'How could I have been so stupid? I got caught shoplifting for fucks sake.' I thought. Hilde is definitely going to be pissed, not just the 'you're grounded' pissed but like, pissed.

"We've contacted you're grandmother, Hilde" says a short, black detective with a grubby, half-formed moustache. He strokes it as if in deep thought. "The brand on your ankle" He gestures towards my ankle.

Suddenly I'm nervous 'Could this man be a Mogadorian?' I mentally shake myself 'since when are Mogadorians short and black?' Of course the answer was, they're not, this was just an overzealous detective, doing his job a bit too well.

"Would that happen to have come from some kind of gang initiation?" The detective asks politely, as though being nice is going to get me to reveal all my secrets.

"Yeah, I'm in a gang called the Space Invaders. We do surf-by shootings. No lifeguard can stop us" I sneer

Suddenly the door to the interrogation room burst open and a tall, pale man walks in. Immediately I get the feeling that something is wrong, that pale skin isn't natural. I realise that I'm in a whole lot of trouble.

"Detective Johnson, I believe this interrogation is over" says the tall man.

'I knew it, he'll break me out of here, and then kill me' I begin to think

"On whose authority?" asks the detective, who stands straight to face the intruder. He tries to look intimidating but that's hard to do when you're two heads shorter than the other.

"The authority of the Federal Marshal Service. My name is Deputy Mark McCormick and this girl is under witness protection" He lifts up a badge and shows it to the detective. The detective frowns. "The pictures you took of her" he continues "What have you done with them?"

"The pictures?" The detective repeats "They have been uploaded to the system, the only thing left to do is to upload a picture of that brand on her ankle, I suspect its gang affiliated"

I don't understand, is this Mog trying to wipe all traces of me being here? Maybe he just wants the cops in the dark, so when we leave he'll kill me, and no one will ask questions.

"Well…" the Mog begins "You're right, that gang is hunting her, she testified to some illegal activities, and if you post that picture of her ankle mark, she'll be in terrible danger"

The detective nods "What should I do? Forget this ever happened?"

"By all means remember it, record it if you must, just leave out the picture of her ankle brand and this discussion in your report. Write that you let her off with a warning and no special action was taken against her. Make the report as normal and inconspicuous as you can. This isn't a request detective, this is an order" Says the Mog, standing so he emits power and control, he successfully intimidates the detective.

"I might have to make a few calls" says the detective "To ensure this is legitimate"

"By all means, make those calls"

The detective leaves the room, leaving me alone with the Mogadorian. "Are you going to kill me now?" I ask

"One, always so blunt. No, I am not here to kill you, but when he comes back" he gestures to the door that Detective Johnson left through "he'll have found out I'm not in law enforcement, and then we're both screwed" he says, sitting in the chair across from me.

This guy is younger than I thought, he only looks like he is 19 or 20

"What are you doing? Are you helping me? Or coming up with a creative way to kill me?" I sneer at him "Don't think I don't know what you are"

"And I know what you are" he states "You're the person I came here to save"

I'm taken aback "What?"

"I can prove it, but not here. We must get back to Hilde, pack your things, and I'll show you. I can't tell you everything yet, we don't have a lot of time. I need you to trust me" he's speaking quickly

"And why would I trust a Mogadorian?"

"Because, you already have"

He's speaking in riddles, I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. But something about the way he said 'you already have' gets under my skin. It feels sincere. I know accepting his help is my only option but I don't want to, not from him.

He holds out his hand "Now's the time, now or never"

"You said you could prove that you're here to help me, prove it" I demand

"We don't have enough time" he's getting impatient, good, he's more likely to slip up.

"I have all the time in the world" I say confidently

"No" he says sadly "No, you don't"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

He shrugs off my question "You never really liked Wade, he was hot, and you were stupid"

How on Lorien did he know that? Only now that he says it that I realise its true "Who are you?"

"My name is Adamus, Adamus Sutekh, and I am your only hope at survival" His hand is still outstretched, I take it. I expected his hand to be cold and revolting, but his hand is warm and if anything he squeezes my hand a little too tight, like he's afraid he'll lose me. "Come on" he says "We have to go, now"

We get up and he drags me to the door. He opens it just a crack and peers out. "The coast is clear" he says and he opens it the rest of the way. Gingerly we walk down the hall, the officers and administration clerks don't look twice at us. I guess it's because Adamus is in an impeccable black suit, projecting authority. He still grips my hand, he looks totally in control. Except for his eyes which dart every which way, scanning for threats.

"Who are you?" I ask as we walk

"I told you, I am Adamus" he pauses "But I prefer Adam"

"I know dipshit, I know your name. I mean, who are you?" I repeat

I expect my insult to rattle him but he smiles, a genuine smile "I am the man who saves your life"

"What do you mean saves? Don't you mean saved? You dumb Mogs don't even too how to use tense" we are nearing the entrance to the police station when we hear a gun cock behind us.

Adam freezes. "Who are you?" yells detective Johnson, aiming a glock squarely at Adams back.

"What's with everyone and asking that question?" he whispers. I can't help but smile. Who knew Mogs cracked jokes? He grabs my hand firmly and swings me so I stand facing him, his body shielding mine from the detective. He is close, too close, instinct tells me to pull away but there is something in his eyes, fear. He had not expected this. "Whatever happens, run. Keep running, the airport you choose, there will be two Mog scouts waiting, kill them both. Don't get on the flight, run. Stay in America, stay hidden" he whispers hurriedly.

"What? Aren't you coming? You said you would explain everything" I say, what am I doing? Am I seriously asking a Mog to run away with me? Even though I can tell he's trying to help me, that or he is a really good actor.

He smiles "And I will" he pauses "If I don't die here" He leans down and hugs me, I'm too surprised to do anything, my arms just hang limp at my sides. He brings his face next to mine, I can feel his breath on my ear, the ground trembles. "Run" he whispers, and I do.

This building starts to shake as I sprint for the exit. I open it and turn watching the building vibrate as though an earthquake were happening right beneath it. I hear a gunshot, then a grunt of pain. Suddenly energy bursts, rippling through the ground, knocking me off my feet. Adam runs out the door a second later, his arm bleeding profusely.

"You're a Garde?" I ask as he runs out of the building

"No" he says, lifting me off the ground with his good arm.

"You're a human?"

"No" Hilde's car screeches to a stop out the front and gestures for me to get in

"You're a Mog then?" I ignore Hilde who is yelling for me to hurry up

"Not anymore"

I get in the back seat with Adam while Hilde drives up front alone.

"That was some legacy" says Hilde "You nine?"

"No" he grits his teeth in pain "I'm not Garde, this legacy was a gift"

"A gift?" I say "From who?"

"It doesn't matter, what matters is I need you to trust me"

"How can we trust you, you're a Mog? Aren't you? Did you steal those powers off another Garde that you captured, did you torture them for it?" asks Hilde angrily, she knows from her position in the driver's seat she can't do much if Adam reveals a sinister nature.

"How would I do that without killing myself?" he asks

"How do you know about the charm?" ask Hilde "Only us few that were there and the greeters know about that" realisation dawns on her face "You captured a greeter"

"No, but by now I think the Mogs have" He's sweating, his eyes closed, his teeth grinding together.

"Then how?" she asks "How could it be possible that you know about that?"

"Because one of the Greeters, Malcolm Goode, is a dear friend"

"Impossible" says Hilde "Malcolm isn't stupid enough to trust a Mog with that information.

"In around six years, he is"

The car tires burn as Hilde slams the brakes. We're back at the house. "You…You're from the future?"

"Thanks for catching on?" he says

"Why then? Why are you here? Who are you?" she asks

He looks at me and again, I can't help but grin slightly "Everyone wants to know who I am today. I'm here because in the next few days, you both die"