Don't run.

The singular thought whispers through my mind, then slips away as I stroll down the cobblestone street. I wear a strapless, blood-red dress. The worn, fraying satin conforms tightly to my bosom, then flares beneath my waist, rippling past my ankles and sweeping across the stones as I walk. My feet are bare, and the cobblestone tugs roughly at their soles as I continue at a slow, tired pace.

A thought prods at the inside of my head; a remnant of something important that I seem to have forgotten. What was it?

I'm left no time to ponder the matter, as a hand suddenly grabs mine. Pivoting, I come face to face with an old man. He offers me a leering grin of crooked, stained teeth, crowned with a sallow gaze. "Some fresh bread for a such a fine young lady?" he asks. There's something dreadfully wrong with his voice. It whines in a manner that borders on mechanical, and inhuman.

"N-no," I answer shakily, my eyes wide.

I tear myself away from the man's unseemly grip, striding away quickly with a suspicious glance at the other vendors that line the street. I spot a strange woman harboring a harsh, yellow-eyed glare in my direction, and I veer to the other side of the street. There, I'm approached by a young boy. I blink, then shriek in terror as I realize he has no mouth.

"What is this?" I cry into the crowd, only to be met with blank stares. The passerby begin to press towards me as I flee further down the road, tears of fear and confusion pricking at the corners of my eyes. The sky is cloudy and threatened by thunder, rumbling ominously in the distance. There's an inexplicable chill in the air, and I shiver.

A dog leaps from behind a nearby trash bin. It opens its mouth, releasing a trembling caterwaul that doesn't fit its kind. Instinctively, I recoil, and quicken my steps into a brisk jog.

Then suddenly, I hear it: a whisper across the wind.

"Anna?"

I screech to a halt. The voice. The name. I know them both. They belong... to me?

"H-hello?" I call into the sky. "Who's there?"

"Anna?!" the voice repeats, more insistent this time.

"Who are you?" I shout, glancing wildly all around, searching for some sort of sign. Anything to clear the maddening haze settling over my mind. The voice answers, but I can't quite make out the words.

My vision begins to spin, and the world around me with it as I stagger quickly across the cobblestone. The bakery to my left starts to dip into the pavement, while the shop next to it implodes within itself. A woman walking up ahead suddenly freezes in time, then disappears in a flash. I stare in horror as the other passerby follow in her footsteps, dissipating into the air, one by one.

I am alone. Sprinting down the boulevard, I call for help. For everyone, and anyone.

"Anna."

This time, the name hits me like a slap in the face. My mouth slips open, drawing in a sharp breath. Adrenaline surges through my veins, and I burst forward with renewed energy.

In starts to return to me as I run. First in slow, gentle raindrops, then in a titanic flood that flows through every wayward inch of my mind. The attacks, the ship, the cells. The tests. Oh, the tests. It's all so clear, the visions in my head.

And then... Him.

Suddenly, despite the chaos enveloping me, I smile. An impish grin slithers up the sides of my face, and a delighted, bubbling laugh escapes from my lips as I run freely through the collapsing street. The name comes to me in a moment of vivid clarity, sliding off my tongue with ease as I look to the heavens.

"Jack!" I cry with relief and joy.

"Anna?!" the voice responds, as strong and familiar as the air itself. "Anna, can you hear me?"

"I can hear you!" I say, slowing my strides ever so slightly as I peruse the area surrounding me. "Where are you?"

"I'm right beside you."

The words are said with such confidence, yet as I whirl my head to the left, then the right, I see nothing. Only the musty air and wisps of steam rising from the cracks in the road. The voice is growing more distant as each moment passes.

"Jack!" I scream, dodging out of the way of a lamppost that suddenly splits into two. "Jack, don't leave me!"

"Listen to my voice, Anna!" Jack answers. His words hover tauntingly, just out of reach.

"I...I can't... I can't get out!" I reply, stumbling breathlessly along the avenue.

"Yes, you can!" Jack responds. "Just keep going!"

"I can't... I can't see you..." I murmur, wheezing as I dart around the corner of the winding road. I release a short yelp as a mound of bricks suddenly flies from the building beside of me, narrowly missing my head.

"I'm right here," says Jack. "I'm not going anywhere." The warmth of his tone gives me a rush of strength.

I duck underneath the volley of bricks and mortar, struggling to keep my pace steady as the street bends and twists relentlessly underneath my feet. I run, faster than I've ever run before. I do not know where I am running, only that I mustn't stop. I can sense the world around me starting to crack, the edges folding in upon itself as the havoc around me grows and expands with each perishing moment. Buildings crumble, sidewalks leap into the sky, and the cobblestone beneath me ripples and moves like a beast waiting to strike.

Then, like a brush across a canvas, I feel a mere ghost of a touch against my cheek. A rough, yet gentle hand, caressing my skin. For just a brief, shimmering moment, I feel him.

The sky suddenly goes black. All around me, the world changes. Instead of a chaotic street of falling buildings and the like, I see wires and levers and flashing screens, a gleaming horde of ebony and silver.

In the blink of an eye, it's gone.

My breath catches in my throat. I trip over a loose stone, tumbling to the ground in a heap of stained satin. Growling irritably, I rip the lower half of the dress, just above the knees, tossing aside the spare fabric with a grimace. I scramble to my feet, rushing onward without a second thought.

My heart pounds, blood rushing to my head as I push myself, harder, faster, yet to no avail.

"Let me out!" I shout, my voice nothing more than a simple shade in the nothingness of the world around me.

Then suddenly, the road in front of me breaks apart. The pavement plunges into a dark, bottomless abyss. I cry out in terror, attempting to slow my steps. My efforts are in vain, and I find myself toppling over the edge.

I'm falling, hopelessly, irreversibly. I shut my eyes as my screams fly, echoing against the invisible walls of this new prison. The wind rushes past, cold and unforgiving. I can feel my mind starting to merge with the darkness, as all thoughts and realms of consciousness are grasped and pulled away by unseen hands.

"Anna."

The voice is quiet, barely discernible against the onslaught of air, yet there nonetheless. I feel a surge within me. My eyes soar open.

No longer am I falling. Suspended in space, surrounded by nothingness, I breathe hesitantly, then with more sturdiness as my strength returns. I can feel Them, tugging desperately at every part of my being. I can sense the erasure within my mind, clawing at my soul. I can hear the forgotten words, shoved into my brain yet again; the simple instruction I could never adhere to.

The storm rages. I resist, fighting for every memory, every thought, every essence of myself that I hold dear. Gritting my teeth, I release a cry of pain and fury. The choking grip loosens. I bellow louder, making my voice heard all throughout the abyss. The world around me starts to turn to gray. Unwittingly, I find myself laughing as the chains entrapping my mind begin to unwind.

Before the end, I hear one last word, softer than a summer's breeze.

"Anna."

I awaken with a gasp, leaping upright. My head spins, and I struggle to make sense of my surroundings. The first thing I notice is the tangle of wires attached to my face, neck, and arms.

The second thing to grapple for my attention is the man standing next to me.

His rugged face is painted with black spots; some sort of blood. Dark hair falls over his brow, and darker eyes pierce into mine with a look of both shock and elation. I simply stare for a moment, awe-struck. He's here. He's truly here.

"Jack?" I whisper hoarsely, joyful tears cascading down my cheeks.

Before I can utter another word, he's practically dragging me into a crushing embrace. I throw my arms around his neck, breathing in the musky scent of his tattered shirt. We hold on to one another for a long moment, before I tentatively pull away.

"How did you -"

"Long story," Jack interrupts, setting to work on releasing me from the wires. "What's important is that I found you, and that you're safe." I can't help but smirk as I swing my legs over the side of the gurney.

"And to think you were handed a golden opportunity to cancel the wedding," I tease as he hoists me from the bed, setting me down on the floor.

"I wouldn't cancel it for the world," he responds, sliding an arm around my waist to steady me. I'm a little wobbly at first, but I quickly find my bearings.

"We have to get out of here," I murmur as the distant sound of sirens reaches my ears. We reach the door of the testing room, peering out into the hall beyond.

"What do we do?" asks Jack.

I smile.

"Run."