"Please be safe." Uncle Pete hugged me tight. I felt the fear radiating off of him. I hugged back, keeping back my own fear from surfacing. "I will."

"God be with you." Miss Nancy enveloped me in a warm hug as well.

"I hope." Was my low response.

It was Celine's turn.

One would think I was embarking on a journey of no return with the many hugs and dreary faces. Well, with dangerous and desperately power-hungry men like Philip Pillax, it might as well be.

"I haven't known you for long but ...