I dedicate this chapter to Cynthia Darling!

Thanks for putting up with us for so long and being so nice!

I sat in front of a surprisingly beautiful woman with long, flowing brown hair and eyes that melted into chocolate pools. Her skin was pale, but had endured enough sun to give it a hint of darkness. The only evidence that she lived in such a horrible place, was dark bags hanging under her eyes, and a dress, in tatters, made of what looked like a ship's sail. Her shoulders slumped forward, and her arms and legs were covered in large scratches and bruises.

"So," I finally said, "what's your real name?"

The woman looked up silently and opened her rose red lips, as if to say something, but quickly closed them and shook her head.

"Well, it can't really be Edna, can it?"

The woman looked down and shook her head.

"So what is it?"

She looked at me sadly, and put her hand over her chest, right over her heart.

"Love?" I asked, confused.

The woman looked down and shook her head. She seemed disappointed, and sad, but I didn't know why.

"Well, my name's Aednat."

The woman smiled lightly, as if she remembered a funny joke.

I was about to ask why, but I heard the clatter of pots and pans and thought of Winter.

I wonder what she's doing.

I wonder what Chet's doing.

Probably cooking.

Probably slaving away.

I'm going to go see how she's doing.

I wish I could see how he's doing.

Shut up.

You know I won't.

"Can we, um, go into that other room?" I asked the woman.

The woman shrugged, like she'd never tried. Ignoring that, I went in. The room was the same as all the others, made of brick and covered in dust with only a torch to light it, but it was more like a kitchen. It had a long table in the front, a pile of food, that looked worse than pig intestines, and a dying fire with a pot of water on top of it. Winter was sitting at the pot, obviously trying to prepare something, but failing. I could tell the water wasn't warm enough.

"Here, let me help with that." I said as I walked towards the weak fire.

"Aednat!" Winter exclaimed as she saw me walk towards her.

"Hi." I said as I hugged my sister, "How are you doing… here."

"Good, good. I'd introduce you to Salina, but she must be doing something right now."

"Salina?" I asked as I lit the fire under the pot.

"Oh, that's Gertrude's real name."

"Oh, okay."

I wanted to ask her more, but I saw her staring, longingly at the water.

She's probably thinking about Calder. I thought, I hope they made up.

Seeing Winter's sad expression, I assumed so.

"I wonder how he's doing." she sighed as she stirred the water in circles.

"I'm sure he's fine, he's strong, you know." I said hoping to cheer her up.

Her expression didn't change, if anything; she looked worse.

"And, I'm sure he's missing you." I said quickly, as it was the only thing I could think of.

Her expression perked up at the thought. "Yeah, probably."

I started to leave, to leave Winter alone.

"So, how do you think Chet is?"

I stopped. "I'm sure he's fine."

"I bet he misses you." Winter said slyly.

"I doubt it."

"But you miss him."

I paused. "No."

"You hesitated."

[LOL!]

"No! No, I didn't."

"You like him." Winter teased

I wanted to slap her, but before I could, a loud rumbling came from the other room.

"Here! You should take this to him." she said as she quickly handed me a giant plate full of-

What is that? Pig intestines? That was my least horrifying guess.

I slowly walked out of the room, reluctant to leave. I really didn't want to go anywhere near that Cyclops again. I hated him, especially since he named me Dreshawn. Nevertheless, I walked into the Cyclops's room. I held the plate as far away from me as possible, and slowly walked towards the Cyclops. When I was about to reach him, I tripped on my own chain, fell to the ground, and he food flew everywhere, especially on the Cyclops's face. The woman called Edna ran to my side and helped me up.

"You pesky parasite!" the Cyclops yelled as he realized what I had done.

"I'm sorr.." I tried to say.

"I'm tired of you Dreshawn! I have a server, but I don't need you."

He lifted his club, and I prepared for the hit, but Edna ran in front of me, and blocked the Cyclops's way.

"Edna, out of my way!" he yelled.

Edna shook her head and stood her ground. I was relieved and admired Edna's bravery. I tried to thank her, but before I could, the Cyclops let his club fall. Right then, time slowed. The Cyclops's face was in an angry yell and his club neared Edna. Edna had no change in expression, the expression of defiance was glued to her face and fire seemed to dance in her eyes. Then the Club struck her. It hit Edna with so much force, hat I heard a large crack, and Edna slammed into the wall, and cracks appeared.

"Edna!" I screamed and ran to her side.

Blood dripped from the side of her head and her eyes were foggy. As I held her, her skin got clammy and it turned colder and colder with every moment. Her skin grew pale, and she lifted a weak hand up. I grasped it tightly as tears of fire started dripping down my cheek.

"Oh, Edna tha…" I started to whisper.

"Faith." the woman weakly said.

"W-what?"

"That's my real name, Faith."

"O-okay, Faith." I said, my voice shaking, "Thank you, for saving me."

Faith smiled. "I had to, I see fire inside you, just like your name."

"Well, yeah, I mean, I have fire pow…" I started to tell her.

"And I don't mean your powers."

"How did you…"

"I have my ways."

"Oh."

"Listen, Aednat, you need to escape." Faith said silently as her voice started to die. "Find the fountain, talk to your parents, and finish your quest."

"I will."

"I have faith in you, Aednat, and you need to have faith in yourself, in your friends. I have faith in you, have faith in yourself."

With that last sentence, Faith fell limp in my arms, dead. I had only known her for less than a day, and she saved me. Waterfalls of flame now fell from my eyes and I held Faith close to me. Her body started to dissolve into white specks that lifted from my arms. They created a white angle, with beautiful golden wings, and wearing an orange dress that seemed to engulf her in flames. Though in a different form, it was still her, Faith, the thing we need most. The angle smiled at me, just like she did before, and disappeared.

I stood up slowly and walked back to where I was before I was Dreshawn, before I met Faith, and before I had faith in myself. I stared into the Cyclops's eye, and his look of triumph, slowly melted into fear. I called a large ball of fire, and shot it at him. The Cyclops gasped, but sighed in relief as it landed just above him.

Not yet. I told myself.

With that, I walked back into my little cave, planning my escape.

Review Responses:

ElsaAnnaSnowQueen: Hehe, yeah, and P.S. my twin lied

Cynthia Darling: Thanks so much!

Sundedth: Yeah, but that's partially my fault, you know the real me, for not editing fast enough!

P.S. Sorry, my twin lied! Though, she didn't know it.