The morning light shone through the small barred window above Her, casting light only on a small spot on the floor. The rest was in the shadows, as if something had come in and consumed the walls and furniture. On one side of the room, one could make out a steel shelf, suspended by chains on the wall . An itchy blanket and pillow sat atop it, neatly made up into a sleeping arrangement. The other end of it had a metal sink and a low toilet with a wooden wall in front of it. The third wall, unlike the others, had nothing on it. Nothing but steel bars crossed over each other, with a locked steel door interrupting the pattern. She sat against the fourth wall, her legs crossed, her back firmly against the icy stone.
She was a rather innocent looking person from a distance, in Her early twenties, with Her long brown hair and rounded face. but Her cold smile and piercing eyes told a different story.
It was in the newspaper last week. 14 people had died in a fire. A very tragic accident.
But it was no accident.
While the other little girls enjoyed playing dolls or dress-up games, She was different. She had a knack for science. At the age of seven She could recite the periodic table of elements by heart, and at the age of nine She could comprehend college level quantum physics books. She was a truly brilliant child. But Her parents didn't approve.
A girl? In science? I've never heard of such a thing!
What man would want to marry a scientist?
Think about your future, young lady!
But She never stopped. She continued to study and learn about her passion. Until that fateful day.
It was a frigid winter day, more so than usual.
Her father was making a fire.
He had good intentions, She thought.
She thought.
She came down to the den.
Her life was literally being torn to pieces right in front of her.
"What are you doing?" She cried, angrily.
Her father didn't respond...
After that incident, She reluctantly decided to find a new hobby. But it was anything but normal.
She grabbed the magnifying glass from Her brother's detective play set.
There was a fine line of ants marching by. She held the glass up to them.
One of them crossed the path of the light refracting from the glass.
Then another one.
Then another one.
Then another one...
She heard the loud, high pitched squeaking of the steel door opening. A prison guard stood at the opening. He was a tall, slightly muscular man who looked as though he could snap both Her arms in half like toothpicks. He held up a pair of handcuffs.
"Caroline McLain, please follow me"
She stood up. It was her time to go, but she was ready for it.
After all, she had done her family justice.