{ Mia }
I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt it—like the device was still under my skin, pulsing with phantom pain, whispering that name I never asked for.
Angel.
It clung to me like smoke, like something I couldn't wash off.
The rain had stopped by morning, but the air felt heavier, as if the storm had just moved inside. I sat curled on the couch, a blanket around my shoulders, my leg still sore despite the ice. Hunter hadn't said much after last night. Neither had Cole. But I could tell they were both thinking. Planning.
Then the door swung open.
Hunter strode in, his face hard, eyes sharper than I'd ever seen them. He carried a small, dented black case in one hand and a folder in the other.
He dropped both on the table with a thud.
"I traced the energy signature from the control device," he said, not wasting a second. "It's custom work. Not just high-end, experimental. And there's only one family I know that could pull this off."
Cole leaned in. "Who?"
Hunter's jaw clenched. "The Hamiltons ."
Silence fell like a blade.
I sat up straighter. "That's not a name you just casually drop…"
Hunter met my gaze. " You know them Mia... "
I squinted. " Do I ?"
He nodded. " The one that kidnapped you is a part of the Hamilton family."
I froze. " And the man who wants you gone?"
" He's one of them too."
I froze. " What do we do ?"
" We need a plan." Cole started.
Hunter and I looked at each other as if considering Cole's words then, he coughed.
Ughm ughm!
" I mean... I have a plan."
" Oh. What is it?"
" Well, I was thinking that you go back home—"
"No. She stays here." Hunter cut him off before he could finish.
Cole turned to him, his gaze darkening.
"Please, let me finish, my dear friend..."
Hunter's jaw clenched. Silence. Then, a reluctant nod.
"As I was saying... We let her go back home. Make the Hamiltons think we've let our guard down. Let them come to her—"
"I don't want my sister to get hurt. You know that, Cole!" Hunter stood abruptly, voice rising.
"N-No, Hunter, that's not it," Cole said quickly. "We'd be monitoring her, especially with the new bond between you two. They won't see it coming."
Hunter froze for a second considering his words. Then, he turned to me his eyes softening.
" What do you think about this cupcake?"
I looked at him, eyes wide. Cupcake. He only called me that when he was trying to calm me down.
I took a breath, then another.
"I mean..." I hesitated, twisting the blanket in my fingers. "I kind of missed home."
Hunter's expression flickered.
"I miss my room. My books. My mom's weird morning smoothies... Even my dad yelling at the toaster." A small, tired laugh escaped me. "I miss feeling like a normal person."
Neither of them said anything, so I kept going.
"But I get it. This is dangerous. And I don't want to put anyone at risk. Especially not my family."
I met Hunter's eyes, steady this time.
"I'll do it. I'll go back home. But only if you both promise not to leave me alone. Not even for a second."
"You won't be alone," Cole said gently.
"I want check-ins," I added, lifting a finger. "Like every hour. If I don't respond, you show up. Deal?"
Hunter nodded, reluctantly. "Deal."
"And... if anything goes wrong, I pull out. No hesitation."
"You've got it, cupcake," Hunter said, softer now.
I let the blanket fall from my shoulders, sitting up straighter. For the first time in days, I felt... something close to control.
"Then let's do it," I said. "Let them think I'm weak. Let them come for me."
I smiled, just a little. "This time, I'll be ready."
Hunter stood up his eyes watering. " I'll miss you cupcake... You're ready. You've done a great job mastering most of your powers and I-I wish y-you luck." He said heavily opening his arms widely for a hug.
My heart clenched. " A-Ace I-I-I'm going to miss you."
Ace smirked though it didn't quite reach his eyes. " You didn't think I'd let you go that easily, did you cupcake?"
" W-what do you mean?"
" I mean that, every day after 8:00 o'clock at night I'm going to come and visit you. "
My eyes lightened up. " Really?! You mean that ?" I asked excitedly.
Hunter nodded smiling. " I'll never leave you cupcake..." He whispered rubbing my hair.
Then, suddenly a thought hit me. " How do I hide my hair? I don't want to wear a wig every day..."
Hunter chuckled. " No need to worry about that... You can change any part of your body that you want!"
" Really?"
" Yes, you just have to close your eyes and envision whatever change you'd like."
I blinked. "Wait, really? Like... I could give myself bangs again?"
Hunter raised a brow. "If you really wanted to, sure. Though I'd advise against it. Remember last time?"
Cole snorted. "Yeah, that was tragic."
I narrowed my eyes at both of them, then closed them, focusing hard. Brown hair. Shoulder-length. No streaks. Something normal. Something boring. Brown eyes.
Warmth pulsed under my skin, a tingle across my scalp.
"Open your eyes," Hunter said softly.
I did, and gasped.
Cole grabbed the mirror off the shelf and held it up. "You look like you just stepped out of a catalog."
I reached up, running my fingers through my new hair. It felt real. Looked real. My heart stuttered.Even my eyes had changed. Brown. Plain. Unnoticeable
"This is insane," I whispered. "This changes everything..."
Hunter nodded. "It's a skill you'll need if we want this plan to work. Disguise. Blending in. Surprise."
Cole tilted his head. "I vote we let her practice a few looks before she goes back. Just in case she wants to be, I don't know... a redhead assassin by day and emo barista by night?"
I laughed, the tension easing for just a second.
But then the reality crept back in.
Tomorrow... I'd be going home.
Pretending to be the same Mia everyone remembered.
While secretly waiting for the monsters to come find me.
I straightened up. "Okay. Let's train. I want to be ready for anything."
Hunter smiled faintly. "That's my cupcake."