Thank you to all my reviews I had last chapter! This chapter is dedicated to every single person who took the time to write to me. Even the guests who I can't respond to directly but your words also touch me just as much as the members.

Medusa gave her son one last look as he walked out. She smiled at his back, the smile was cold. Not a drop in warmth existed in her entire body. He had no amount of independence from her, he would do as asked of him. He would collect human souls and her experiment with him would continue. She grinned to herself, even if Maka had given him a shred of self worth it was pointless now. She had him under control completely with Maka in her possession. His precious thoughts of wanting to protect her was something she could manipulate. It was oh so easy. It was quite pathetic.

She turned her head back to her research, she knew an answer to the puzzle that was Maka was here in front of her somewhere. Her eyes scanned the pictures and notes she had written up. She was missing something clearly…but what?

She now doubted it had anything to do with her willpower, granted she had a strong will. But so far she had not shown a defence to the madness the blood created. Only that her body was fighting it off like some sort of disease. She felt a bit insulted but it was impressive to say the least. So far to her it seemed she had managed to lasting avoid madness thanks to that weapon of hers. She doubted she would survive insanity on her own.

She also crossed off the list that it was because she had learned of some technique from the academy, she had not seen anything implying as such while she worked there. And from what she had seen from Maka the evidence stacked up against such a theory.

The last one she crossed off the board was that her father was a death scythe. She cringed at the thought of the man…always hanging around. Even she thought he was a poor example of a father, at least she knew she was no mother. He seemed oblivious to the fact. She rolled her eyes, back to the point. Maka was a meister, pure and simple. Whatever genes she had inherited from her father did her no favours nor helped her whatsoever. Medusa would have loved to get ahold of her mother…but that would most likely be a wasted effort. Her immunity didn't seem to be in her DNA.

The final conclusion that she had drawn was that it was some sort of defence of her soul. Her soul wavelength. Something that was unique to each and every person. Souls could often be used with an ability, something that could be learned or taught…and on rare occasions included a built in ability. Hmm…Medusa read over a few older notes. Yes this seemed to be the right lines to follow. It would explain why her blood acted as it did so for her test last night. Medusa suddenly snapped her fingers. The blood that she had taken from Maka was away from her system for too long, and now should no longer have a trace of her soul wavelength. Medusa jumped over to her fridge and pulled it open. The glass inside clinked as she yanked open the door. She reached in and pulled out a small plastic medical bag of blood. It was freezing to the touch but she ignored it and handled it over to the side. If her theory is correct this will respond to the black blood like any other blood. Her blood should no longer see the black blood as a threat and will instead accept it.

Medusa eagerly prepared a new sample dish, popping the blood back in the fridge in case she would need it. She placed the blood under the microscope. She watched from her contraption, it seemed just the same as last time. The red blood cell count and white blood cell count was just the same. Medusa lifted up a glass holding cell, that she held samples of black blood for just such purposes as these. A clean new syringe was close by. Now then, this was it. Blinking her eyes to focus she dropped a single drop of black blood in the sample dish and went back to watching.

The black blood spread over the sample just as last time. Mixing in with the red…about this time last time was when the black blood started to be targeted and destroyed. She waited and watched…

This time, just as she theorized. It did not happen. The blood reacted just as any other. The black poison in the sample killed off the red and replaced the red cells with it's own. The white blood cells did nothing to stop the process. Medusa removed her eyes from the microscope and leaned back on her chair. A happy smirk on her face.

That was it. It was her soul. Now that Medusa knew what she was up against she could concentrate her efforts to fight it, to subdue it. Allowing the black blood to work. There was only one obstacle. Granted it was a pretty powerful one. But it was only one after all. With it out of the way she would be defenceless.

Medusa suddenly swerved away from her microscope and to her notes, she clicked her ball point pen and began writing furiously. She now had a target, now she just needed a plan of attack. Her mind began to wonder even as she wrote. Maka's mind was weakening being her prisoner and with what was happening to Crona. Her body was weakening thanks to her sickness and lack of sleep. And if Medusa learned anything at that academy it was the mantra that the whole DWMA was based on.

'A sound soul, dwells within a sound mind and a sound body.'

She rubbed her eyes once again, a yawn cracked from her jaw. Maka's eyes drooped in her exhaustion. The world seemed fuzzy as her brain grew drained. Why did she have to stay awake again? Her mind pulled at her to just lay down and rest. It was so tempting, oh so tempting. Maybe it would be ok. To just rest for a moment. Maybe nothing would happen…maybe it would be fine…her head lolled forward as her eyes closed and her body started to relax. Her body shifted and started to lose balance, her weight caused her to fall to the side. The sudden vertigo caused a shock to her brain, her limbs shot out. A bright wave of panic filling her senses as if she was about to fall. Her eyes pinned wide as her breathing quickened and her heartbeat filled her ears. Her chest rose and fell with laboured breaths as she woke herself with the shock.

Maka looked about the room. She was not falling…yet she was not somewhere better. She was not safe. She thumped her head back onto the metal of the door, the dull thud bringing an awakening sense of pain from the spot. She blinked her tired eyes. No…if she fell asleep Medusa would creep in like the filthy snake that she was. Maka felt like some caged animal holed up in a zoo, being watched. Always being watched from the outside. Just waiting for her to let her guard down. She shook her head.

Maka couldn't stop a whimper from escaping her lips…she hated this. She hated herself for being so weak…so defenceless. She wished Crona was here…no…she mentally slapped herself. She didn't need him to stay strong! Yet her eyes fell to the floor. It was so cold and empty without him here. She liked him being here with her. Someone to share her hell with… When he left, she felt as if a piece of herself left with him. A piece of her soul. A part of her that she hoped could help him…it could do her no good right now. Why did he leave? He didn't have to listen to Medusa…she was nothing but an evil demon from whatever hell she crawled out of. Maka's breath came out laboured even now, sitting on the floor with nothing but the cold metal door behind her.

Suddenly she decided she didn't want to sit here anymore…she felt…vulnerable in the open space…she wanted somewhere else…a bit more smaller. Just for her. Maybe… maybe the corner….Maka stood from where she was at the door. Her legs weak and complaining about the movement. Muscles straining to perform an action she would have thought nothing of back at the DWMA. Maka gritted her teeth and forced her body up, her legs jerking and threatening to just drop her back down, yet she somehow managed it, leaning on the wall for support. Her eyes scanned the dark dank room. The darkness seemed worse now that she was alone, like the sticky, gripping depths of a nightmare. Something that wanted to drag you down and trap you forever, promising nothing yet wanting everything. Maka felt heavy, her legs struggling as if trying to wade through a bog. Cold ice like mud that clung to her legs and froze her in place. Yet she carried on. Wading through the darkness as if she had to for her very life. Yet when she finally reached a corner a very odd thought struck her. The corner before her was the one that Crona sat in, she had seen him hunch up in that space as if it was his only area in the world. That it was his area and he could control it. The only thing he could control. Maka's heart flipped, and she did a very strange thing. She didn't want to intrude on his space, if he came back to find her sitting in it. It was like lying in someone's bed. It was wrong and she would not do it. So she forced her legs ever onward, round the bend, she dared not take her hand off the wall lest she fall. If she fell she was not sure if she would make it back up. Her legs were about to give. She coughed lightly as she pushed onward.

The next corner she knew well…in a way she had claimed this spot. The light patch in the corner was where the mattress had been previously. And the dark dry puddle next to it was of her making. This was her area…no one else's. Yes…she could be here. Better then out in the open. If she was there she could watch the room and the door without needing to turn her head. Yes…that would work. Maka reached the corner, her legs about to break, she huffed and mumbled weak cries as she lowered herself down. Just about managing most of the way before her body gave up and her muscles spent, falling the last few inches onto her backside. The pain flared up from the slight fall, yet she didn't care. She was here, her journey finished. Hopefully where she could gather strength and find a way out…

…a way out…

…a way out?…

Maka felt a deep plunging feeling in her gut. Was there even a way out? She knew she should feel panic from that statement…but…right now she only felt an empty acceptance. No. Maka hardened her face and clenched her hands. She shouldn't think like that. She needed to escape. And…she would take Crona with her. He would be better off at the academy. He would be able to do what he wanted to do. Like sit in the sun, or lie on the grass, eat ice cream, study in class…talk to her friends…argue with her papa…get postcards from her mother…

Maka stopped in her thoughts…she wasn't thinking about Crona…she was thinking about herself. A selfish thing to do…but she felt the wetness travelling down her cheek. Felt the emptiness gnawing away at her soul. She missed them…missed all the things she had back at the DWMA. A lump formed in her throat as she thought about her friends…she missed them…so much.

"Mama…Papa…" Maka whispered out to herself. "…I wish …you were here with me." Maka sniffed. "I'm…scared." She admitted to herself. As the lump in her throat grew larger and her eyes streamed more tears, she raised a hand to her eyes. As if to try and stop them and hide her eyes. An automatic response. She didn't want to let people see her cry, she didn't want to be seen as weak. She made small muffled cries as her chest heaved with her emotions, even the slight hurt as she cried did not stop her. "Oh, Soul. I'm…sorry…I'm not good enough, strong enough to be your meister…I'm…so…so…sorry." Now both of her hands were now covering her face, as the tears and garbled wails were the only sounds in the dark little room. "I made you a promise…but…now…I…" Her voice broke. She couldn't finish. She couldn't admit the last part. That she would fail him. Fail in her promise to make him into a death scythe…she had failed him, failed her friends. Failed her papa…failed her mama…failed herself. A black haze covered the outer edge of her eyes, she felt a deep darkness inside herself. A black spot that wasn't there before. A crack in the reflection that was her soul. Her sadness was evident, her misery at the forefront of her mind, bringing her soul down with it. She felt like she was falling, into a hole with no bottom. She was alone, and sinking in her own despair.

Time passed in that cell, a moment that looked to be frozen in time. The river that travelled with its many passengers, taking Maka along. Maka didn't know how long it had been or how long she had yet to stay there. The girl sat in her corner, alone. With no one to see or talk to. The tears had dried on her cheeks, her body was close together as she sat huddled in her corner. Not wanting or caring to move. She felt her strength being sapped here…but she didn't care. She just wanted out of this place. Out of this misery. Away from here, away from Medusa. Her eyes, the deep pools of sadness looked out over the room. A forced action waiting for the attack that she wasn't sure was even coming anymore. She was cold, so very cold. She tried to pull her body closer, hoping to glean any sort of warmth. She wanted…no needed to sleep. Her eyes were so heavy…if only she could sleep. Maybe it would give her the strength to escape once more. Instead of this heavy despair that sucked away her courage. Maka began to shake, her body shivering in the cold dark room.

Without warning a small knock sounded out on the door, three times a dull clang sounded out. Maka blinked in surprise. Was that real or did she imagine it? She sat there frozen, not moving an inch as she waited to see what would happen. Quickly Maka heard the door lock click unlocked and the latch was forced down, the door starting to open. Maka could not help her heart as it began to flutter once more, a hope blossomed into life. A small light in her darkness bloomed. Driving away the night.

Was it Crona? Was he back? It had been so long…she prayed it was him coming back. She hated this loneliness. It was almost painful, the choking hold it held on her heart and mind. She waited with bated breath for who was stepping into the doorway, the light gushed into the room, as if water filling an empty bowl. She waited expectantly for that familiar pink hair and small frame. She truly needed to see him now. It would do her a world of good, maybe she could finally sleep…

Yet the person who actually entered the room caused Maka's heart to fall…not down into her chest, but further. Down through the floor. That cold spike of fear lurched into her chest, piercing what little resolve she had left.

It was Medusa. The Snake witch.

The vile woman stood there in the light of the door, peering down at her, a despicable smirk rested on her lips, her eyes narrow as she studied Maka. The evil woman was dressed in the same black hooded top that she wore when Maka saw her in the basement of the academy. Revealing herself for what she truly was. A detestable female of truly horrendous intent. Medusa's bare feet made not a sound as she padded a little way into Maka's cell.

"Oh you poor thing. You don't look well at all." She mocked, her words speaking as if one who was concerned, but from the look on her face and tone. She was anything but. She sounded curious and mocking, as if Maka's condition was one big joke. "I had thought that a meister of the legendary DWMA, bane of witch kind everywhere…would put up a better fight then this." She spoke into the room. Venom dripping from her voice like the snake that she is. Mocking Maka down to the very core. Maka gritted her teeth, feeling that spark of anger flare in her gut. Good, she preferred it over the fear. She clenched her sweaty hands harder into her knees.

"Let me go." Maka managed to force her voice into action. Medusa raised an eyebrow as if in confusion. She raised her hands to her hips and rested them there.

"What was that? Did you say something?" Medusa replied. As if she could not hear, yet that ever present smirk told a different story. Maka glared at the woman before repeating herself, louder this time.

"Let…me…go…" Maka stressed every word, making sure Medusa could not miss what she had said. Medusa heard her this time, as she began to laugh. The sound reverberated around the room, sending chills up Maka's spine.

"And where would you go?" Medusa continued. Maka felt a seed of confusion stir. What did she mean where would she go? Maka's eyebrows lowered in defiance.

"Home." Maka answered, as if it was the most obvious answer. But Medusa didn't let up.

"And where is this 'home'?" Maka was starting to become frustrated with this conversation. Why was Medusa being so difficult?

"The DWMA." Maka croaked out, it was getting hard to speak, but she would not show her weakness to the evil creature. At that Medusa chuckled once more and glanced over the room before staring back at her.

"Really? You think that is your home? How cute." Maka gritted her teeth, what did she mean? "And why is that your home?" She questioned, as if Maka was some sort of mental patient at a hospital. Maka was growing annoyed at her tone, speaking to her in such a way. Yet she answered her.

"Because…" Maka began, but her throat clenched and she coughed into the room. The harsh sound filling the cold empty room.

"Let me help you out. Because your friends and family are there right?" Medusa spat out her words, as if it was an insult. Her smirk grew in size. "Do you enjoy deluding yourself? There is no such thing as love, no such thing as friendship. Those things do…not…exist." Maka couldn't look at her anymore, her gaze left her face and to her knees. She was wrong, how could she think like that? The way she spoke, she truly believed it. But Maka didn't. She knew her friends and family were there for her, they would never leave her. They protected and looked out for each other, Medusa would never understand that. "People are selfish beings, they only seek to use each other. They attach onto others to help themselves. To better themselves or for protection. Nothing more. These feelings you have for them…are nothing but lies. To make you feel better about being around others." Maka shook her head. No she didn't believe it. She would never believe it. These were just lies, lies that she had fed Crona all his life. She was using them on Maka. Ha, it wouldn't work on her. It never would. Medusa was only describing herself, that was all it was.

Medusa leaned against the door frame.

"That father of yours…let's start with him." Maka shut her eyes, she didn't want to hear her talk about her family. She didn't want to hear her lies. "He says he 'loves' your mother…yet he left her for other women the first chance he got. Your mother was used by him and thrown away. He used her. You just happened to be created by such an act." Maka shook her head. She hated what her papa did to her mama it was true. Yet he loved her mama…and Maka. He said he did…always said he did, even if he wasn't good at showing it. Maka hated how much Medusa knew about her, she didn't want to listen to her. She felt as if her life was an open book to her. She felt vulnerable…but she tried to shut Medusa out. She shouldn't listen, she knew in her heart that she was loved and cherished by those she herself felt near. She shouldn't be affected by this.

"I even experienced that man's advances first hand…urgh." She sighed…but then carried on. "Shall I move onto your mother?" Maka's eyes widened…she didn't want to listen to this. Maka raised her hands to her ears. But Medusa only proceeded to speak louder. "The woman who gave birth to you…the one who should be there to raise and look after you. The one you can run to and tell all your fears and she would be there to shelter you and whisper calming words…" Medusa stopped and examined Maka. Maka held her hands to her ears, she didn't…wouldn't listen to her. No she was no mother to Crona. She had no right to speak of her own like that. "…Now tell me Maka. Where is she?" Maka's anger evaporated…where was she? Cold sweat trickled down Maka's brow. She didn't know…but she would come back…she said she would come back…she would. She would! Maka dropped her head to her knees, no longer even looking into the room. Her hands left her ears and clamped down on her head, the fingers interlacing with each other. Her hair ruffling above her.

"Not going to answer me? Fine. I'll answer for you." Medusa's nasty tone rang out. "She doesn't love you. Or your father. As soon as she realised she was being used. She ran. She doesn't need you, or your father. So why stay? She left you. After all, what could she gain by hanging around? Nothing. So why stay?" Maka shook her head, no that wasn't true. Her mother still kept contact, she knew she would return. She said she would… "Maybe your mother has another family out there, one more useful to her. One that works better, maybe that is where she is…You are blinded by your love Maka. You don't see the world for what it truly is. This…this is reality. You are born alone. And will die alone. That is it. There is no good or evil in this world. Only strength, only power. I can help you Maka. If you let me help you…I can give you power. You won't have to be afraid of being alone. How about it Maka?" She spoke. Tempting Maka. But Maka held strong. She would not be swayed by such honeyed words.

"Let me go!" Maka shouted out at Medusa, her words muffled with her head hidden from view. Medusa laughed again.

"Back to this are we? My, you are persistent. Still afraid of being alone are you? You need others to cling to. As if they will help you. Are they helping you now? No. They think you are dead…dead and gone. They are not looking for you. They have moved on Maka…just as you must move on. Move on and leave them behind." She preached to her. Trying to convince her that she was alone. Never! Her friends would never give up on her, and she should not give up on them.

"Shut up!" Maka raised her head and shouted at her. "You are a liar!" She yelled. That pit of anger resurfacing. "You…are…nothing! Nothing…but a liar!" She yelled again. Her mind seething in rage, leaving her mind blank for words. Adrenaline shot through her limbs once more. Forcing her to stand up against the wall. "Shut up!" Medusa was silent for a second, listening to her yelling. Then her lips twitched, and she laughed. A dull giggle as she laughed in Maka's face.

Maka couldn't take that laugh, it cut through her. Like a knife through her skin, she needed to stop it. Stop the noise! "Stop it!" Maka yelled out, sounding more like an animal in her anger, blinding her to anything else. Maka acted on pure instinct, racing forward toward her enemy. Her fist raised high to punch her right in her laughing face. She was close, so close! Yet Medusa's hands shot out and gripped onto Maka's own. Stopping her right in her tracks. Her face sneered at Maka's own, the face of a predator who had it's prey right before it. Maka was the prey, her wild charge was nothing more then a last ditch defence. Maka struggled in her tight grip, she yanked and pulled to try and escape. But Medusa held on, her iron grip unbreakable.

"You need to rest." Medusa spoke softly, as if you a child. "You aren't thinking straight. Don't worry, I'll be back later." She then proceeded to push on Maka's wrists, forcing her backwards and back into the room. Maka's anger evaporated and with it her strength, her legs stumbled and she fell. Her hands smacking to the floor as she sat there on her behind. Her chest heaving in and out as she didn't look up to Medusa. She didn't want to. She listened as the door closed slowly, taking the light with it. The light left her in the dark once again, the blackness swirling all around her. Filling her being with the empty feeling. Once again, lost in a nightmare.

There we go, struggled a bit with the chapter. Not really for lack of content, just been working and when I got chance to write it seemed to be a bit of a struggle. Finally got it finished today. :D.

Yeah no Crona in this I know…don't worry. He'll be back next chapter.