Rebirth in Darkness

The darkness that had claimed Carlos's life began to recede, and with it, the memories of his past began to resurface. He remembered the pain, the loneliness, and the isolation. He remembered Emma, and the name she had given him - Carlos. But that name no longer felt like his own. It was a label, a tag that others had used to identify him. He was Mercer now, a name he had chosen for himself, a name that signified his rebirth. As he opened his eyes, he was met with an unfamiliar ceiling. He was in a small, dingy room, with peeling walls and a single window that let in a sliver of sunlight. He didn't remember how he got there, but he knew he wasn't alone. A figure stood in the corner, watching him. "Welcome back, Mercer," the figure said, its voice low and gravelly. "You've been gone for a while." Mercer's gaze narrowed as he took in the figure. It was a woman, with piercing green eyes and jet-black hair. She was dressed in a long coat, and a small badge on her lapel caught his eye. It read "FBI". "Who are you?" Mercer asked, his voice rough from disuse. "I'm Agent Rachel Jenkins," she replied. "And you, Mercer, are a very special individual. You have a... unique gift. One that we're willing to help you develop." Mercer's eyes locked onto hers, and he knew that he had a purpose now. He had a job, and he owed it to himself to see it through. Vengeance, in the form of justice, was his goal. And it would lead him to Emma, and to Natalie. Meanwhile, Emma sat on the couch, Natalie still resting her head on her lap. She had just remembered something, a power that she had long forgotten. She could turn back time. A look of determination crossed her face as she recalled the memories of her past, of the timelines she had manipulated, of the space-time continuum she had bent. She knew that she would do whatever it took to protect what she had, to keep Natalie safe. "Emma?" Natalie asked, sensing her tension. "What's wrong?" Emma's gaze locked onto Natalie's, and she knew that she would stop at nothing. "Nothing, Natalie," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I think it's time we took a walk." As they stood up, Emma reached out with her mind, and the threads of time began to unravel. She was going to change the past, to alter the course of events that had led her to this point. And Mercer, or Carlos, or whoever he was, would not be able to stop her. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Emma's eyes gleamed with a fierce determination. Natalie looked up at her, unsure of what was happening, but trusting Emma with her life. And as they walked out of the room, into the unknown, Emma knew that she would do whatever it took to protect Natalie, even if it meant breaking the very fabric of reality.