Candi and Miriam knew they were busted. They knew that an inexplicable fear had taken over their older sister, who was acting as a mother for them. It was time for all the girls to get some answers from each other.



Erin: "Candi! How could you do this to yourself?"

Candi: "Erin, please understand! Miri already knew what was going on all along! Besides, I'm tired of keeping this a secret from my own family! I should at least be able to tell my family that I'm part centipede!"

Erin: "You know your brothers! One Meethlite pressuring them, they squeal, there goes everything!"



Attention was soon turned to Miriam. She didn't think it fair that Candi was under so much pressure. If anyone was the scoundrel, it was she.

Miriam: "I know how you're looking at me, sis...I'll admit it! I'm guilty!"



Erin: "Well! It's high time I got some honesty out of you, Missy!"



Candi: "Erin...I don't understand. Where did the Centhuen Prototype thing in me come from? What is this prophecy?

Zeran holes? I don't know what's going on! I only know what I can do...yet, what I fear about me. I don't know anything of how I got this way, or why I'm burdened with all these expectations!"

Erin: "Hmm...I guess it is about time I told you the truth. I've been demanding it from you two, I may as well give it myself. But we're going to figure out what's going on with Miriam first!"

Candi: "Must we convict her again and again?"

Erin: "You're not her lawyer. Let's hear it!"



Miriam: "All right. Yes, Phil and I went too far. I'll never forget how it all went down either."

Candi: "I recall, I seemed to be the only one on the trip that was even concerned that you were missing."

Erin: "You didn't tell me this why?"

Candi: "We were on a field trip. I ran out of Canadian money for the phones."

Erin: "You didn't think there was anything I could have done about it."

Candi: "Nothing that would've helped matters any."



Miriam: "Phil and I were very sneaky about it! Look...he was a man burdened with many problems. But I loved him. I have to live my own life, so do you two!"



Candi: "I know how you feel. I like doing my detective work and you like breaking into things. Both are dangerous hobbies and you feel Erin's unfair because she lets me do what I want but gets on your case about everything."

Miriam: "We're both out of high school now! I want a life of my own!"

Candi: "Same here. The only difference is, I'm in no big hurry to throw that future life away before it's even given to me!"

Miriam: "I wanted to give Phil some assurance that he wasn't worthless. I told him that if God still loved him enough to send me in his life, that it wasn't all pointless. I tried to make a decision your way! Preaching!

He didn't buy it. So I gave him something I felt he could listen to! But he was too far gone...even to a girl like me selling everything short of her salvation to make him happy!"

Candi: "He was a suicidal madman, and there was no stopping him! Be thankful he didn't take you to Hell with him!"



Miriam: "I realize everyone thinks I've become a complete skank now, just like what happened to Marina! Yes, it was all a big mistake, one I almost got away with!

But it broke my heart to see his face in the obituary section of the paper! Don't think a part of me didn't die!"



Candi: "That's why I'm thankful you're still here, Miri. I need you around to know what would happen if I succumb, lest I ever do! Just because I've not let the world have its way with me yet, doesn't mean my mind is G-rated!

Before Don went crazy, he...tried to lure me in the same way...I almost said yes! I...came dangerously close being you. And I would have enjoyed it far more! I know what would've happened had I given in. I am in no way your superior!"



Miriam: "I...knew that Don guy was a creep! You were very brave, Candi! I'm afraid I simply can't be you."

Candi: "You're better than you give yourself credit. Miri...If you can't trust divine advice with your body, how can you possibly expect to tell someone as downtrodden and forsaken by the world as Phil to trust that same source for anything?"

Miriam: "Hmm...I'll tell you Candi, I'm glad I have you around here! I'm afraid if I didn't have you on my case, I'd be..."



Candi: "Lost...pregnant...scared...hunted by the law...hunted by God-knows-what-else?"

Miriam: "Probably. You sure nailed that list pretty quick!"

Candi: "Don't feel too bad, Miriam. I don't always make wise choices either."

Miriam: "I'm not like Marina! I won't sleep with just anyone!"

Candi: "You don't have to be! I know you mean well, but we're both selfish at times...and cowardly. We both have a rough time trusting God for anything. You're just more forward about it. If only you knew the struggles I have—it's better that you don't."



Erin was struck by the compassion these girls had for each other. It reminded her of what she got under Shalia a long time ago. Somewhere in her education, she had lost sight of it.

Erin: "You girls continue...I'll make some coffee."



As the girls continued conversing, Erin listened intently. The more she learned of their emotional poverty, the more she learned of her own failure in parenting them. She was getting a bit old for having children of her own, but she still yearned to find a perfect man and marry.

She kept herself looking young for this very reason, though she began having second thoughts. Should she keep the girls living under her roof to teach them courage, or would real courage be her lesson in letting them go and taking the risks of life alone?

The Meethlites were back. There was no question about it. But was it yet time to act?



Miriam: "Anything else that bothers you?"

Candi: "I keep hearing the voice of some girl...about our age. Evil as can be. Thankfully, I stick to my principles...and I can usually tell that voice to shut up. I wish I could get her out of my head though. She gets extremely annoying."

Miriam: "Are you sure you don't wanna see a shrink about that? Sounds a little weird!"



Miriam: "I don't know, Candi. You're so much of a romantic at times...and yet, such an idealistic moralist!"

Candi: "Grace is what saves, Miriam! And it ain't the grace of mere folk like us that saves either!"

Miriam: "Ain't that true! Camille still hates you for the time you embarrassed her in school. In my opinion, that girl and her grudge are both psycho!"



Candi: "Oh please! I demonstrated that her security scheme wasn't so secure! I wanted to do a favor! Yes, it got out-of-hand! But must that weigh on my conscience forever? I doubted my faith for a year after that incident!"

Miriam: "You're too hard on yourself! You trusted her too much as a friend, and she wasn't one! That doesn't mean you have to turn your back on anything or anyone else!

Don't give up who you are because of her! And if you let this weigh on you forever, that'd be exactly what she wants!

That witch has a vendetta! She's told several of her friends on every message board she owns to figure out who you are if ever you join, and ban you on sight!"



Candi: "I appreciate you looking out for me...even if you do have to resort to spying!"

Miriam: "Not a problem either. I've already been kicked off one of her boards by that guy who drools over her...simply for asking that they not bad-mouth you.

I made sure to get even with them for everything bad they said. They're now a laughingstock on many sites...and they don't even know it yet! Buzzards! I now wear their mark of scorn like a badge of honor!"



Candi couldn't help but admire her sister's willingness to defend her.

Miriam: "But you're on your own with that Don guy..."

Candi: "I could not have predicted he'd be a criminal!"

Miriam: "Maybe you should take some tips from me, if you want to be a detective! He's now with those Meethlites...the ones our parents were always running from! He may be plotting to kill us!"



Erin: "So...how did you manage to sneak off with Phil?"

Miriam: "Phil separated me from the others that night. I...used some of my inheritance money...I know I shouldn't have..."

Candi: "You didn't even stay at the same hotel?"

Miriam: "No. I was desperate. I didn't want Phil to go on believing his life was hopeless..."