Ivy

The entire ride back, Ivy felt uneasy. Not just because of the gargoyle, but from her conversation with Lily. And being re-born. She didn't like that very much. Her mind continued to go back to Lily. She'd said quite a bit, but none of it really helped them, aside from knowing they had three lives. At least she had the comfort of knowing a bit about her past, but even so, none of it made sense. The names Lily had spouted out sounded familiar, but no faces were attached to them, nor any memories. So she'd been born in Victoria, but lived on Vancouver Island... it did sound familiar, at least some of it.

She still had to tell Ben everything she'd learned, but when was a good time? Lily had warned them that whoever had put them here was watching 24/7, and they couldn't expose Lily, or they would lose their only information source. Lily had told Ivy that she'd chosen to be here. But why? Of all things, why would Ivy choose to have her memory wiped, put in an unfamiliar place, and forced to complete some sort of sick, real life video game? It didn't make sense. She couldn't think of a single reason she would want to do this. Was there an ulterior motive to all this? Ivy couldn't think of one.

"We're here," Ben announced, interrupting her thoughts.

Neither of them spoke as Ben led her back to the hotel. Ivy's mind was still reeling, and she desperately wanted to talk to Lily again. Briefly, her mind wandered to the notebook. Did Ben have it? Could she talk to Lily? She quickly dismissed the idea. It was silly. Clearly, Lily was already in a lot of trouble from whoever had put them here, and she didn't want to risk losing their only source of outside information.

"Ben! Ivy?!" A familiar voice broke her thoughts. They were standing outside the hotel, a tall two story building with an ugly brown exterior and small glaring windows. Lea stared in shock. She had clearly just come out of the spinning door. Ezra was right behind her. Ivy glanced at Ben. He was giving Ezra a strange look, and by the way his eyes were carefully observing his face, Ben had come up with something. Damn, he was so smart. It was annoying.

"Hi," Ivy awkwardly spoke to her companions.

"How the hell are you alive," Lea demanded. Ivy's mind raced. Was she supposed to tell her the truth? Could Lea help them? What about Ezra? He didn't seem trustworthy...

"They saved her," Ben answered for her. Ivy looked up at her friend. What an idiot. Did he honestly think they would believe that? "We think Ivy has some sort of regenerating or healing power."

Oh. Okay that was smart. Damn it.

Lea nodded like it was the most normal thing.

"That's perfect! I'm glad to have you back, Ivy. Where were you two?"

"I went out for a walk and I found her," Ben replied. Lea nodded again. Ivy stayed silent.

"Okay, we need to get moving. We still have enough daylight to make some headway, so how about you two shower up and grab your things. We're going for a ride."

**************

Ivy did not enjoy the 'ride.' According to Lea, the agency had given them a truck after the attack on the subway. They were speeding down the highway, Ivy and Ben were thrown into the back with a tarp overtop. Ivy felt sick the entire time. The feeling of bumping over the rough asphalt was oddly familiar. So familiar, in fact, that she could feel a memory trying to break free, trying its best to wriggle away from the chains that were holding it back.

"You okay?" Ben asked her gently, observing the way her face was all screwed up.

"I'm trying - trying to remember - " Ivy tried to force the words out, but it was so close, so close...

Like an explosion of chalk on the sidewalk, the memory burst into her mind. Just like now, she was laying in the bed of a truck. There was a tarp overtop. It was raining and cold. She felt scared and shaken. There was someone next to her... she turned her head, trying to get a look at who was there. The person seemed about her height, with the same impish features and strawberry blonde hair, but her face was completely blurred, yet somehow Ivy knew who it was; Lily.

"I think we're almost there," a voice echoed around her, and Ivy realized with a shock it was her own.

"When do we jump out?" Lily asked her. Ivy didn't answer.

Instead, the memory changed. This time, she was inside some sort of strange hallway. Fluorescent lights shone brightly above her, making her eyes sting. There was a hand on her shoulder leading her somewhere.

"Ivy?" Someone asked in a quiet tone. Ivy didn't look at the person, even though she desperately wanted to. "What's going on?" The same person demanded. She was sure it was Lily.

"Quiet," someone ordered above Ivy's head. She didn't look.

Ahead of her, Ben was also being led the same way. Ivy felt terrified and oddly guilty. What was the context to this memory? The two were led into a dimly lit surgery room, and Ivy's blood ran cold. She knew what this was. This must have been right before their memories were taken.

"Wait," Ivy said, bracing herself against the persons grip.

"You already agreed. No turning back now," the person answered her in a gruff tone, forcing her towards the surgery table. Ivy struggled and started to scream, kicking against her attacker.

"Ivy!" Ben's voice cut through her panic as she looked to her best friend. Their eyes met momentarily, and a silent agreement seemed to be passed between them.

The two struggled against the people holding them back, but it was no use. The two were forced and tied down onto the surgery tables. Something was tied onto her head and around her chin. She shrieked in protest. Her eyes met with Ben's and he looked equally as terrified as herself. She watched as Ben's caramel eyes fluttered clothes. She tried to scream, but it was no use. Her head snapped up once more, away from her friend as she tried to spit into her attackers face. Her attacker grinned evilly at her as he attached something else to her head.

"I hope you remember my face when you wake up, Earther."

With a gasp, Ivy's eyes flew open, finding Ben's hand dramatically.

"Ivy! Are you okay? What happened? Did you remember something?" Ben demanded. After regulating her breathing, she explained to Ben what she had seen, which earned her a concerned look from him.

"Ben, where's the notebook?" Ivy suddenly asked. Ben furrowed his brows but didn't ask as he dug out the notebook from his pocket, handing it gingerly to her like it might explode.

Ivy sat up, flipping through the pages to find where Lily would leave messages. With a crazy idea in her head, she grabbed the pencil Ben handed to her and started to scribble on the crinkled paper.

are the ones doing this to us our own people? or are they something else?

She scrawled in a messy handwriting. Chewing on her bottom lip, she waited for her sister to respond. It took a few minutes, but she watched the ink slowly sink into the paper. Ivy's breath hitched and her eyes widened. Finally, they knew.

they are monsters disguised as us