Author's note: I'm like a shining star, I've come so far - can't go back to where I used to beeeee - every turn a surprise! :D That song pretty much sums up where this story is right now. Welp.

It didn't take long before my body surrendered to the exhaustion that I felt. The next time I awoke, I was unsure whether it was a new day or not – but there was now a tray of food right by the bars.

But there was no way of knowing the time, or even the date. There were no windows here either that could show a glimpse of daylight.

It was a tactic I was familiar with. To break someone down, this is where you start. But I was already broken, so it probably didn't matter anyway.

But I stayed away from the food – but made sure to drink the water. They had given me a canister full of it, along with a plastic cup. When I had done that, I examined the cell further – looking for weaknesses in the walls, loose stones.

I might be broken, but I had made up my mind about one thing. I had to somehow escape this place, alive or not. My fingernails got scraped and cut on the stones, but I didn't pay it any mind – not until I heard a voice speak through the walls.

"I recognize that scent..."

My hands stilled on the wall, almost damp like the earth. I dimly recognized it, but couldn't quite place who it was. But it was safe to assume that he was a prisoner here, like me.

"There is nothing particular about it." I said, and continued to prod and pull – but so far I hadn't found any stones that were loose.

"You're that girl. Yes, I almost had a taste of you." The voice said, clearly a man, and it was only now that I realized that it sounded pained, wheezing. As if talking was a huge effort on his part. I frowned, and put my head closer to the wall.

"Who are you?"

"Nathaniel."

And just like that, a stone that I had not yet checked flew out of the wall like it had been kicked from the other side. There was now a gaping hole there, allowing me to look into the next cell.

I was cautious at first – the things I knew now about Aro and the others here were going to make things difficult overall.

They were all, somehow, not living – and yet more alive than any human creature. Stronger than I could ever be, and infinitely more dangerous. But I told myself at this point, there was little to lose by talking to a cellmate, no matter what he'd done in the past – we were stuck in the same place.

Leaning down to the hole, I peeked through it expecting to see fangs and red eyes. Instead I saw a foot with dried blood on it, carefully moving around, shivering slightly.

"Why are you down here?" I asked, shifting on the floor to get more comfortable. There was a pause, a slight gasp from the other side and then -

"I was punished. I had made one mistake too many."

"The Volturi?"

"Yes." he said, his voice heavy and resigned. We were both quiet then for a moment – but I could hear him moving around in the other cell restlessly. But something was obviously very wrong with him, because his breathing was so loud and erratic, mingled together with several gasps and strange gurgling noises.

"If you try to escape on your own, they'll kill you." he said, and I resisted rolling my eyes at this obvious statement.

"I know that." I muttered.

"And this does not deter you?" he asked, sounding somewhat surprised. I lowered my head to the hole again so that my reply would come through loud and clear.

"Not in the slightest." I growled. He was quiet again for awhile, the rustling of old chains as he moved around.

"Then you'll need...someone to help you."

"And what makes you think I'd trust you?" I asked, more out of curiosity than actual concern. But he sounded very solemn as he replied.

"I can make you a promise. That if we help each other get out of here, I'll make sure nobody lays a finger on you. Trust me or not – it's your choice. "