'And what is this…banishment?' she asked him as her eyes wandered in search of any sign of life.
'More or less.'
'What do you mean, "more or less"?!'
'This is a lot better than being burned alive if you ask the Marauder.'
'Banishment is worse if you ask "The Samantha"! What am I supposed to eat or drink or let alone sleep…in the sand?'
'Do you really think the Marauder would bring you out here to die?'
'You tell me! I mean, it's not like I know you.'
His black eyes slowly simmered down to their natural blue. He pulled his mask from his head.
'OH MY!!!' she gasped. 'Brendan! But…but…but how?!' She was beyond horrified.
'Calm down and I'll explain everything.'
'Calm down?!' Her eyes widened, 'How am I supposed to calm down with what I'm seeing?'
'Just let me explain.'
'You better..! I mean…how could you?' She placed her hands on her head in despair.
'Where should I start?' He thought this question would calm her down.
She stared at him; anger and confusion still on her face. She folded her arms; 'I think the very beginning will do,' she pouted.
He began spilling all his secrets to her; from the day Howard had wanted to give him the potion up to the present, making sure he did not leave anything out.
They both stood in silence for a while, facing each other. Samantha was still squinting and pouting. 'My brother…'
'What about him?' he asked.
'You don't have to worry about me being mad at you for killing him.' A tear twinkled in her eye.
'Thanks.'
She sighed and released her pout and stopped squinting, 'But why the secrecy, Brendan?'
'You know what these people are like with anyone who comes in contact with the Finch or worse, uses witchcraft.'
'But it's scary,' she protested, 'especially what you did just now.'
'You mean breaking the Finch's joints?'
'No…I mean your eyes, your character and your voice. It's like you were someone else. You were even calling yourself "The Marauder".'
'Oh, that..,' he realized, scratching the back of his head.
'Yes that, Brendan, what was that?' She pried some more.
'Sam…there's something I have to tell you; something that's going to scare you,' his expression had turned morose.
'Is it worse than what you've just told me?'
'Much worse.'
She sighed heavily again. 'Let's hear it.'
'The Versatile gene is me but it has the opposite feelings and desires I have. Now that I've accepted it, there's a greater chance that those feelings could take over me.'
'So…So you hate me now?' She placed her hands on her head again in sorrow.
'No, of course not. I could never hate you or Simon and Owen. My feelings for you guys haven't diminished in the least.' He rubbed her arms in reassurance.
A tear streaked down her cheek. 'There's something else you're not telling me,' she had noticed a suspicious look in his eyes.
He sighed, 'Sam…Brendan's existence could become extinct; my mind and thoughts could be absorbed by this new identity.'
'That's impossible. You're too strong for that; you're the Anonymous.'
'That's what you don't understand. The gene I merged with seems too powerful for me to adjust to. My battle with the Finch made certain that that gene is fully unleashed. I could feel its power and wisdom flowing through me; it was the most extraordinary feeling I have ever experienced. There's a possibility that I could face a being much stronger than I am and I could be forced to release that same intense and irrepressible power. This side could easily take over me permanently because the power I've just felt was so intense…so tranquil…godlike.'
'Let's just forget about all of this stuff and leave for another city. We could just start a new life anywhere,' she begged him.
He shook his head, 'You have to leave, babe. I have to take the Finch's curse seriously. It could be dangerous!'
'But you've vanquished the last evil, Brendan. Stop trying to be a hero and let's just leave.'
'The last evil hasn't come; his name is Pernicious,' he had just remembered that he had left this part out.
'Pernicious?'
'He's the Finch's son. He could probably come to avenge his mother's death and from what I hear, he is a lot stronger than I am.'
She placed her face in his chest and she began to weep.
'I've figured out the Finch's rhyme, Sam. You're only liable to death if you remain in this city or come in contact with your father since this deal involves the two of you. You can't contact your father face-to-face or you'll both die.'