In a lightning maneuver, Jacob grabs his brother by his hips and hoists him clear off his feet.

‘Let me go—’

‘I’ve had it with you, Manny. You’re way behind in your training and—’

Immanuel kicks his brother in the chest, the blow powerful enough to send both boys tumbling to the floor.

The dark-haired twin leaps to his feet. ‘I’ve had it with you, too, asshole. I’ve had it with your stupid delusions, and you always bossing me around. Most of all, I’m sick of living in this prison camp.’

‘It’s for our own good. There are crazy people out there—’

‘There’s crazy people in here!’ Immanuel picks up his chair in frustration and smashes it through the computer screen, sending shattered fragments flying in all directions.

‘Stop! Do you have any idea how much that costs?’

‘Doesn’t cost me a damn thing.’ Immanuel reaches for another chair.

Jacob intercepts, grabbing him in a powerful wrestling hold. ‘Knock it off, Manny. I don’t want to hurt you.’

‘Hurt me?’ Tears of frustration flow from Immanuel’s ebony eyes. ‘You’re killing me.’

‘How am I killing you? Answer me!’

‘Get off—’

Jacob releases him. ‘We live in paradise. You have everything you could ever want or need.’

‘Bullshit, What I need is freedom. I need friends my age. I’m tired of playing pick-up games with the guards. I want to compete on teams. And I want to meet some girls. Girls, Jake, as in the opposite sex, or did that Hunahpu gene take away your balls?’

‘I have sexual desires, I even have a girlfriend.’

‘Yeah? Who? Rosie palm and her five sisters?’

‘Her name’s Lilith. We talk on … on the Internet. She wants to get together, but I can’t.’

‘See, that’s what I’m talking about. Go see her! Screw your brains out.’

‘It’s not like that. I love her, which is why I have to break it off.’

‘Huh?’

‘She’s becoming a distraction.’

‘A distraction? From what?’

‘You still don’t get it, do you? You still refuse to acknowledge who we are, or what’s at stake.’

‘Oh, God, here we go again—’

‘Time’s running out, Manny, we only have six more years.’

Immanuel’s eyes widen. ‘What happens in six years?’

Jacob shakes his head. Turns for the door.

‘Hey, asshole, I said what happens in six years?’

‘Just train, Manny. Train like your life depended upon it.’

The azure-blue specks blaze at him from beyond the white mist of the nexus.

Jacob, I did it, I finally did it! Quenton tried to rape me, but this time, I slipped inside the nexus … I beat the crap out of him!

I’m glad.

You don’t sound it.

Sorry.

It felt so good to hit him, I felt so powerful. It was even better than when I hurt those boys.

What boys?

Never mind.

Lilith, what boys?