"Once there came a storm in the form of a girl

It blew to pieces my snug little world"

-Ain't Gonna Rain Anymore by Nick Cave

Mara thought she'd actually been a very accommodating prisoner, all things considered. Absolutely everything had gone straight to hell the moment she'd gotten control of her own body, thank you very much; people had yanked her around, chained her up, threatened her...

Not one of them had asked her anything, really. And nobody had said "please". That was the problem with people these days. No manners.

She watched Duke pace, finally throwing his little journal in a fit of temper. He was a little pale, and definitely shaky. She stretched her shoulders to try and settle the discomfort in her stomach.

The problem was, she knew, without a doubt, that she could fix him. Not take his Trouble away, but fix it. Make it follow it's original purpose. She could make him amazing.

If only she had some Aether.

He didn't believe she'd fix him- that much was obvious, and so she lied when he asked why she would save him. The lie he'd be most likely to believe- that she wanted to fix him to protect herself.

Mara sat, face carefully neutral as Duke said, "So you're just in this to save your own skin."

She shrugged, humming.

"Well, at least it's honest. Almost makes me like you."

He was a terrible liar. She couldn't conceal her grin as she replied, "Good. Now stop sulking and go find that damned Aether."

His phone rang again.

"Oh, just answer it. Tell them you've decided to end the Troubles by killing me. Go ahead. Maybe they'll leave you alone for five minutes so you can think."

He tossed the phone at her. "You want to talk to him, go ahead."

She caught it before it could hit her face. She narrowed her eyes. He thought she wouldn't do it.

She stared at Duke as she answered. "Yes, Nathan?"

Nathan stuttered, caught off guard. "Where's Duke?'

"What, no 'Hello Mara, good morning'? How impolite. He's busy at the moment. Wanna leave a message?"

"Damn it, where are you? I need to talk to him!"

Huh. There was genuine urgency in his voice. Not just the normal, growly tone he used when he wasn't getting what he wanted. It made her curious, and she leaned forward, her elbows on her knees as she asked, very slowly, "Why? What's so important?"

"Audrey's sick. It's not the contagion, and I need his help!"

The words came out before she could stop them. Nasty old habit. "Sick how? Explain."

"Why the hell would I tell you?"

Her voice dropped, heavy with warning. "Because I'm the only one listening."

"A cough, chills, pale, weak. I took her to Dr. Cross, but she's getting worse."

Mara froze. "Did you say Dr. Cross?"

"Yeah, Charlotte Cross, the CDC doctor."

Well, that explained the lead ball in her stomach. She gazed at Duke. "Keep your phone on, I'll call you back." She ignored his protests and hung up.

Charlotte was back. Pretending to be CDC, even. Nathan had brought Audrey to her. She'd know by now that Mara wasn't in there. Or, more precisely, that Audrey wasn't in here.

So the question was, how much of her old self was she willing to leave behind to be free? She pursed her lips, deep in thought.

"What'd he want?" Duke snapped at her. He really was cranky. If he didn't release a Trouble soon...

It bothered her that she cared so much.

"Audrey is sick."

Great, now the lovesick puppydog look. "What's wrong with her? Is it serious?"

"They don't know." She considered, eyeing Duke as she continued, "But I might."

"No riddles, Mara. Do you know what's wrong with her or not?"

"I'd have to see her to tell for sure. But I know the doctor he took her to isn't going to help her."

"Why wouldn't the doctor help her?"

"You think I'm a bad, bad person. Evil. Deceptive. Dangerous. Doctor Charlotte Cross," she said the name with a sneer that made mer nose wrinkle, "is much worse."

Duke scoffed. "How would you know?"

She leaned back, crossing her arms. "Because she's my mother."

He shook his head, grimacing. "What's the angle now, Mara? What are you playing?"

She tilted her head as she looked at him. "You think I just hatched this way? I was born and raised same as you. I wasn't always like this. You think I don't know what it's like to be ignored, marginalized. To be used and abandoned. The truth is, I understand you better than you know."

"Right, right. We're kindred spirits, you're the only one who gets me. So the doctor who just showed up from the CDC just coincidentally happens to be your mother? Bullshit. "

Mara crossed her legs, staring at him defiantly. "There's nothing coincidental about it. And she's not from the CDC. But that's not the point, Duke."

"Alright. Educate me. What is the point, Mara?"

He was sweating. She could feel him getting sicker. If she handled this right, maybe this situation could help her get what she needed.

"The point is, Audrey is sick, and if it's what I think it is, I'm the only one who can help her. I know you... love her."

This was stupid. She was being stupid. But if she helped Audrey, she'd get what she needed to help Duke. Maybe he'd even start to trust her a little.

She really, really wanted to help Duke.

"If you want me to, I'll help her. For you."

"Right. But what will you want in return, huh?"

"From you? Nothing. It's a gift. Do you want me to help her, Duke?"

He closed his eyes, and his jaw was clenched, hands in fists at his sides. He was wondering what he'd be losing in this deal. Finally, he spit the words at her, "Yes, I want you to help her."

Mara nodded, picking his phone back up and hitting the redial button.

"Duke?"

"Not hardly. I need to see Audrey. Dr. Cross isn't going to help her. In fact, I bet you already know she's not CDC, don't you?"

"How do you know?"

"Oh, don't worry. I'm sure you'll find out soon enough, and you won't believe me anyway. But I'll make you a deal, Nathan. I'll fix Audrey, if you give me enough Aether to fix Duke."

He was trapped, they both knew it. If he refused, Audrey would keep getting worse. "How do I know I can trust you?"

"You don't. But I'm your only option. Audrey for Duke. No tricks, no traps."

"Fine. Where?"

"Meet us at the Rouge. I'll know if you try to trick me. Just remember, if it's what I think it is, I'm the only one who can help her. You can't feel her anymore, can you? It's alright, you don't have to answer. But if it's true, she's going to get worse. When can you be there?"

"Maybe 20 minutes."

"Meet you there."

She hung up, looking away from Duke. "We need to go, Duke."

"Whatever you're planning, you're not unlocking a Thinny. I'll shoot you. I can hurt you a lot without killing you."

She rolled her eyes, still not looking at him. If only he had the first clue how much she wanted to stay away from her 'home'. "Don't be an idiot. Did you not hear me say we're going to the Rouge? There are no Thinnies there and you know it. We need to go, Duke. Before you both get worse."

He unlocked the cuff, grabbing her arm and hauling her up. Oh, that would definitely bruise.

She wasn't the only one leaving handprints on people.