The girl sat with her back against a tree, her horse digging for grass in the snow close to a small, frozen, stream. She was crying, deep sobs coming from her chest as her body moved with each shaking breath. The movement masked her shivering.

She had been there for some time, the falling snow had covered her tracks long ago, yet the girl hadn't moved except to feed the horse oats from the saddlebag. The sky was growing gray as the girl cried, but she made no move to leave. She was here for a reason. Her emotions had been building for well over a week now, but she kept them buried, quiet as her family mourned around her. She stayed strong, stoic as she made the arrangements with the funeral home, accepted condolences from those who sent letters and others who had attended the wake, and finally picked a spot where her mother would be buried.

She had stood behind her father, holding the hands of her brother and sister as her mother was lowered into the ground. She didn't cry as, shovel by shovel, her mother was buried under the red-brown soil. No tears escaped her as the family climbed into the carriage and rode silently home, or when her father locked himself in her parent's room.

That night her sister had crawled into her older sister's bed instead of her own, and their brother eventually took the younger sisters bed, not wanting to be alone. The two younger siblings fell asleep eventually, but not the eldest. She laid awake until the sky had started to lighten and the birds started singing.

She had slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb her siblings, dressed warmly, and then took the horse, riding until she found a spot well out of town, next to the stream she was now sitting beside.

There was a stillness in the air as snow fell, the flakes turning into clumps as it covered everything. Birds were silent, there were no squirrels jumping branch to branch, nothing at all to indicate that during the summer this large cluster of trees was teeming with life.

Suddenly, the girl screamed, and with her scream, a blast of power radiated from her. The snow close to her was pushed back, bare branches on the trees rustled, and the horse stumbled closer to the stream, as if pushed. And then the girl stopped screaming, and everything was still. Nothing moved, not the horse, nor the snow that had stopped mid-air at the girl's exclamation. Only the girl, her body heaving with sobs, moved. There was no other noise but the cracks of the girl's heart as it broke into pieces.

It took some time, but the girl's crying dwindled, and finally she got up, climbed onto the horse, and rode back towards home. She only hoped she could be fast enough to get to the city before the sun was completely gone.

There were tears on Sigyn's face when she woke, her eyes puffed and her lids and cheeks stiff. The book, no longer clutched to her chest, was on the floor. Sigyn reached to pick it up wiping her tears from her face as she did. Her dream had been another memory, another large fragment falling into place among small pieces. It had been buried deep, almost as deep as the memory of Doctor Barret's first day torturing her.

These memories of her family, family she knew had to have existed but hadn't remembered in some time, were pulling at her thoughts. There was something important her mind was trying to tell her, though she didn't know what. Remembering her past was important for some reason, though she wasn't sure of how that was going to help her out of this cell.

She got out of bed, laid the book on the blankets, and sat in the middle of her cell, legs crossed. Her shields were up, her mind having gone unaffected for another night. Not that there would be anyone to affect her mind in this place.

But she could feel a large group of people around her cell, more specifically in the room next door with that chair and the cube. There were four of them, six more in the hallway, two walking away, two walking toward, and the other one standing across from her door. It must have something to do with the blue cube and how it had affected her the day before. But Sigyn, knowing that she shouldn't worry about it until it happened, got up, opened the door to her compartment, and pulled out her breakfast.

There was bacon, a biscuit, and two pancakes. Sigyn had never been more happy to see little flat food. She savored every bite she put in her mouth, chewing until it was mush.

Brushing her hair didn't take so long after she unbraided it, though she did pull it back into a braid after it was brushed, not wanting to bother with keeping it under control. She stretched, testing her flexibility, before picking the book back up and reading.

She had read almost a hundred pages when a loud noise from the room next door made her jump. She couldn't help but stand and walk to the door that looked out into the hallway, the book hanging from her fingertips. The window was high in the door, but Sigyn, standing as tall as she could on her toes was able to see out.

More people had come while she was reading, and she could see at least five in the hallway directly outside her cell. Others were going in and out of the other room, many walking back and forth down the hallway carrying various objects. She cast out with her mind, trying to find out exactly how many people were there, and was surprised to feel at least twenty working in and around that room. She could feel the collective ache of bones as the workday came to an end, but several people were full of pride and felt accomplished. One of those minds was Doctor Barrett.

Her mind shied away from his instantly, and she built up her shields again trying to block out that terrible man. When she was done, and she returned to looking back out her window she was surprised to see a face staring right back at her.

She jumped back, scared and surprised at the sudden appearance of a woman staring into her eyes. She tripped over her own feet, falling back and the book flinging across the room. She landed hard, but her eyes followed the book as it hit the floor, some of the pages folded and bent. Sigyn scrambled towards it, as if getting to it faster would lessen the damage done to the pages, and picked the book up. She leafed through the book, turning the pages until she found the last one she had read, unfolding those damaged when it fell.

She looked up, feeling eyes on her as she stood. It was the woman who's face had been so close to hers, the woman who had scared her. She was the woman she had seen when she had been first brought to this cell, the one standing with the two other men. From her memory, fuzzy and confusing because of the malnourishment she had been recovering from, this woman had seemed the most kind. She had been the one who wanted to help her, who wanted to do something to make her painless.

Unconsciously Sigyn pulled the book up to her chest, holding it tight as the woman looked at her, then around the cell she was in, then the book she held so close. The woman's face softened, and even though she probably shouldn't have, Sigyn lowered her shields just enough to feel the woman's emotions.

The woman was sad, sad for Sigyn's condition, but there was a bit of happiness at the improvement she had made. There was hope there, that Sigyn would survive, that she wasn't as damaged beyond repair as the woman had first thought when looking at her. But mostly, overwhelmingly, was the happiness that the woman felt as she watched Sigyn hug the book close to her chest.

The woman smiled and there was hope in it. And though Sigyn knew this was one of the people that was keeping her here, she couldn't help but give a very small smile back.

But there was another loud sound, one that banged directly against the wall that bordered her cell to the other room. Sigyn jumped, stumbling back towards her bed, the shield around her mind slamming up. The sound came once again, and Sigyn, having nowhere to go, climbed under her blankets and tried to block out the sounds as she read.

The sounds stopped eventually, and when they did she could feel all the people that had been around her cell leave. When they had been gone for some time she stood, going over to the compartment and took the tray of food resting inside. She ate quickly, forcing herself to eat the last few bites only because she wasn't sure if there would be a breakfast tomorrow.

She laid the book next to her pillow as she curled up under the blankets once more. The lights hadn't even dimmed by the time she fell asleep.

The next morning, another surprise was in the compartment. A book, and it was by the same author as the first. Sigyn discovered that this new book was the second in a series of books. The one she had, the first, she had almost completed. So after Sigyn ate, meditated and exercise, she finished the first book, gently placing it at the head of her mattress, pushing it against the wall.

But, before she started the next book, she knew she needed to continue the practice she had slacked on for the past few days. She found that forming seeds of emotions, as she had done with anger and fear before, had become much easier. True happiness was an emotion that still gave her trouble, along with contentment and calm. Those would take some time, weeks, possibly even months, for her to finally master. She would have to continue to practice but there were also other thinks she could try.

She started by stretching her awareness farther, reaching her mind out as far as she could without damaging herself. The process of stretching was time-consuming and difficult to gage. Without actually being able to mark how far her mind reached, it would be impossible to tell if she was succeeding. Stretching her awareness as far as she could take just as long as mastering those emotions she had been having such trouble with. Sigyn only hoped there would be someone near enough to her cell so that she would be able to gauge if she had made progress.

She started the second book, stretching her mind each time she finished a chapter, until a hiss of air interrupted the quiet of the cell.

Sigyn looked up, finding the door that lead to the next room open, though from what she could see the room looked completely different. Curiously, she stood from her spot, set the book on the mattress, and stepped through the doorway.

The room was much different than it had been. The chair had been replaced by one that looked relatively comfortable. It was a simple armchair, plush and black, but warm and inviting. There were also two black panels on the wall opposite of the door that led to her cell. Sigyn also noticed the cameras, the two in the same corner she had spotted them before, but also two others in the remaining corners as well. Instead of the sterile white walls, they had been painted a darker cream color. Subtle yet much more comfortable. The lighting was different as well, softer than it had been only hours before. The changes that had been done to the room made it much more enjoyable to be in.

Sigyn took a step towards the chair, and wasn't at all surprised by the sound of the door closing behind her. She was, however, surprised when Doctor Barrett's face suddenly popped up on one of the black screens.

"Hello, Sigyn." The doctor's mouth moved and the sound of his voice was projected through the room. Sigyn, already afraid of the doctor, and startled by his sudden appearance, ran to the corner farthest from his face and dropped to the ground.

"Now, now," his voice said, echoing in her ears as she closed her eyes to block out the sight of his face. "There is no need to feel afraid. Don't you like how we redecorated the room? It should be much more comfortable."

She didn't answer.

"Ah, I see you are going to be difficult. If it were up to me I would find ways to pursue you, but it isn't my decision." The man sighed, and still, she didn't move. Doctor Barrett continued speaking. "I will give you a series of instructions that you are required to follow. Until you complete those instructions you will not be able to return to your room. Do you understand?" He only paused for a moment before continuing.

"Now, I'm sure you remember what happened two days ago with that cube. Everyone was very impressed with the way you reacted to the cube and those in charge want to see what else will happen when you are exposed to it. When the door opens, just as it did today, you will come in here and sit in the chair. The cube will be brought to you, just as before, and you will do whatever it was you did two days ago to make that cube react. Do you have any questions? No? I look forward to seeing what you do next."

Just as suddenly as his face had appeared, it was gone.

It took some time before Sigyn was able to stand, let alone walk to the comfortable looking chair. She didn't want to follow Doctor Barrett's instructions, but she didn't see much of an alternative. When she finally was able to make it to the chair and sit, she curled up, hoping that Doctor Barrett wouldn't bother her again.

But the lights slowly dimmed until they were a pleasant and soothing glow. The small door, where the cube had been last time, opened. The cube was still there, but Sigyn didn't wait for it to come to her. Instead, she stood and walked to the little door. She reached out, touching the cube with her fingertips.

Nothing happened, but Sigyn would have been surprised if something had. The connection she had with the cube was mental. Physical contact would only strengthen the connection, not cause one. Sigyn, following her instinct, picked up the cube, went back to the chair and sat down. She rested the cube in her lap, shifting until she was comfortable, before stretching her mind out towards the blue fire within the cube.

The object, the thing, the presence, whatever it was, welcomed Sigyn's mind. The emotions didn't overwhelm her mind as before, but they were much more of the emotions she was used to. There was still a different feeling to them, but Sigyn could understand what the cube wanted her to know.

It was telling her to trust it, that if she was able to get through everything it wanted to show her, that if she survived, she would be out of this place, she would be free, and she would have the power to take revenge on those who had dared to keep her locked up if she wished it.

Even if Sigyn hadn't chosen to trust the cube, she would have been forced to bow to it. The cube needed her to leave this place as well. It knew that in the hands of these people it would be abused, and nothing good could come of it.

So the two became partners, each needing each other to succeed in their own goals, but they were working for the same thing. The cube knew it was going to be a hard road, that there would still be many decisions that Sigyn would have to make to keep everything on track, but decisions were never easy for those who had the power to change the world.

Unexpectedly, Sigyn felt a rush of power from the cube. She closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the power that was racing through her mind, and feeling dizzy from the sudden blast. She only opened her eyes when everything had stopped.

She was in a different place, not in the same room with the cube, but in a cell, one completely different than her own. This one had bars on one side, and the other three walls were rock. There wasn't much there, a pile of blankets in a corner, the remains of a meal in a bowl. A bucket sat against one of the stone walls.

In the distance was a sound of a large door opening and the sound of feet walking quickly towards her. Only a few moments later three people appeared at the bars of the cell, two armored, and a third staggering between them. The armored ones weren't really people, or at least Sigyn determined there was no way they were human. They were large beings, gray with muscle and just completely different from anyone, or anything, she had ever seen before. Sigyn moved to a back corner of the cell, the corner without the pile of blankets, not wanting to be seen by those fierce-looking things.

One of the guards pulled open a door in the bars and shoved the normal-looking man in. He stumbled, almost falling, but caught himself and stood straight. He turned back to the guards who were locking the door.

"It was a pleasure as always, gentlemen," he said in a smooth and cool voice. "I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow."

The two armored guards just grumbled before moving away.

Sigyn studied the back of the man as he continued to look towards the bars of the cell. He was tall, at least a head and a half taller than her small stature. His hair was black, reaching his shoulders in tangled strands, and he was slim, yet there was a hint of strength there as well.

If this man was locked in this cell and couldn't find a way out then she knew her own cell would be impossible to escape. The security and the doors in her place of residence left no way out. At least this cell had bars that could be broken through. It would take time but it was possible.

"I wasn't told that I would be sharing my cell with another person."

Sigyn jumped at the sound of his voice, and her eyes turned from the bars back to the man. His eyes were a light blue, piercing as they watched her.

"Did you not hear my question?" He sounded annoyed and Sigyn reached out with her mind on instinct.

But there was nothing. She couldn't feel anything from him, and she couldn't tell if anyone else was around her either. Where ever she was, it seemed that her abilities were suppressed. She had never encountered a place, natural or manmade, that had ever caused her abilities to be rendered useless.

"I'm still waiting," the man said, taking several steps towards her. On instinct and fear, Sigyn took two steps back, pressing herself against the rock wall.

"So they put me in with a simpering, cowering, useless girl. At least there won't be any fighting over who sleeps on the pile of dirty rags." His voice, still smooth, was cold and mean. There was a venom underneath, a pain that Sigyn had grown to know well in the time she had lived. It was a voice full of self-hatred.

He turned away from her, stalking to the pile of blankets he had mentioned just moments before, and sat down on top of them, facing the bars. She sat as well, seeing no reason to remain standing if he wasn't going to attack her.

They sat there a long time, the man watching the world outside the bars as Sigyn watched him, worried that he would do something to hurt her. The light in the room slowly grew dim, and finally, the man looked at her. He watched her for several moments before he opened his mouth. But Sigyn didn't hear anything as blood rushed to her ears and she felt a trickle of something wet run down her lip. She put her hand up to her nose, pulling it away to see red on her fingertips. Her eyes turned back towards the man, seeing his surprise and the reflection of a blue light in his eyes.

And then she was back in the room with the cube.