As the night progressed, she could sense something amiss, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. His words bordered on intelligence. There was something she could sense in him. She felt compelled to ask more questions, but didn’t know what to ask. What was she to ask?

Jack could sense her inquiry. He wanted to tell her, but he knew that in order to protect her, and them, and everyone, he had to remain one of them for a bit longer. He thought about what had happened, prior to his departure. He knew that they hadn’t kept what they had seemingly taken years earlier.

His dreams had been appropriated. The authorities knew he was astute. If they left Jack alone, with his attributes, their power would wane. The people would revolt, and with too much momentum the ascendancy would lose. As it were, the public was never the wiser. Jack was just another one of them. There was no pretense or air of distinction. He was her. He was us. He was you. He was me. They knew this. That’s how they wanted it.