“Hey, what’s going on here?” Sophie asked.

Nobody moved. Marie couldn’t breathe. Her mind spun, trying to register what was happening and scratch together a plan of what to do now.

“Who are these bo-” Marie couldn’t let her finish. She leapt forward and wrapped her hand around Sophie’s mouth in time to catch her scream. Marie wrestled her to the wall, pinning her there as she tried to get Sophie’s watch off as well as keep her hand securely around her mouth. In full panic mode, Sophie began to fight back. Marie dodged a fist right as Billy appeared. He grabbed her wrist and unbuckled the watch. As soon as it came free, Billy sprinted out of the alleyway. Edgar had one of Sophie’s arms pinned to the wall when Albert came around the other side and pinned her other arm.

“Don’t move, don’t make a sound. I know this looks bad, but I promise we’re not trying to hurt you,” Marie hissed. “Please, don’t wake anyone up.” She cursed herself for pushing their luck. She should have gone back as soon as she delivered the message. She shouldn’t have stayed to listen to the strange plot of the play. Her brain was trying to process the next step they needed to take but struggling with a terrified Sophie was making things so much harder to concentrate.

“Come on, Sophie! We’re not going to hurt you!”

Sophie’s struggling immediately stilled. Her eyes widened as she stared at Marie. It took a moment for Marie to realize what had happened. “Yes, I know who you are. Your name is Sophie, and you have unknowingly made things so much more dangerous for us all. If you want any more information, you’re going to have to cooperate with us, okay? We’re all friends here. Literally, we are all your friends, you just don’t remember.”

Sophie still stared at Marie, a hint of mistrust in her eyes as Marie lowered her hand.

“What do we do now?” Abe asked, his voice trembling with fear.

Marie touched a few fingers to her head. “They’ll be out searching for her soon. No doubt. We’ve got to leave. I’ve… I’ve got to head back.” Marie was already taking a few steps toward the alleyway.

“Wait, what?” Albert asked.

“I’ve got to go. If they see I’m missing, it will only be worse. They’ll tear this city apart looking for us both. I’ve got to keep pretending to be a hobo.”

Marie was out of the alleyway before she felt Albert grab her arm. Abe kept close to Sophie, but it seemed like Sophie was pacified for the moment.

“Not going to happen,” Albert said. “You are scared and not thinking straight. Going back to the hobos is unthinkable. It’s way too dangerous.” Albert still had a strong grip on her arm.

“I can still do a lot of good as a hobo. I can still discover things the underground can’t.”

Albert shook his head. “We’ve got to hide Sophie, and with her disappearance, you will be a suspect, if not the prime suspect. You’re not going back.”

Marie rubbed her head, trying to dispel the fear that threatened the morph all sensible thought. She knew Albert was right, but what other option did they have?

“Then where do we go?” Marie asked.

“Our apartment?” Abe asked.

Albert shook his head. “It’s Friday. The cleaning crew comes tomorrow. We take Marie and Sophie to the underground.”

“Tonight?” Abe asked. “Do you know where their headquarters are, Marie?”

“Sort of? No, not really. I’m not even sure what apartment I went to. I can’t be sure anyone will be there.”

Billy sprinted back to the alleyway, hands on his knees. “We’ve got to go now. I couldn’t get the watch that far. If the S.E.A. were listening in, they’ll dispatch a swarm of agents and police here as soon as possible.”

Albert nodded, heading out of the alleyway. “I know where Harriet lives. She took me back to her place when I met her. Hopefully she’s still there.”

The small group made their way through the streets. Marie looped her arm through Sophie’s, mostly for comfort, and also she was still afraid her friend didn’t trust them and wanted to run.

“I’ll tell you everything as soon as we get to Harriet’s, okay?” Marie whispered to Sophie.

Sophie was trembling but gave a nod. This had to be terrifying for her, suddenly being thrust into this situation. Marie wasn’t sure if she would have handled it any differently. If she had gone over half a year not knowing her past, she probably would have followed the group that promised her information about who she was. To be honest, Marie wanted to know how Sophie snuck up on them. She was positive no one was following her.

Albert led the small group as they moved as quickly as they dared. The city always felt too bright at night.

“Are we almost there?” Marie asked.

As an answer, Albert turned down another street and sprinted toward a pair of apartment buildings. He buzzed the call button next to the number three on a panel. Albert waited a bit before pressing it again.

“She’s most likely asleep,” Albert said.

“Any sane person should be asleep at this hour,” Abe said.

The alleyway was quiet. She hated it. Somehow she knew the agents, officials, and most likely the Germain’s themselves had already started their silent search. Marie just wanted to be inside somewhere safe, but she wasn’t sure if anywhere would be safe after tonight. Albert pressed the call button a little harder. There was a good possibility Harriet wasn’t there, and it only fueled Marie’s panic. She tried to keep her breathing steady. After the fourth try, Marie was trying to remember where the apartment building was that she met with all the members of the underground when she heard the speakerphone crackle on.

“Who is it?” Harriet asked.

“It’s me, Albert. We met the other day.”

There was a pause. Longer than Marie wanted. She moved forward and stood next to Albert.

“Harriet, it’s me. Marie. We have a situation.”

Again more silence before they heard a click and the door opened. The small group shuffled inside. Albert led them up the staircase. Harriet already opened her apartment door and allowed them inside. She securely tied her bathrobe over her pajamas, glancing at the group.

“What happened?” Harriet asked, sounding frazzled. “What did you do? Please tell me you’re not responsible for those.” Harriet pointed out the window where they could see lights flashing far away near the S.E.A. building. Harriet’s eyes rested on Sophie, then they got super wide. “Oh Macbeth. Not her.”

Sophie looked confused. “Why? What’s going on.”

“She stumbled on our little meeting,” Marie said. “I’m so sorry, Harriet. Truly. But we’ve got to hide her. And me. Is there a safe house somewhere in the city?”

Harriet shook her head. “They’re no longer safe. It’s gotten to the point where we just send them straight over the wall. Or, at least we used to. We can’t do that anymore.”

Marie gave a small nod. Not since Marie told them the kind of person Josef was. Now even the clearing wasn’t safe.

Albert quickly explained what happened as Marie carefully approached the window. The lights were still far away in the distance, but she wished they weren’t there at all.

Harriet turned toward Sophie. “I’m assuming what you heard will have also been picked up by the watch, so tell me everything.”

Sophie rubbed her upper arm. “I… not much. That girl just said something about having every girls dream, or something like that.”

“Did you hear any of the guys talking?” Harriet asked.

Sophie shook her head.

Marie sighed. “Then that means you just stumbled on the last of the conversation.”

“It means the guys are in the clear,” Harriet said.

There was a soft, melodious music coming into the apartment. Harriet glanced around nervously. Billy grimaced and touched the back of his head.

“Murphy’s law,” Harriet swore. “Have they activated yet?” The boys shook their head. “Get out now. Make for your apartment. If they activate here, they’ll activate mine. There’s no time. Run!”

Marie felt a burst of panic, extremely glad that she and Sophie didn’t have the chips. The boys wasted no time. They turned and sprinted down the stairs. Marie could only hope she’d see them again.

“The underground will contact them when we’re ready,” Harriet said to Marie as though she could read the emotion on her face.

Harriet gave a groan as she sank into the couch, rubbing her head. Marie glanced out the window to see her friends spilling out of the apartment building and running as fast as they could, the music following them. Harriet turned off the lights. “It’s too dangerous to contact the underground right now, but I will first thing in the morning and we can come up with a plan for you two.” Harriet grabbed some blankets and handed them to the girls. “Get some sleep, if you can. I doubt the S.E.A. will do apartment searches tonight.”

Harriet grabbed an extra pair of pajamas for them, even though Marie insisted they were used to sleeping in these clothes. As Sophie was changing in the bathroom, Marie had time to internalize everything. They were still in deep trouble, and she wasn’t entirely sure they would ever get out of this type of trouble. She felt as though she sent her friends to their doom.

Harriet turned to Marie.

“How likely is it that Sophie will try and run away?” Harriet asked.

Marie glanced at the door of the bathroom. “I want to say not likely. She’s brimming with questions, but I think she feels safe enough with me that she’ll wait to hear answers before she makes a final decision.”

Harriet nodded. “Then just to be safe, take my bed and I’ll sleep by the door. If Sophie runs to the S.E.A., you, me, your friends, we won’t be safe anywhere. And... don’t tell her too much. Just in case.”

Marie gave a small, frightened nod. She believed Sophie wouldn’t run, but she couldn’t be completely sure.

It took a bit to situate themselves. Marie let Sophie take the bed and she slept on the floor next to it. Marie still had the smallest hint of a worry that Sophie would make a break for it. Harriet wished them good night and left to sleep on the couch by the door. The lights of the city seemed so bright tonight, and it didn’t help there was also a full moon.

Sophie peeked over the edge of the bed. “So, my name is Sophie?” Her voice was barely a whisper, and Marie could still hear the tremor in her voice.

Marie gave a small smile. “Yes. Sophie Germain. And you are my best friend in the entire world.”

The bed creaked as Sophie shifted uncomfortably. “Sorry, and your name is?”

Despite everything, Marie felt her cheeks flush. “Right. I’m sorry, I’m Marie Curie. It feels good to finally say that.”

Sophie frowned as she picked at some lint stuck to the sheets. “I’m sorry I don’t remember you. Are my parents still alive?”

Marie nodded. “Very much so.”

“Who are they? Do they know where I am? Have they… have they been distraught? Do they think I’m dead?”

The weight of the situation sunk deep into Marie’s shoulders. Marie wasn’t sure how Sophie would react to this information, and they needed to be somewhat discreet. But Marie promised answers to her questions, and she wanted to give them honestly.

“Sorry, I guess you probably wouldn’t know everything,” Sophie said, turning away.

“No, I just…” Marie took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Do you remember that man who, as you described, looked like he hated the world and everyone in it?” Marie peeked to see Sophie looking at Marie with a numb expression. The realization hit, then the hurt, then the anger. Sophie covered her mouth.

“Does he know I’m his daughter?” She sounded incredulous. Marie nodded. “And he didn’t do anything? Didn’t reach out? Does… does he even love me?”

Marie bit her lip, feeling sick to her stomach. “I’m sure he does. Probably. In his own way.”

The anger deepened. “And my mother?”

“She would come visit you at nights. She was really sad and would… would take other hobo’s blankets and put them on you if you looked cold.”

Sophie’s jaw dropped. The anger looked like it would hit a breaking point, and Marie was afraid Sophie would start screaming. “Why didn’t she do anything while I was awake?”

Marie kept her gaze on Sophie. “She was banned from seeing you.”

Sophie’s hands balled into fists. “That shouldn’t have stopped her. Not when it involves a mother’s love toward her daughter. Did I get along with them before?”

“No. You’d constantly fight whenever you saw them.”

Sophie was breathing heavily, struggling to keep her voice quiet. “So what you’re saying to me, is I wasted all this time imagining loving parents who were worried sick about where I was, when really they knew exactly where I was and refused to help me?”

“I’m sorry,” Marie said, feeling lame for even saying it. She needed to say something. Her friend’s eyes were filling up with tears and she turned away to shed the tears in private. Marie respected her privacy, until she started to hear Sophie giggling. It made Marie more nervous than ever before. “You okay?”

Sophie stopped giggling. “You know, I thought maybe I couldn’t trust you, that this was some elaborate trick to lure me away and do whatever people do to hobos. But there’s something about this anger toward my parents that feels familiar. I can’t explain it. You’re probably right about them.” Sophie covered her face, as she let out her last giggle. Sophie was quite for some time. “Why didn’t they help me?” She sounded so exhausted.

Marie reached up and patted Sophie’s shoulder. At least she tried to. She couldn’t see and ended up patting Sophie’s face. It made another burst of giggling escape from Sophie and Marie. It almost, almost felt like old times. “Numerous reasons too complicated to explain, but the basic one is you wanted to be a mathematician, and they didn’t like that.”

“That’s so ridiculous and petty,” Sophie mumbled. Marie heard the soft sounds of Sophie trying hard not to cry.

“Yeah, it is. Do you have any other questions?”

There was a pause. “Um, no. I mean, yes, but... I kind of want to think on these for a bit.”

A small part of Marie’s soul withered. She was used to Sophie telling her everything, of the hurt and the anger. It felt strange that Sophie wanted to think things through by herself.

“Yeah, that’s fine,” Marie said, trying not to sound hurt.

It took Marie a while to go back to sleep.