We return to our recently freed Mia.

"Um excuse me, but when will I be able to leave this place?" I ask the officers in grey uniform. After getting me out of captivity, these soldiers brought me to a giant camp that looks like it's meant to keep people trapped in here. I must be far from Metropolis because I can't recognize the area. They brought me inside their base and said that the commander of T.A.N.K, the army of Westopolis I presume, needs to see me before I'm released. I never realized I was underground all that time and so much has happened while I was down there. After leaving that place, they took me in a private car and I got a glimpse of the dark ruddy sky. I don't know what's happening out there, nobody's answering my questions. "Talk to the commander," one of soldiers escorting me replies.

I'm being led down a hallway filled with soldiers holding guns. I pick up bits of the many conversations going around me, "Black creatures are…" "…world ending…?" "…can we hold them back…?" "…can't be Egglady…Sonic…" Are the Heartless in Metropolis? They never were before, why now? If I ask, these two soldiers will just ignore my question. The young female soldier opens a door for me, on the door I read aloud quietly, "Commander". The noise and frantic conversations melt away once I'm pushed inside. The two soldiers solute the commander sitting at the desk with his eyes to the phone that won't stop ringing. He waves his hand at the two. "At ease soldiers. This is the girl?"

"Yes sir," they answer at the same time. He pushes a button that silences the annoying ringing, sighing of relief as he leans back in the chair.

"Good, leave us alone then." They salute the commander and slam the door shut as they leave. He gestures to a seat in front of his desk and I obey quietly. "Sorry about them, they take their jobs too seriously. Mia on behalf of the Westopolis, I apologize for taking so long to bring you out of captivity, I'm sure being kept there for so long must've been awful. The late sister of Eggman's been hiding out for so long we ignored her for some time but fortunately one of your friends helped us figure out where to go."

"Really?" I wonder who it was, probably Mizuki or Risa. I haven't seen them in so long, I wonder if they're okay out there with the Heartless. Leaning back in the stiff chair, I remember the look of anguish Don gave me when I made a run for it and I grimace. After he had just told me about having to kill and leave Angelica, I left him and I feel terrible about it. "Mia," the commander's voice snaps me back into the present. "Y-yes?"

"Do you know why they held you captive for so long?"

"I don't really know. I wasn't ever told." His stare grows more intense by every second, I never realized mahogany eyes could be this perturbing. I begin to sink back in the chair. "Mia, do not dare lie to me. You have no records, no ID, no social security, you practically don't exist in this city. And yet you're here and those people took an interest in you for a reason. I want to know why." The commander manages to retain his tight-lipped smile while piercing through my eyes. Why did Don take me? The Professor never said anything, she just ran tests on me, Don never said why either. Why don't I know anything?

"I said I don't know why, when can I leave?" I attempt to hold my ground against the overbearing man in uniform. Abruptly, his glare breaks and he smiles reassuringly. He picks up the phone, dials some number to bring him to the operator, and then speaks into the phone. "Major Gurdo, I need you to pick someone up here." Why do I have a bad feeling about this? I wish I had my bo staff with me, then I could probably fight my way out of here and get on to more important matters like dealing with Seth. In about two minutes, the door opens and a handsome looking guy with stubby blonde hair salutes the commander. "Bring her to E101 until she decides to talk."

"What?" my arms are grabbed by Major Gurdo and I'm yanked from my seat.

"Yes Commander Mercucio."

"You're Commander Mercucio?" I gasp as I'm pushed out of his office. He's the same guy from Don's story about Angelica from years ago, her brother who brought the entire army to get Angelica back. The one who forced Don to kill her-I can't believe it's him! The commander sends me one more smug smile before I'm pushed out of his sight.

E101 is a blank white room with another room boxed in by some glass material. In this room with very little walking space, there is simply a bed and a toilet. Major Gurdo pushes me in without a word and the sliding glass door closes behind him. A small screen is conjured on the glass while he punches in a code to secure me. "When you want to share what you know, let us know. Otherwise, you're not leaving," explains Major Gurdo as if I'm a little kid. I just turned thirteen!

"I didn't do anything, I don't know what to talk about. Please, I have to get out of here," I beg him, banging on the hard glass, but as usual I'm ignored and Major Gurdo leaves the room. Why am I always being captured and thrown into captivity? Didn't I get stronger so that this wouldn't happen to me? Why can't I be strong the way my parents were before they-

My eyes start stinging as I remember the sensation and the jolt of pain from when Korbin stabbed them both. I felt what they felt-their happiness when they were with each other, their joy when I was born, their love for me, and their fear of Korbin. For years I grew up thinking they had hated me since I was born. They ignored my cries and let me cry myself to sleep when I was little. But I was so stupid, I didn't know what they were going through and I didn't realize that they were trying to prepare me for a world without love. "An abomination of Twilight" Korbin called me with rancor; my parents knew everyone would shun me because I had a mom and a dad who defied their values for love. After I made it back home way back then, I was covered in their blood so everyone on the island figured I'd snapped and killed them, I was different than all of them so I would be the first person they'd suspect. The police came over to question me about my missing parents and I couldn't tell them a thing. I pushed the traumatic memory in the darkest part of my mind so I wouldn't ever be reminded of their sacrifice. Their wasted sacrifice on me.

I wasn't worth it at all. They gave up their lives to have me grow up with everyone always being wary of me and keeping me away from them. Seth was the only person who cared for me and now he's against me. I let myself nearly get killed to get Seth back, my parents should've let a stupid kid like me die. I clench my fists shakily as I shut my eyes tight, trapping my tears. They would've been alive if I wasn't a stupid, useless kid. Shade wouldn't have disappeared and broken his promise, Mom would've told me how to deal with my period, Dad would've told me how to properly use his bo staff. I let my tears fall on the floor while I cover my face with my dirty hands. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry everyone. It's my fault everything's like this." Everything's the way it is because I couldn't do anything-I couldn't stop Seth from falling into Darkness, I couldn't stop Moonlight Town from disappearing, I couldn't help Don either. I'm good for nothing.

I lean against the glass wall and press my tear-filled face against the glass. At least when Don captured me, I had someone to talk to. In here it's just me and my sadness. I sink to the floor and slam my fists against the glass, barely scratching it. "Everyone has a right to hate me." Why did my mom bother saving me? She should have let Korbin kill me then and there. And Seth, he should've let me die in the park too. But why didn't he?

My sobs are condensed to sniffles and hiccups, then I sit up, actually thinking the question. He's had many opportunities to do, why did he choose to leave me when I was on the brink of death? I recall his threat so vividly, he would kill me the next time he saw me. But we saw each other and I didn't die. Is he holding back too? He has to be-! Which means that maybe deep deep deep down in his heart, I'm still his best friend. What if there's a possibility for me to bring him back from the Darkness? If I'm strong enough to save him, if he can hear me calling out to him, then there's a chance I could bring him out of that pit of Darkness Korbin shoved him in. It's his fault that Seth's like this, not mine! "I'll do it, I'll bring him out somehow," I resolve quietly as my hands remain on the glass. After my vivid dream about my parents, Seth told me that he would be coming to finish off this world and me along with it. This will be my only chance to save him.

J.G.P.