Her heart felt heavy and dark, angry at what her mind couldn't see. She hated coming back like this, but it was eating at her, carving her inside out with curiosity and fear.
"Agent Kerr?"
As Agent Virginia Kerr looked up she saw Sydney Bristow, tight-lipped and flushed with exhaustion. Sydney seemed to bear the fragility of glassware teetering on the edge of a surface.
"Sydney, I certainly didn't expect to see you. What is it?"
Agent Kerr could see the troubled look haunting Bristow so clearly she was startled. She was shocked to see such openness of emotion displayed on a top-ranking double agent, a job of constant deception.
"I'm sorry, Agent Kerr. But there's more than what I saw before. I know there is. And I need your help to see it. Please help me put my mind at peace."
A moment of silence filled the room. Then, with great reluctance, Agent Kerr's mouth began to quiver from its steadfast frown.
"I hope you don't make this a habit, Agent Bristow. But you're a hard one to turn away. Sit down, you know the routine."
It only took a few moments for Sydney to attach each of the nodules to the appropriate location on her forehead.
"I'm going to count back from three. When I get to one, I want you to tell me where you are. 3…2…1."
It was snowing gently and the night was full of shadows. Sydney found herself in front of a dark, brick building. She peeled away the frost on the door to reveal a brass plate engraved "Summer Learning Institution for the Gifted." Sydney looked ahead and without the slightest touch, the door opened and she walked inside. All the furnishings and woodwork was done in mahogany, projecting a cold and unsettling feeling. Sydney instinctively started climbing the stairs on her right.
"Where are you, Sydney?"
She heard the happy voices of children from the third door down. Again, her feet willed her towards the doorway and she didn't have to touch the brass doorknob to see what was going inside.
"I'm in a building, upstairs. I'm talking to someone."
Sydney saw her younger self crouched on the ground, speaking to a boy whose face she couldn't see.
"You know, I got a tattoo, just like the rock stars!" little Sydney explained, "See, it's right here. Under my hair."
Sydney saw herself turn, pull up her hair and show the boy a tattoo of the number three.
"They let me pick my number. I picked three 'cause it was my mommy's favorite number. She said everything has three parts. Stories have a beginning, middle, and end. People are born, live, and then die. Even my family has three people. That was until…"
Little Sydney suddenly grew cold and pale as she stopped the tears from coming. She had to be strong.
"Who's in the room with you, Sydney?"
"Don't be sad," said the voice of the little boy, who seemed somehow vaguely familiar. "I picked five 'cause my Papa would count to five whenever we played hide and seek. But we don't play hide and seek together anymore. At least, not when I'm awake."
"What do you mean?"asked Sydney.
"Well, since Papa's in heaven now, I can only play hide and seek with him when I'm asleep, in my dreams. Papa was also really good at hugging. He said a hug can make the whole world happy. Would you like a hug? I have plenty to spare."
Something passed between the two children, and as she watched the scene play out Sydney could feel the heavy sadness dissipating in the room.
Impulsively, the little boy turned and hugged Sydney. Sydney gasped as she saw his distinctive cherub face.
"Don't worry Syd, I'll always be with you. I'll always watch over you."
"I know, Mikey. Even when we get out of this dump, I'll never forget you. I promise."