, just this morning you wanted me-"

"Teach him to build a robot, Sarah,"

...

"Mommy,"

Carmen looked up from her book at the six-year-old in the doorway.

"I wanna surf,"

"Okay,"

...

She had indulged his every whim but was by no means a pushover.

…...

"He what?"

"Killed a bird and her hatchlings," repeated the concerned henchman, holding a struggling five-year-old by the arm, "Completely out of nowhere,"

"Chance, do you want to explain yourself?"

"It bothered me," he declared.

"That's not a reason to kill innocent wildlife, go to your room,"

"I don't want to"

"Carry him"

"Not fair!"

...

"Chance, where did you get the matches?"

"Why?"

"Because you know better"

"I didn't do anything bad"

"You set Sarah's labcoat on fire...while she was wearing it,"

"So?"

"Were you angry?"

"Yeah"

"What have I told you?"

"I didn't wanna take deep breaths or a walk,"

"That doesn't make setting something on fire acceptable,"

"What are you going to do about it?"

"I'll have your tutor cover fire safety...again"

...

Carmen's head dropped.

Too much like his father.

Much too much.

…...

I don't like my new foster family. They are very mean to me. I get in trouble all the time for stuff I didn't do. Bobby broke the window but when he was asked he said I did it. And they believed him.

They forced me to eat cold noodles for dinner while they had pizza and bread-sticks.

Bobby says im not worth the money they make.

Ivy shut the journal, feeling sick to her stomach, "How many more journals?"

"Too many," Zack sighed.

"Well, she mentioned Tracy again at least once in every entry"

"If only we could find her then maybe we'd have some answers,"

"Let's keep going, anyone who makes that kind of impression doesn't just disappear"

…...

Get this, I have a younger brother. He's sixteen and hates me.

No, I'm not exaggerating, he hates me. Slapped me right across the face. In front of Carmen no less. No, I'm not comfortable with calling her Mom. Will I ever be?

No.

I mean, would you call the most wanted thief Mom?

No.

But back to my brother, he seems disturbed. Seriously disturbed. Like, should be in a mental hospital.

How did I come to this conclusion?

You should hear the stories the henchmen whisper when Carmen's not around. According to these stories my brother has:

Killed animals.

Set fire to things.

Once built a mini bomb using some wires and a potato.

These honestly sound like the trademark signs of a serial killer. I believe someone like that needs to be medicated.

But, not my circus, not my monkeys so I'll keep quiet and hope I can go back home soon.

Melissa shut the journal, tucked the pen in the spiral binding, and put her journal safely away. Tucking her hair behind her ears and picked up her work folder.

Back to work I go.

…...

"Ah-Ha!"

"What is it, Ivy?"

"I did some backtracking. Tracy was adopted"

"So, that's why she disappeared?"

"Yeah, just listen,"

Tracy had to leave today. I wanted to go with her but they wouldn't let me. A bright red car showed up and a sparkly lady came inside. Tracy was so happy. She ran to hug her and left me on the couch.

I can't cry it makes me look like a baby but I cried.

Tracy came back to where I was sitting and gave me a hug.

"Don't cry, Carmen, we'll always be friends"

I hope she's right.

Ivy looked up from the journal triumphantly.

"It still doesn't explain how she went from Carmen to Melissa"

"I don't think that's our primary concern"

"Still, it's odd,"

…...

"Chance"

Chance jerked, turning around ready to tell off whoever was bothering him only to find his girlfriend.

"Paper Star," he grinned.

"What's bothering you?"

"Avalon, as always"

"What now?"

"You won't believe it"

"Try me"

"Mom brought Avalon here,"

"Really?"

"Yes, it's frustrating! I wouldn't be surprised if Mom cloned herself, they're so much alike!"

"Maybe she did"

Chance flinched, looking at Paper Star skeptically. She only briefly met his eyes, her hands constantly moving. Origami animals littered the beach around their feet, a lion soon joining the bunch.

"What do you mean?"

"Your mother once built a device-"

"Sarah builds things,"

"Never correct me Chance," Paper Star warned, "As I was saying she has a device to rip talent from people, cloning is not an impossibility"

"You're right"

"As always"

…...

My eyes are going to cross.

Sighing, Melissa put the papers aside and let her head drop into her hands. Oreo wormed his way into her lap, dragging his leash with him.

"Walk? Okay"

She clipped the leash to his collar and left the room, headed outside for the sole purpose of avoiding people. Sadly, she found Chance was outside. If she just kept her head down and avoided him maybe he wouldn't notice her. This was easier said than done when Oreo chose to make their presence known.

"Hush," she scolded him, avoiding Chance's ice-filled glare.

Unfourtantly, Oreo was a people lover, and in an out of character choice, he strained against his leash, struggling to get to where Chance sat.

With an eye-roll, Melissa snatched her dog up and turned back to the manor.

"Bad dog"

…...

She should've been working but Carmen had fallen down a rabbit hole of memories both good and bad.

…..

"He tried building a bomb?"

"Yes"

"Where did he get that idea?"

"I don't know"

"Where is he now?"

"I put him in the classroom"

"Good idea"

...

Carmen had been ready to train him. Eager to train him but after hearing that she'd pushed it back.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Every single time she thought he was ready he did something to make her think otherwise.

It was both saddening and maddening. What was she missing?

How could she help him?

She wanted to help him.

…...

The hours dragged on and on until Carmen knocked on the door to announce dinner. Melissa followed behind her quietly. Coming to the smaller than expected dining room to find Chance sprawled across two chairs. A glare from Carmen earned her the stink eye.

"Chance, the extra seat is for your sister"

He remained where he was.

"Sit up, please,"

He did so while grumbling and Melissa reluctantly took a seat next to him.

This is bound to be explosive