The dark makes it hard to tell time, I had found. After all, I had been in the hole for decades until Pitri pulled me out and yet I hadn't even realized it. As we sat in the dark now though, it had an odd sense of standing still. When I was alone, time seemed to flow at odd uneven rates yet I had a feeling of it passing. Now it was like we had created a space outside of time, our hands intertwined in our little cells. Most of the time we just sat their, in silence clinging to the only other living thing. Sometimes Pitri would explore around his cell, testing the bars with tugs and taps. I, however, remained in the same spot sole for hiding in the far corner to relieve myself. I didn't try to get out using my immense strength or any other abilities. I was satisfied that this horrid place was where I belonged.

The lieutenant had returned several times, lowering himself to their level as he put it every time he came in. He'd mock us and scream things at Pitri, who calmly answered back which only fueled the lieutenant's fury. The poor man had lost he love. I still hated him, but I couldn't bring myself to want to kill him anymore. The anger was gone.

It made me wonder though, each time he visited, what love was. What did it feel like? I had never been loved in the lab, not truly anyway. They adored me and pampered me as their favorite and best toy, a prize and weapon of humanity. Still, even Ruth who cared for me deeply didn't love me I think. She loved what I stood for and offered, a chance for humans to be saved. Myself though? She probably thought I was a spoiled brat, it seemed to be a popular opinion.

Did I love Pitri? I wasn't sure. Glancing into the black to see him pacing in a hunched crouch around the cell again didn't do anything. My heart didn't pitter-patter like I had read in stories. I did feel secure and wanted though looking at him. He had stuck by me despite everything and it was comforting to know that I had a friend. Watching him, a sickening pit opened up in my stomach sucking at my numbness to reveal a dreaded realization. Pitri was in here with me. I knew he was in here, but he was really in here as in if I didn't get us out he would die in here while I just sat by, watching.

I stood up in a rush causing me to bump my head on the low ceiling and a wave of dizziness to wash over me. Staggering back, I held my head and leaned into the bars. Pitri closed the distant between us, raising a hand out and through the bars. I shook my head, making him back off and hover instead. I drew a heavy breath, taking in the horrible stench we had been living in and I had tuned out in my numbness.

"We are getting out of here, now."

The bars were unyielding and even seemed to fight back against my attempts. When I pushed, they pulled and when I pried, they bent. Nothing making any sense, the magic of the Other's gate was strong and lingering in the bars.

"I don't get it. If Others can pass through the gate, shouldn't it...I don't know listen to you or something? Not try to keep you in." Pitri mused, watching me struggle, curious.

"Tell that to the stupid bars." I leaned over, going so far as trying to chew through them with my teeth to no avail. This was getting rather annoying.

"Why the sudden vigor for becoming an escape artist?"

"Cause I don't want you to die in here." I kicked at the bars then tried hanging off them, using all my weight and strength to try and force them from the wall.

Pitri was quiet for a moment, before he answered a serious tone drawing my attention. "Alice, does that mean you didn't care if you died?"

I slide down the bars, plopping out the ground. At this point I had become so covered in the muck, I doubt I could ever get clean.

"It's not that. I just didn't care if I existed I suppose."

"How's that any different?"

"Dying means a finality and ending. Cease of existence, well there are many ways for that to happen. If I just remained here the rest of my life, I'd effectively stop existing outside these bars. And why should I care if that happens? No one out there wants me and I don't even know if I want them to want me anymore."

"Oh Alice," He sighed, sad and dejected at my reply.

The bars were cool beneath my skin. Four walls, made of bars with two that were shared walls with another cell. That really wasn't helpful though. I turned around to grasp them, twisting my hands on the metal and grinding my teeth in time. My feet sank deeper, until they rested on the ground. Wait, that was it. I was standing on the ground, solid ground. We weren't in some kind of cube prison. The bars weren't above or below.

"Up or down?" I questioned, tilting backwards to gaze at Pitri.

He raised an eyebrow, confusion evident all over his face before it slacked the truth slowly dawning. His head jerked back as he looked to the ceiling, he stood up, careful not to hit his head, and touched the top of our prison. Scratching and closing his fist, a small amount of dirt sprinkled down with the motion. Bringing it up to his face, he sniffed it.

"It isn't purely from the gate, there is some definite cement mixed in there. I have a feeling the gate is what is making it so eroded like that."

"They tried to be smart and seal us in from all side in a different way."

"But that'll be their undoing." I finished with a wary but genuine smile. "Up then?"

He nodded, stepping as far as he could from me in the enclosed space. "Just don't bury me, yeah?"

I crouched down, my legs burning from lack of use. I would get us out of here though. I started screaming, drawing enormous amounts of air into my lungs to release the inhuman shriek I had often associated with using my abilities. Pitri clapped his hands over his ears, his face contorted with pain. Warmth flowed down my face, I wondered what color it was.

The scream peeked as I launched myself into the air and crunched both fists into the ceiling. My bones snapped beneath the resisting pressure. I wouldn't be beaten though, not with Pitri's life on the line. My shriek turned into a roar as fire poured from my mouth melting at the barrier to our freedom. I pushed and melted my way up, dragging myself out. And suddenly, I was free.

Gasping for breath, I flopped over onto soft grass. I ran my fingers through it, ripping out a handful to blow away in the wind. I had done it. I flipped over, crawling a couple feet over to begin again. But my flames weren't coming and my hands were mangled messes unable to heal properly without being set. I hiccuped out a sob in fear. I went back to the hole, leaning into it.

"Pitri! I can't make anymore fire! What do I do?" My voice broke with each word, desperate upon realizing my own mistake and incompetence.

"Alice it's okay. Listen to me carefully. You need to run!"

"No, I can't not without you! I'll...I'll come back down. We'll find another way out together. We can try again another day. Or I can go storm through the mine! Yeah, I'll go find the lieutenant and force him to let you go." I jumped up, ready to go.

"No Alice! You need to leave! It won't work. If you come back down here, they'll just kill us both and if you go storm the fort they'll kill you in your weakened state."

I sobbed, falling back to the ground. Blood and tears cascading down my face as my heart was ripped apart. Was this what love felt like? I didn't like this feeling.

"Pitri no, I can't! I can't leave or they'll just kill you for me escaping."

He was quiet for a while before he said words that hurt far more than even the red words. "I know."

"But, but, but...I'm your Alice. You said I could be yours and that makes you mine." I was a blubbering mess, anyone could sneak up on me and I'd never know. "I need you!"

"No you don't Alice. However, the world needs you. You've seen how messed up a place it is. It needs to be saved, just not how you think. You can't save it by killing people, Others or humans. You need to help facilitate peace. You can be the bridge between people."

"I don't want to. I don't want to be anyone's savior anymore. I don't want to be their Alice or everyone's Alice even. I just want to be yours!" I buried my face in my hands, my entire body shaking with pain and unraveling. "You're my only friend."

"I know and you are mine. You are far more important than some clipped half-breed harpy. Now please, as my friend run."

I got up, a walking pile of tears and heartache.

"I think I love you Pitri." I whispered and then ran his voice egging me on.

I no longer wanted to know what love was.