Disclaimer: I do not own Fantastic Four or any of the elements of the movie/show/comic etc.

Well, it’s taken a long while but finally I have written a new chapter!! And now that my finals are almost over (next week, yay!) I’ll be writing more! XD

Chapter 12 – Changing Sides

Sincerely yours, D. D…Dr. Doom, D.D. It has to be more than just a coincidence! Rebekah thought as she stared at the photo, trying to ignore the argument between Ben and Orion.

“So…who’s Dr. Doom?” Looking up from the photo, she gazed at the others in the room. “Hey, are you guys gonna argue all day?”

“Ben, she cannot look like Doom! It’s impossible!”

“You think I don’t know that, pipsqueak?!”

“Then why do you keep saying it?”

“Look at that picture, then look at her and tell me again that it ain’t possible!”

“Nope, guess not,” she said, sighing deeply. Hmm…that note mentioned something about contacting me to get my family back…I wonder what I’ll have to do… Suddenly snapped from her thoughts by the slamming kitchen door, she glanced up again to see she was alone. “Damn them, they’re acting worse than children.”

Deciding to follow after, she quickly stifled a giggle as she exited the room. This is really weird; I’m the youngest but I’m the one acting the most mature…

Standing in the hallway where minutes earlier she’d spied on Ben and Orion, Rebekah listened carefully but heard only silence. Huh, that’s weird…I wonder where they went…

“Damn it, ’Rion!” With a sigh, she followed Ben shouts down a flight of stairs into the basement, where she was greeted by a surprisingly well-decorated room. Okay, he may be made of orange rock, but Ben has good taste. The duo stood arguing beside a white couch, the remnants of a glass table under their feet. Rebekah chuckled again as she scanned the room.

A plain beige carpet stretched under their feet, nearly blending with the creamy color of the walls. A few bookcases and shelves lined the room. There was a door that led to a bathroom on one side and a small twin bed on the opposite, making the room appear like a cozy guest room.

When the sounds of arguing cut off, Rebekah turned back to the others and found them glaring at each other without speaking.

“So who’s Dr. Doom?” They both looked over at her and their faces softened a bit. Guess they’re done arguing for now…

“He was an old enemy of the Fantastic Four. The same thing that gave them powers gave him powers too, but he chose to use them for evil and tried to hurt our parents and Ben,” Orion explained.

“Yeah, we kicked his butt royally and he hasn’t been seen since,” Ben added, grinning as if the memory of it was happy.

“But now, maybe he’s come back?” She asked, a nugget of fear springing to life in her chest. The guys exchanged a look before nodding. “Okay, so they said they would contact me, which means they probably found out my cell phone number…so what’s the plan?”

“Plan?” They questioned her at the same time. She shrugged.

“Hey, you’re the one who dragged me here, Orion. I thought that meant you had a plan.”

“I just knew Ben would help us…I don’t really know what to do. I’ve never dealt with a kidnapping before…”

“Did you call the police?” Ben asked, moving towards her a bit. She instinctively began to back up, but caught herself and shook her head.

“No, the note said not to. That they would hurt our parents.”

“Well then, we got no choice. We’ll just have to wait until they contact you, then we can go from there,” Ben said, shrugging. Rebekah glanced at Orion and nodded.

“Sounds like a plan. Thanks for helping us, Ben.” The man smiled at her.

“No problem, Rebekah. It feels good to be on the good guy’s side again.”

For what felt like hours, Nuria followed Seraphina down the long hallway, feeling once more like a cartoon stuck with a repeating background. I have a feeling she’s purposely leading me deep into this maze, and I followed her like an idiotic fool… The “angel” suddenly paused outside a door and Nuria nearly bumped into her.

“Here we are, little one. Inside this room, we will find your proof,” Smiling her wide smile, Seraphina opened the door. “But, to see true proof, stay near the door. It would be better if those inside did not know you are here yet, for they will never speak the truth around you.” Rolling her eyes, Nuria walked through the door into the empty room. Cryptic, it figures…why are people always cryptic around me? Hugging the wall near the door, she listened carefully as Seraphina closed the door, plunging them into total darkness again. Then the sound of hands clapping rang out and three spotlights lit up along the wall farthest from Nuria.

Clamping a hand over her mouth to keep from gasping, the teenager gazed in near horror at the sight before her. Hanging by the wrists from chains attached to the wall underneath the spotlights were Susan, Reed, and her father. Dear god…Aunt Sue‘s arm looks broken, the angle it‘s hanging from…I think Uncle Reed is unconscious, I hope he didn’t get severely injured by that blow to the head…and Dad’s still bleeding from that wound on his chest…

“I apologize, our manners have failed us. Welcome to our home, honored guests,” Seraphina said as she stepped forward so the adults could see her. Johnny gasped upon seeing her, his shock then replaced with visible confusion.

“Sara? What are you doing here? It can’t be you…” Nuria watched from the darkness as her captor grinned maliciously. Dad knows her…but how?

“Yes, Johnny…it is I, your precious Sara. Do you like what you see?” Her father’s teeth gritted, his face contorting to a look of near pain.

“How could you do this, Sara? You ran off without warning, left me and the kids to become…this? What the hell is wrong with you?!” Seraphina’s expression melted into a cold gaze.

“You knew why I left. You were keeping me from realizing my potential…and I have achieved it at last.”

“I loved you, Sara…”

“Stop calling me that! My name is Seraphina now. I am finally the angel I wanted to become and my old life, with you and the children, is gone. Sara is dead…as are my feelings for you.” Johnny looked down at the floor that he hung inches away from touching. Dad…He looks so hurt…

“What do you want from us?” Nuria jumped at Reed’s voice, startled that he was awake. Seraphina grinned at them again.

“What do we want from you? Actually, we want nothing from you.” All three looked at her, confusion on each of their faces. Why did they take us if they don’t want anything… “This isn’t about you, or me, or us…it is about our legacy.”

“The children?” Sue asked, her eyes squinting in pain as her slight movements pulled on her broken arm and Seraphina nodded at her. So it’s all about us…Dad, Aunt Sue, and Uncle Reed only got taken to be out of the way…Which means that they must have some dark plan to use our powers or something…

“Yes, the children. Orion, Rebekah, and Nuria; the Fantastic children.”

“What do you want from them?” Reed asked, fear racing through his eyes. She wants us, our powers…and I’m willing to bet she’ll threaten their lives to get us under control…

“Well, for one thing…I wished my daughter to know who I am. After all, it’s not fair of you not to tell her, Johnny.” Her father’s head rose again, horror plain on his face.

“You don’t mean…” Dad and the rest of the family are innocents in this. If I want to protect them, as they told us to, I have to pretend to be on her side. I have to join her, to save them… Taking her cue, Nuria stepped forward into the light, seeing Seraphina smile sweetly at her again. Faking a look of anger, she put her hands on her hips and faced her father.

“How could you not tell me, Dad?”

“Nuria, I…I couldn’t. I didn’t think-”

“You didn‘t think I‘d like to know who my mother was? I wasn‘t old enough to remember her. For seventeen years, I had no mother and no clue who she was.” Johnny sighed deeply, shaking his head.

“Well, she’s standing right next to you. Be proud or ashamed of me, but don’t dare question me. I did what was best for you and Orion.” This is gonna hurt Dad, but I have to…

“What’s best is for a girl to grow up with her mother…Or join with her.” The adults all looked at her, alarm returning to their faces. Seraphina turned to her, a genuine smile finally gracing her lips.

“Oh my sweet girl, I’ve waited so long to hear you say that. Come with me now, today your new life begins…” She grinned at Johnny, triumph in her eyes. “See you later, Johnny.” Grabbing Nuria’s arm, she pulled her from the room. Nuria forced her eyes to not turn back. I’m sorry Dad, but it will keep you safe…I’ll make it up to you, I promise.

Yes, I realize half of what is happening makes no sense…it will, I promise. XD

So…what did you think? Questions? Comments? Predictions?

Please review and I hope to have Chapter 13 coming your way shortly…