He's going to try again.

Nothing's going to stop him.

From shattering me.

Breaking my resolve and will. Breaking me.

Scattered here, there, some part of me there, staining the wall.

And I can't stop him. Nobody can. Nobody can resist pure evil.

But even if I do die, I'll have somebody to carry on my dreams. My hope. My fight.

"Stop staring at the wall. It's freaky, really."

I turn my head. Hello, Rissa.

"Hi." She seats herself next to me. "That telepathic thing is creepy too."

Thanks. That just made my day.

"You're welcome." She snorts. "Guess who got a new roomie?"

I sigh. You.

"Hey, it's no fun if you don't play the game, am I right?" She playfully punches me on the shoulder.

I grin, rubbing my (somewhat) bruised arm. All right. Lead the way.

"Her name's Tansy."

I sigh and turn my eyes to the minty-haired girl watching us avidly. She stares boldly back, fixing me in the glare of her green eyes.

Hi. I'm really tired of doing this to other people, so let's just get this straight. Do you want to be here?

Sarcasm and a feeling of anger. "She doesn't want to be here," I murmur.

Do you want the humans to die?

Hesitation, but a feeling of distress.

"She also wants to keep the humans alive."

"Geez, how are you doing this?" Rissa.

I looked over at Aspen. I've not forgotten you.

Aspen smirks and waves. I return the gesture hesitantly, and she settles down to glare at some Enhanced recruits staring at her from her right. Suddenly, her whole being shudders, and a reddish wolf settles down to take a rest. The recruits avoid their eyes.

I didn't know she could change her shape. Must be her Enhancement.

Not that it was a gift. I sigh and push my hair back. A faint ache was spreading from my temples outwards.

Tansy. Do you want to escape?

A solid feeling of agreement hits me. I sigh with relief and sink back down.

We're gonna get out of this place together. I send the message to the three girls around me.

The wolf looks up and bares her teeth in a possibly feral grin, but a grin nonetheless. Aspen morphs back into her human form and looks up at me, her teeth bared in that same smile. She sends a feeling back at me. I can almost read it, it's so strong.

Well, Miss Whatever-Your-Name-Is. How do we do that?

I look around. Tansy is looking at me with determination, and Rissa is grinning.

I make a decision.

I've got a plan.

But if I lose anyone else, I'll break apart.