April, 2013
Location Unknown

Audrey woke up in a strange and new cell. For the past couple of weeks - at least, Audrey assumed it had been weeks - they had kept her in a small, dimly lit cell in a cold cellar, with only a cot and a hole in the corner to use as a washroom. They had brought her meals twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. Oatmeal every morning, soup every night. With every meal, there was a new injection of drugs, different drugs every time, so she had yet to build an immunity. She would pass the time curled up in a ball in the corner, singing softly to herself and dreaming of Peter.

This was not that same cell. For starters, it was much bigger. Audrey could tell by the way she was able to spread her arms to their full extent in both directions as she lay of the floor. The cool cement soothed her warm skin. Audrey realized suddenly that she felt sick and feverish. She rolled onto her side and vomited on to the floor.

Cool hands pulled her hair back from her face. "It's okay," a soft voice reassured her. Audrey craned her neck around. Warm green eyes smiled at her from a dirt-streaked face, and waves of blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders.

"Claire," Audrey breathed. "Claire Bennet?" Claire nodded, sitting back on her heels as Audrey pushed herself up, propping her weight on her elbows. Audrey almost laughed at the irony of the situation. She had been trying to rescue Claire from this place, only to get captured by the same people.

"How do you know my name?" Claire asked.

"I was supposed to be rescuing you from this place," Audrey laughed without humor. "You father came to Peter and I shortly after you were kidnapped." Claire nodded, unsurprised.

"That's sounds like my dad. Always trying to rescue me," she smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"I'm Audrey," Audrey introduced herself, extending her hand. Claire shook it warmly.

"So, you know Peter?" she queried politely.

"I'm his..." Audrey paused. The word soulmate sounded tacky when used in casual conversation. "I'm his girlfriend," she said, almost grimacing at the word. Girlfriend didn't really begin to cover it. Claire looked surprised.

"I didn't know he had a girlfriend," she exclaimed. Audrey laughed.

"Neither did he, not really." Claire's brow furrowed with confusion, so Audrey explained. "He met me for the first time about 6 months ago, when we started dating. But I've known him for almost 6 years. I used to dream about him every night. Eventually, the dreams came true." Comprehension dawned on Claire's face.

"You're a special!"

Audrey nodded. "What I do is fairly similar to what Peter does. With a few distinct differences." Audrey made her tone more urgent. "Claire, do you know why they have us here?"

Claire nodded. "When they took me, they said it was because of the healing powers in my blood. It's been used to cure people, revive them. They thought that, if they could make the effects more permanent, they could create other self-healing beings." Audrey nodded. It made sense, in theory. "They were pretty angry when they couldn't make it work," Claire continued. "They talked about finding another special, they started asking me about rumors that had been flying around about a girl who could return powers to specials who had lost them..." Her voice trailed off, and she stared at Audrey, amazed. "You?"

"In the flesh." Audrey shrugged. "It's something I picked up a few years ago."

"I had heard rumors, and we documented them all at the UNPS. But I thought they were just that: rumors. I didn't think it was really possible." Claire exclaimed.

"It's very possible," Audrey confirmed. "I was able to give Peter his original ability back."

"Then they want to use you to create their 'Utopia'" Claire spat, putting air quotes around the word 'Utopia'. Audrey was glad that Claire seemed to share her disdain for the whole idea.

"It's never going to happen," Audrey assured her. "I wouldn't do that."

"Oh, I don't think you'll have a choice."

Claire and Audrey whipped around to see the door. The man was there, dressed in another crisp, clean suit. He eyed the vomit on the floor with distaste. "Someone, please clean that up," he spoke over his shoulder. He then turned his attention back to Audrey. "Come along, my dear. There's someone I want you to meet."

Audrey still felt nauseated, but she rose shakily to her feet. She took several steps towards the man, and he extended his hand towards her warmly. She spat in his face. "Bastard," she growled. The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, which he used to wipe Audrey's saliva off of his face. He motioned with his hand, and two guards stepped around him to pi Audrey's arms to her sides. Audrey didn't struggle, she just stood, smirking at the man. Then she felt the needle sting at the back of her neck, and she toppled back into unconsciousness.