"Innocence is a kind of insanity." –Graham Greene

Shilo Wallace was a girl with sequestered dreaming. She had been labeled as foolish for wanting to go outside and experience the world. This did make her naïve in some aspects, but she was unaware of the cruelty that people were able to harbor. Thus, she resorted to senseless daydreams for she was not fulfilled by her lifestyle.

Her father protected her, guarded her for one reason alone. He wanted to assure her safety. Her father, Nathan, wanted to keep her away from the darkness and into the light. He shielded her from reality's throes. Nathan never expected Shilo to go a tad insane from being caged as many would put it.

The pale girl flops onto her white bed that is crowded with stuffed animals. A small sigh emits from her petite form. She clutches one of the critters. Shilo sits up, repeatedly tossing it into the air. Boredom flickers within her doe-colored eyes. I hate this… I hate it all. In a sudden movement, Shilo jumps up from her bed. She paces like a tiger, back and forth within her prison.

"I can't stand this!" She throws the stuffed tiger (which indeed demonstrates bitter irony). Frustration traces over her facial features. Her jaw clenches and she briskly walks towards the balcony. With a flourish of hands, Shilo pushes aside the crisp, white curtains. Against her father's bidding, she opens the window. The desire to go outside is temptation in its truest form.

Her chest rises with the breath of fresh air. The wind caresses her cheeks. It feels absolutely wonderful. Is this dosage of oxygen truly going to kill her? To be honest, she doesn't care. Deep down in her mind, for the first time, she doubts her father's wise words. Her fingers wrap around the railing of the balcony. Her brown-eyed gaze flickers over Sanitarium Island in all of its profound glory. Is this what freedom feels like? No. Yes. Perhaps. She's uncertain.

"Oh, I want to go outside. Outside of this house. Outside of this place. I want to see everything as it is. No, I don't want to. I need to," she speaks to herself. After all, who else is there to talk to without going completely insane? The revelation is a true blow to what Shilo once knew and loved. She comes to believe that she will love the world for what it is, if she can escape the threshold of her home.

Her voice becomes shrill with grief, "Stop it. Don't think of things that way. This isn't really a cage. It's my home, where I live. Dad's just doing the best he can to protect me, but shield me from what?" Her fingers run through dark strands of hair. Questions plague her. Her mind is thrown into an overload of senses. She's only experienced the room from her sealed window and the television. One step outside can quickly change everything.

Perhaps it is her father's fatal flaw for leaving the window unlocked. Shilo never made a previous attempt to open it. Out of her own boredom and growing insane did she finally give it a try. Shilo has pressed her luck, but fate seems to be on her side this time.

Air Raid Sirens drift through the cemetery that lingers below, broadcasting messages of importance. Beams of light flash on and off in a repetitive manner. They're most likely a production of the GenCops that keep a watchful eye for any grave robbers in the area. Everything and everyone has a job and it makes Shilo feel… out of place.

I don't belong… Is that why? Is that it? Her lips purse into a frown, spying an odd figure in the distance. The GenCops are nearing closer and closer to the object that turns out to be human with a feminine shape, nonetheless. Shilo leans forward in anticipation. Fear rests in her own eyes. She's terrified for the girl if she happens to get caught. Her heart thuds as if it will tear out of her chest.

"Look out!" Shilo cries out. She quickly clamps her mouth shut. The figure looks up, spying the girl who sent her a clear warning. The female flings the shovel in the opposite direction, dropping onto her knees. The violator clamps her head together as she bows her head in a mock gesture of mourning. It is rather comical, but the guards believe it and run off to find the source of the loud clang.

Then, the woman begins to walk towards the Wallace household, though it's more of a brisk jog. Shilo is taken aback by this. She grows fearful. Now what? Please don't hurt me. Please don't kill me. Please don't rob me. This is my entire fault… Shilo groans inwardly at her momentary stupidity, taking a step away from the railing.

The presumable grave robber, waves a hand at Shilo Wallace. There's a broad grin, like that of the Chesire cat's, plastered on her face. An eye patch covers her left eye. Blonde locks are messily pulled into a ponytail. She's of a tall height, lanky, and although her lone cerulean eye is bright, the shadows underneath tell of a lack of sleep. She calls out, "Hey, Kid. Thanks! Ya really saved me there! Talk about a close one." She wipes at her temple as one would do to signify that the coast is clear.

Shilo nods. She shuffles her weight back and forth between each foot, unsure of how to respond. Other than her father, she's had a lack of human contact. She's nervous. Her heart refuses to slow down. What should she do? Nonetheless, what should she sayto this stranger whom so happily greeted her?

"You… You're welcome."

"Hey, can I come up? So, I can see ya? My sight's pretty… Eh," she waves her hand up and down to indicate her line of sight.

"Um…" This is bad. I shouldn't be out. I shouldn't be talking to her. What have I done!? Shilo nearly moans in grief, "Sure…"

"You sure? I mean, I don't wanna scare you."

"No, no. Its fine," she feels guilty to oblige. Shilo is going against her father's whims. She knows that this could end badly or it could end alright. She's not sure which path the situation will take and it invokes fear all the more. Her hands nervously tug at the hem of her white dress. She takes a deep breath and braces herself.

Meanwhile, the other woman scales up the pipe that is latched onto the house. From the pipe, she hops onto the railing and finally manages to stand upon the balcony. The woman isn't that much older than Shilo by four years or so. Shilo is seventeen and the woman is probably twenty, twenty-one. She holds out a pale hand towards Shilo; an open gesture.

Shilo is puzzled. What does an extended hand mean? A greeting? Payment? Slowly, Shilo reaches out towards the woman with her own hand. They shake hands and it doesn't seem that strange. In fact, it seems right. It feels right, at least. A small smile creeps onto the Wallace girl's face which leaves the other woman to grin all the more.

"I'm Shilo. Who're you?"

"Well, that's a mighty rude question." Shilo blushes at her naivety, "But since you introduced yourself, I guess I can tell you." Her tone is mocking, "Truth is, I don't think it would be safe for me to tell you my name, real or fake. You don't want to get yourself involved in the industry that I work in. It's rather nasty. Unsafe. Dangerous. It may be glitzy and glamorous in the movies, but it isn't here. I'm only a peddler trying to make a living. I don't force the glow onto people nor do I try it myself. They come to me. It's gotta be mutual and they have ta pay in cash. I'm rambling."

"Wha…"

"Listen up, Kiddo. Don't become a Z-dealer. Stay clean. Stay innocent. As for who I am… Eh. The Largos sure as Hell don't wanna know that I'm still ticking. Call me… Claire. Yeah. Claire. Close enough to my real name."

Shilo nods, "But… What's Z?"

"You'll learn soon enough. Those damned Air Raid Sirens ramble about it 24/7. Sheesh, that gets annoying, lemme tell you. Anyway, I'm really glad you caught me out there. I could be dead… Or worse," Claire grimaces at the thought and somehow Shilo can empathize. Shilo nods, sheepishly gazing back towards her bedroom.

"Listen, Kiddo. I gotta run. I can't thank-you enough. I owe you one. Let me give you one last piece of advice. Innocence is a kind of insanity. Take that to heart, alrighty?" Claire smiles once more and with a mock bow, she's off into the eternal darkness. The young girl leans over the balcony's railing one last time before dashing into her room. She hastily seals the windows, pulling down the latch.

Shilo exhales heavily. Never has she made an attempt to do something so… risky. It's unlike her to go against her father's bidding, but the desire was far too great for her to refuse the opportunity. She flops down on her bed, still in a bit of a dazzle. Finally, words return, "Wow." The dark haired girl quickly rolls over onto her stomach, staring at the television's blank screen.

The door creaks open, revealing her looming father. She can see his image cast in that blank screen. She purses her lips and turns around. Nothing happened. If he knew… She shudders at the thought. Her father is capable of horrendous moments of grief. Sometimes, if all is silent… She can hear his muffled sobs. It pains her, but there is nothing that she can do.

"Shilo… Honey…"

"Yes, Dad?"

"Did you have the window open? You know it's not safe outside…" Pain flickers in his green eyes. His mouth begins to curve, transforming into a slight frown. Shilo shakes her head in response. She needs a good excuse, a good lie to cover up the daring truth.

"No. I didn't. Maybe you left one of the other windows open? There has been a draft, though…" She trails off. Hopefully, he will believe her. Please believe me, Dad. Please trust me… I can't have you worry over me anymore. You'll drive me insane. You'll drive us both mad. And he does. He believes her. Nathan Wallace nods, raking a hand through his hair.

"Yes, that could be it. I have been a bit forgetful. I've had many sleepless nights, because of my thankless job..."

Shilo arches a brow in suspicion, but pushes the fact aside. He's tired. She understands. Her dear father works himself to the bone. Doctors aren't always thanked for their hard work. Nathan mumbles, rambling on about some things of little importance. He kisses her on the forehead and bids her good-night before closing the door. Shilo sighs in relief.

"That was a close one…" Yet, her heart still pounds. She slowly begins to regain her composure. The young woman wipes away the bead of sweat from her brow. She remains troubled, though. She still wants to go outside. She wants to see even more of the world regardless of Claire and her father's warnings and advice. There is something so exhilarating about it all and Shilo can't quite place her finger upon it.

Then, she recalls Claire's words. Innocence is a kind of insanity. It's a quote. Shilo's certain of that much. She makes a mental note to look it up one day in the future, but the words are undeniably true. Her innocence and naivety of this world has slowly begun to drive her mad. She's right. She's right and she doesn't even know it… Or does she? Deep down, Shilo knew that Claire was out there, grinning once more like the Chesire Cat.

"I just want to go outside… Outside…"