Collapse is eminent

He found me.

After running for more than a decade, Dr. Foster found me sitting alone on a bench late one night. He looks different now, much darker hair and demeanor and very pale skin. He looked tired.

I couldn't move when I heard his voice. Despite all the mental preparation I'd put myself through, thinking I could  keep my senses about me, I was weak. Just as I had been at the facility, I couldn't move. I obeyed his orders despite consciously wanting to run for my life. After all this, that man still had control over me.

I managed to get away from him thanks to Mitka and Ashley, but the scare was enough to strike me to my core. He was willing to put a knife to my neck, even after seeing my stomach. Dr. Foster had been ruthless at the facility and it seemed now that unyielding bastard's attitude had simmered into condensed malignance. If I wanted to deliver my baby in safety, I needed protection. I couldn't ask the Pack to do that as I refused to have family take a bullet or worse for me, so Adagio made arrangements with Blackstar Mercenaries.

As if that was not troubling enough it appears Adagio made the news, or rather an incident she was involved in made the news. She claimed that she was on her way to meet a coworker Amrin, only to see what appeared to be a kidnapping by Belfry staff. I only have Adagio's word for this, but what I do know is that a gunfight ensued and she was injured. Comments made during the fight were later repeated to reporters along with rumors Ashagi or Adagio and I were broke and that I was a cheating spouse. I'd really love to know why Belfry is suddenly picking a fight with us.

Arwen wasn't too happy about the rumors

Then again she was rather mad about other things, namely Elliena. She'd been thinking of her mother more and more, and I'm starting to find it hard to decide whether I should tell her yet or not. Elliena requested an end to her life to start anew; her kids were set for life each with their fortunes. That doesn't change the fact that she had to be shot. Even if she asked for it and the staff repeatedly gave her other options, Elliena insisted this was the route she wished to take. How do you explain that to an eight year old? Should you even try to?

After the attack with Belfry staff and whoever else was in that gunfight, Adagio was in the dumps. Not for losing, but for realizing that for once in her life...she didn't feel pain. She knew there were GSWs in her arm, damage to her head, and cuts, but she felt none of it. It depressed her properly to realize she truly wasn't organic anymore despite her looks. She couldn't enjoy meals. She couldn't sweat or feel tired after exercise. She was like a windup doll.

I wanted to make them both feel better, so we had a party. A birthday party. For a certain someone would popped out of a tank several years ago.

Adagio's twelve.

Yes she looks early thirties at the most, but she's technically just a little older than Arwen. I made a cake with lots of fruits Adagio recalled tasting so she felt more like a human than a machine. The discussion centered on her, the origin of names, reflecting on family  - things that took everyone's mind off the things tat internally plagued them for a while.

The biggest ball dropped had to be the night prior to this. I finally told the Pack about Dr. Foster. They seemed more than ready to kill him yet I knew that would only make matters worse. I asked them to track him, find his home, his regular hangouts, all so we could spring a trap later. If Foster showed up dead in Midian, the blame might be turned on Ashagi for trying to protect me. I've already made Dr. Parkin angry enough.