Sebastian shook her off, and Angela moved away, realising he wanted to be alone so no one saw his tears. She sat down at the back of the cell and wrapped her arms around her body.

It was a small room, with a small bowl for a toilet, and a tiny raised bed a room for one person only. White concrete walls enclosed them, covered in the kind of filth that builds up over years. Angela heard the sounds of other prisoners moving in the cells around them. Sometimes they shouted for so long that the guards beat them with their batons.

Then the screams came. It made Angela shudder.

Cam took her hand. "It's gunnae be all right," he said. His monotone voice lacked any indication of hope, and it chilled her to the bone.

She squeezed his hand tight. "Yes," she said firmly, "it will. It will be okay."

"Who are you kidding?" Sebastian said in a bitter voice.

"I'm not kidding anyone," Angela retorted. "But I refuse to give up."

"Look around you," he insisted. "Do you see a way out? What do you think is going to happen? We escape through these bolted metal doors and run away into the sunset?" He paced up and down the cell.

"Dunnae speak te her like that," Cam said in a low, threatening voice.

"Why what are you going to do? Cry?"

Cam leapt to his feet, but Angela kept hold of his hand. She tried to pull him back. "Don't, Cam. He's just upset."

The two boys squared up to each other until a frustrated Ginge took Cam's other hand and pulled him to the cold, stone floor. "Och, ye both bein' idiots. Just sit doon an' shut up."

Hours dragged on until Angela drifted off to sleep with her back propped against the dirty wall. At least in slumber she could forget about the sores on her ankles and wrists, or Cam's peeling sunburn. Her eyelashes fluttered as she dreamed of her mother standing in the kitchen of their home in Area 14, making mint tea and humming a tune. She woke sharply, to the sounds of shouts and the rattling of bars a completely disorientated until the past few days came flooding back. They brought with them a familiar heavy feeling in her stomach.

She felt as though she was being watched, and twisted her body to see Cam staring at her. A smile played on his lips. She tried to meet his eyes, but his cheeks reddened, and he looked away. How long had he been watching her sleep? Angela opened her mouth to talk to him, when she heard footsteps, and the jangling of the guard's keys approaching the cell. Vincent Cole appeared from the shadows on the other side of the bars.

"Dad!" Sebastian leapt to his feet and dashed over to the bars. It was the first time Angela had seen him this happy in days. He seemed elated; his eyes wide and glassy, his cheeks flushed and excited, and his eyebrows raised and hopeful. He gripped the bars so tight his knuckles paled. "I knew you'd come for us. I knew you wouldn't leave me in here. How's Mum? Can I see her?"

Vincent Cole wasn't alone. Alongside the guard came a shorter man with beady black eyes and grey hair. He walked with a stiff, yet swift, gait and his chin up in the air as though to compensate for his lack of stature. Angela noted his straight, thin lips and low eyebrows; somehow she didn't expect any good news to come.

"Well?" asked Sebastian. "Where's Mum?"

A flash of emotion flickered on Vincent's face before it changed back to a blank mask. "Your mother is dead, Sebastian. She died in the farmhouse the night you left with the deserters." He pointed directly at Angela, who shuddered against his gaze.

Sebastian's body sagged forward at the terrible news; the hopeful expression dissipated in an instant. Ginge pulled him into her arms, cradling him, like a child.

It surprised Angela that she struggled to hold back tears. She'd known Mrs Cole for only a brief time, and during that time she'd thought of her as a sort of surrogate Mum. She bit her lip, trying to keep her emotions in check, but the memories came back: collecting eggs, cooking, and ironing together on Sebastian's farm. Her heart panged.

Angela shook her head in disbelief. How could Vincent be so heartless? Why would any father do that to their only son? Cam reached across and took Angela's hand in his. She remembered the night they left for the Compound. She would never forget the desperation in Cam's voice as he told her he needed to get out of Area 14 to stop the face of his betraying father haunting him. Somehow she'd brought him closer to that memory; brought him to see yet another parent betray their child. What kind of world did they live in?

"She's dead?" Sebastian said. His voice rasped with grief. "No. No, she can't be." He let out a loud sob, his shoulders slumping so that he almost folded in two. "No." Ginge wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight, and Sebastian sobbed against her chest.

Vincent moved towards him with a hand outstretched and an expression of shock in his widened eyes. Next to him, the smaller man glared and shook his head. Vincent obeyed, moving away from Sebastian. His face changed back to the emotionless mask.

Angela wiped away her tears, and focussed her attention on the short man with beady eyes. Who was he? He had a lot of influence over Vincent Cole. Enough influence to make him capture his own son? Yes, probably. If there was one thing she knew about Sebastian's father, it was that he made deals with those higher than him: he made a deal with the GEM to leave London and keep his life; he made another deal with the GEM to betray Mina so he could keep the farm. There had to be something motivating him to treat his family this way. She just didn't know what it was.

"You just came here to tell me that?" said Sebastian. He sniffed and wiped his red raw eyes. "You lock me away like an animal, and then you tell me my mother is dead? Who are you?"

Vincent seemed taken aback by that. His mouth opened and closed as he stared at his son.

"You're not my father," Sebastian said with venom in his voice. His fists clenched by his sides. Ginge stood next to him with her arms folded, glaring at Vincent through a curtain of hair.

"Tell him, Vincent," said the short man.

"There's a reason I gave Matthew Hart a message," Vincent said, speaking slowly. He cleared his throat and continued. "The Ministry take desertion very seriously and have been attempting to track you and Angela down for quite some time." His eyes narrowed as the examined every face in the cell. "I see that the boy isn't here? I believe that Mina is being taken care of by her mother anyway, so I was never going to get her." He faltered.

"Go on," said the mean little man.

Vincent sighed. "You broke the law, Sebastian. And you Angela. I sentence you to death for deserting a Ministry controlled Areaaa"

"No!" Sebastian screamed.

"aathe others are guilty of infiltrating a Ministry controlled Area, and living outside Ministry control. I also sentence you to deathaa"

"Like hell ye will," Ginge shouted. She lunged through the bars, reaching for Vincent's shirt. The guard advanced with his baton, hitting her on the forearm. Cam pulled her back.

"aaat a time arranged by the Border Security panel in Area 14. Until then you will remain incarcerated in the prison cells."

Sebastian shook his head slowly in total disbelief. "How can you do this?" he whispered.

Vincent backed away.

"You coward!" Sebastian screamed. "You coward." He collapsed to the floor as Vincent left.

The short man remained for a second longer, staring at the four faces in the prison. He laughed once and disappeared into the shadows. Angela watched him leave with a tight knot of contempt building in her chest. She'd never hated anyone as much as that man. Never.

22 * Daniel *

The long basement of the church had been split into a living quarter, with a dining table, computer area and bunk beds stacked against the walls. Children played with chipped and battered toys in a carpeted area next to the beds. Whilst it was dank and dark, they had all the facilities they needed, including a functioning bathroom, electricity and running water. They even had a small kitchen area with counter space and an oven. It was a very different picture than the one painted to him in Area 14. The Resistance still had some resources left.

Daniel followed the main room around a corner and came to something much more disturbing a a prison cell. Why would the Resistance need to lock people away?

"We hardly ever use that thing."

Daniel spun around to find Des behind him, leaning casually against the basement wall. "What does hardly ever mean?" He remembered Hiro's warning. There was no way he'd trust Des until he earned it.

"You know, if you continue through that archway," Des pointed to the dark corridor a few feet away from the cell, "you reach the catacombs of the church. The priest tells me there are dozens of bodies down there; hundreds of years of entombed priests buried in their church." He stepped out of the shadows, grinning to reveal large white teeth. "I hope you're not afraid of the dead, Daniel."

Des laughed as he walked away. His footsteps faded until Daniel stood alone in the eerie silence. Goosebumps formed up and down his arms as the cold spread through his body. He'd never felt so alone. A large spider scuttled across the floor, and even though he'd never been afraid of spiders, he backed away from the prison cell and hurried around the corner to the living quarters. Des watched him from the other side of the room with a triumphant expression on his face.

Daniel gritted his teeth and tried to ignore him, whilst at the same time trying to ignore the way his nerves jangled with new adrenaline. He caught Jonathon by the arm as he crossed the room carrying fresh bandages for Ali.

"How is he?" Daniel asked.

"Weak, but healing. Eating like a horse." Jonathon adjusted his glasses and stood awkwardly. The usually well-presented Professor seemed more frazzled than usual.

"We can't just sit around here," Daniel said. "We don't know what Anna is doing to Mina. We have to get into the GEM and get her out."

The Professor's jaw clenched. "I agree. We're not ready for any kind of attack yet, and that means we need to get ready."

Des approached. "May I add to the conversation?"

Daniel swore under his breath. Did the man have superhuman hearing? Or was he just a sneak?

"If you must." Jonathon lifted his chin and peered down at Des over his glasses.

"You'll need the Resistance to help you get your daughter out of the Ministry. There's no way you can do that alone. Unless you have some kind of super power I'm not aware of." He glared at Daniel as though he knew a lot more than he let on. "And we'll need a few days to get weapons sent from K. Our stocks are depleted at the moment."

"How do you contact this K?" Daniel blurted out. He knew it was rude, but something in Des' tone made him doubt this close connection with the Resistance leader. Why would K let them live unarmed under a church? Surely the ever present threat of an Enforcer attack meant they should always be prepared.

"The priest acts as a connection," Des said without any hint of annoyance. "We use church members as messengers. Anyway, don't you want to focus on how we can help your girlfriend?"

Daniel's cheeks heated, and he clenched his fists. "Of course I do. I just want to know all the facts before I trust you to help."

Des laughed then, and it was mocking. "Why, are you planning to do this alone, boy? You want to wander into a building full of security and cameras to retrieve your precious Mina?"

"Now, that's enough," Jonathon warned. "We're very grateful for your help, Des, but Daniel is right to be cautious about our allies."

"I got you through the border, didn't I?" Des leaned in. "Didn't hear you complaining about that. Why should we help you get the girl back? If it means putting my people in danger, maybe I shouldn't bother."

"There are reasons that benefit both of us." Jonathon spoke in a lower register, his tone one to command attention. "Mina is dangerous in the hands of Anna. She becomes a weapon to use against the Resistanceaa"

Daniel shook his head. "What are you doing?"

Des laughed. "The boy doesn't trust us with his secrets. Well, that's a good start."

"It's not his secret." Jonathon dumped the bandages on the dining table and folded his arms. "We should call a meeting a talk this out."

"Agreed," Des said. He gave Daniel one more stare, then moved to join another group.

Daniel pulled Jonathon away from the others. "Hiro said not to trust him."

"I don't trust him," Jonathon replied. "But they are the only ones who can help us get Mina away from Anna. And we need to make them think that taking Mina out of Anna's hands benefits them as well."

"I don't like it." Daniel shook his head. "Why are they down here without weapons? If this K guy is as powerful as they say, surely they wouldn't be left unable to protect themselves."

Jonathon rubbed the stubble on his chin as he considered Daniel's argument. "They're small time. Look around you. Aside from a few computers they have nothing; a few families and a techie." He glanced at Dale.

"Yet Des is ambitious," Daniel said. "That means he thinks big. He posed as an Enforcer for a start."

"He does seem to want to impress this K person," Jonathon agreed. "Which might make him a loose cannon. What's the alternative? There are few of us and we have little in the way of weaponry or equipment. We have no other choice than to accept their help and hope for the best."

He was right, and yet Daniel really didn't want him to be.

The group huddled around the dining table, with the dim light casting many of them in shadow. With Ali still recovering it left Jonathon with Matthew, and Daniel with the Freaks. Des, Dale and Luce sat opposite. A few other Resistance hovered around them.

Des began. "Luce predicts Ali will be back on his feet in a few days, and back to his best. Praise God."

Daniel shuffled in his seat. He still didn't feel comfortable with Des' frequent references to God. He thought of his mother's prayer: take the devil from my son... take the devil from my son... take the devil from my son...

"Thank you, Luce," Matthew said, his eyes shining with emotion.

Luce's cheeks flushed and she nodded. For some reason her eyes flashed to Daniel's. He had no idea why. He'd hardly even spoken to her.

"Right then, first order of business is to welcome our guests. You're all under our protection here. This is a secret operation; we're safeguarded by the priest and nuns who run the church, as well as K."

Translation a they were under their control. Daniel and the others owed the Resistance big time, and Daniel didn't like to be in debt. You never know what price you'll pay.

"And now that we've welcomed you, we'll move onto what it is that you want from us." Des leaned forward and placed his hands together like a steeple; his elbows resting on the table. "You're looking for someone a this Mina girl a and you want to get her out of GEM control. I think someone needs to give me more information, before we can decide how much involvement the Resistance will have in this matter."

It was Jonathon who spoke. "Mina is my daughter so I'll explain." He took a deep breath before he began. "My wife... I mean my ex-wife, works as a scientist at the fertility clinic in the GEM, and has some influence there. I believe she has taken our daughter a at this crucial moment in the country a in order to use her specific powers. My daughter is gifted with the power of telekinesis, and could be used as a very powerful weapon. I'm afraid that Anna a Mina's mother a is a very manipulative woman. My fears are that she's using Mina and twisting her into a weapon for the GEM to use." He paused. "The crux of the matter is: we have to get her out of there, and away from Anna's clutches before it's too late."

Daniel thought of his vision. Jonathon was right. If Mina stayed with Anna, there was a good chance that she could be converted to the wrong side. He remembered the hope and joy in Mina's eyes as she'd stared at her mother in the Compound. Mina was love-struck and blind, easily manipulated. He became nauseated at the thought.

Des had bowed his head close to Jonathon to hear every word. When Jonathon finished, he nodded, and then rested back in his chair. "You're saying she could be used against the Resistance."

Jonathon's back stiffened very abruptly. "She isn't your enemy. She's a girl and she needs saving."

"But she's a dangerous girl," Des said. "She's very dangerous by the sounds of it. We might not be able to get her out of the GEM. Not if she doesn't want to go."

Daniel shot to his feet. "What are you saying?"

"Calm down, hot-headed one. I'm not saying anything, yet," said Des. He didn't flinch at Daniel's sudden movement, even though most of the Resistance members had reached for the knives in their belts. "Just that this is going to be a difficult operation. Especially if we're saving someone who doesn't want to be saved." He lifted a finger as though suddenly remembering something. "But there is one thing we can do. We have another sleeper agent working in the fertility clinic. Perhaps we can make sure that she keeps an eye on Mina. In fact, shall we head to the screens, watch the action for a while?"

Des stood and there was the screeching of metal-legged chairs against the concrete floor. Daniel followed the group around the corner to the prison cell. He suppressed a shudder as they followed the corridor to the archway to where the catacombs lay. But before reaching the archway, Des unlocked a door into a room fitted with shelves on three walls and a large screen on the other. Most of the shelves were empty, with just a few boxes of food and supplies left.

"Is this the armoury?" Daniel asked. "Is it where you keep the guns?"

Des switched on the large screen in total silence. Why didn't this guy ever answer a question? Daniel's temper rose and Mike shot him an annoyed glare. He tried to suppress his anger, seeing as they were in a confined space, and Mike was probably getting a nasty whiff of fermenting chillies.

When Des failed to make the picture clear, Dale fiddled with the screen until a blurry black and white image appeared. Every now and then the image went dark for a tiny fraction a the length of a blink. Daniel watched closely, and realised that the gaps in filming were eye-blinks. They viewed an image recorded by a Plan-It lens. It was so clever that despite his reservations about Des a he was impressed.

"Meet our insurgent," said Des. His chest puffed up with pride. "She's our top secret weapon right now. Using her a let's call it unique influence a she's managed to infiltrate right into the heart of the GEM. In fact, they use her as a Substitute to the designer babies. She feeds and cares for them until the parents are ready to collect them."

"Who is she?" Kitty asked, moving nearer to the screen. All it showed was a long corridor with GEM workers walking towards the unknown spy. Some nodded to her in greeting. She exited the hallway through a set of doors and climbed up a staircase.

"That's classified, I'm afraid," he said. "But she's very special. We communicate with her on a daily basis, and ask her to gain the trust of certain people. If you want to get your girl out, or get yourselves in, this might be the way to do it."

The insurgent stepped through double doors into a strange large room with cars and boulders. Daniel made out two figures near the back of the room. He stood up straighter, a jolt running through his body. She seemed so familiar... Could it be?

He strained forward, eyes glued to the screen as the spy trotted through to a kitchen area and started making tea. As she began to pour the boiling water through a tea strainer, another woman approached and gently took the kettle from her hand. She smiled and nodded at the girl like they were old friends. Jonathon gasped.

"Anna! That's Mina's mother," he said.

The insurgent picked up a plate of biscuits and stepped out of the kitchen area. But instead of carrying on with whatever she was doing, the insurgent stopped, and glanced back at Mina's mother.