The world stopped for a moment as Clay sought to understand. He found himself moving toward the door, Jewel on his tail. His trance broke only long enough to remind himself that she wasn't literally on his tail.

He felt his body warm as he burst outside, the sun doing nothing to thaw the freezing in his blood.

The barn was unnaturally silent. Not even the scuttling of barn mice could be heard; it was as if the entire place held its breath.

His friends lay sprawled as they were before, appearing in peaceful sleep. He stood frozen, staring down at them like some distant god.

"There still breathing," Jewel confirmed. "But when i shook them, they wouldn't wake." Clay stepped into the stall and knelt by the nearest person: Sunny. Her petite frame was curled in a ball, and he could hear her gently inhale and exhale.

"What could have done this?" he whispered to himself. Was it an after-effect of the ring? Or a disease that this world has? If so, why didn't it affect him? Why was he still awake?

A buzzing sound made them both jump and Jewel sheepishly pulled out a little rectangular box that seemed oddly shiney. She glanced at it and her brow darkened.

"It's my mom," she said in explanation, then touched the box and put it to her ear.

"Hello?" she said.

Clay started at her as if she had sprouted horns.

"Yes, I'm at home. Yes, I did my chores. Wait, say that again." Her face pailed. "You're in the driveway? And you need help with the groceries?" Jewel motioned with her hand for Clay to cover up his friends with hay, stifling Starflight's snores. She wagged her finger at him and he followed her into a dark room at the other end of the barn, still talking into the box. Without turning on the light she pushed him to the floor and handed him a thick blanket. In the small amount of light spilling in from the open door, he saw her mouth the command to stay, then walked out of the room. The door shut with a loud click, and Clay was alone in the darkness.

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The blackness pressed on his eyes like an invisible enemy, menacing and oppressive. The only sounds that he could hear were those of his rapid breathing and pulsing heart, thudding in his ears.

He released a sigh, and in the brief silence he heard a small release of breath. He froze.

Someone was in the room with him.

At that moment something poked him in the neck and he jumped away, yelping. A hand reached out and grasped his hair, pulling him hard enough to tear it out of his skull. Lashing out with all his strength, he heard with satisfaction a groan of pain as his fist collided with flesh. Another, more intense, prick flashed through his neck and he knew no more.

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Cold water shocked Clay from his unconsciousness, gasping and blinking away the water in his eyes. The bright florescent lights seared his eyes, reflection off the plain white walls and shiny floor. He shivered at the chill that seeped through his knees from the floor. He hands were tied tightly together with a rope to the ceiling, rubbing his skin raw. A massive hand dug into his hair and yanked his head back and he couldn't suppress a cry of pain. His eyes found a man in a white coat standing before him, grinning wickedly. His glasses glinted in the light, and his pale face contracted with the dark grey stubble on his chin.

Still grinning madly the man knelt by the still-sputtering Clay and grabbed his face, twisting it to examine it from both sides. Eventually the man let go but stayed kneeling.

"I'm so glad you're here," said the man pleasantly. He had a surprisingly gruff voice, with a note that he was fond of cynicism. "I had to restrain myself from capturing you immediately, but I think that the data we have gathered has more than made up for it."

"Who are you?" Clay growled. The man's eyes seemed to glow, and Clay was frighteningly aware that his head was still pulled back, and that his throat was openly exposed. The man smirked.

"I believe we haven't met officially, so I understand your curiosity." He stuck out his hand mockingly. "My name is Jason Henrick, Jewel's father."