My eyes opened to the same sight of fluorescent lights above. I don't know how long it has been since my own uncle locked me up. I can't quite count the days since I can't see the sun. Plus who knows how many injections they have given me. All I know is that my arms will have scars from the needles.

I heard the click of the door before it slowly opened. I looked over the best I could and saw my uncle. Ricki was behind him. They slowly walked over to me.

"Alice...Ricki has been begging me about letting you outside for your birthday. I will allow you out since you have been behaving." He said. I just stared. He began to undo my restraints and lastly took my muzzle off. Wait...today is my birthday? That means I have been in here for six months! "Happy birthday Alice."

"Come on Alice. I have a surprise for you." Ricki squealed. I nodded and walked with her. I can't quite use my voice, six months of no talking can do that.

Ricki led me outside to a table. The fresh air felt good in my lungs. The grass tickled my feet as I walked through it. I just felt so much better outside in nature. The table Ricki led me to had a cake and cards on it. I opened the card from Ricki, uncle William and aunt Danielle first. Theirs was a simple happy birthday. I then opened my parents card. Their card brought tears to my eyes.

"Dear Alice. William says that you got a horrible disease. We wish for you to get better and to please come home soon. We love you, Mom and Dad."

I smiled and gave Ricki a hug as a thank you. She also comforted me after reading my parents card. We both ate a piece of cake then sat under a shady tree. The same tree that Maya sat under when she gave me the stone.

A branch hung low. I just stared at the branch. I can tell this tree is old, and I can sense what it feels? How can I sense what the tree feels? I focused on the branch more. It slowly began to raise itself up. There was no wind and no one lifting the tree. I looked at the grass beside my hand. The blades began to wrap around my fingers. Can I control the plants? I again looked at the branch and I got an idea.

Uncle William came out to get me. I wrote down on a piece of paper, "Uncle William can you please get me a small tree for my room. It would make me happy." He smiled at me.

"Sure, I'll get an oak sapling for you." He said. I smiled and hugged him. He led me back to that room. I didn't want to go back, but I had no choice. I couldn't escape. Since Maya escaped, they probably increased security.

We got to my room and I went strait over to my bed. My expression, depressed. Uncle William noticed this.

"Alice, I will leave the muzzle off from now on." he said, trying to cheer me up. Yet it didn't work. I would be better if I wasn't restrained at all. I laid down and he strapped me onto the bed. He left the room after that. Luckily no needles came today.

About a week later, uncle William brought in the oak sapling. I thanked him with a smile.

"Still can't talk?" he asked. I shook my head. "Keep trying. Your voice will come back." He then left my room.

I grinned as he left. It's time for my escape. I focused on the sapling. It snaked its way over to my right arm's restraint. The sapling was undoing the restraint. As soon as my hand was free, I undid the other restraints.

I looked back over at the sapling. It began to twist into a crescent shape. I grabbed the sapling. A green string of light appeared from the tip of the crescent and connected to the other end. This sapling was now a bow. My plan has been perfect so far. Now comes the hard part of escaping.

I charged up an energy shot and shot the doorknob. The door slightly opened. I began to run through the halls and found the stairs. So far no alarms have been set off. I reached the first floor and headed for the front door.

"Stop!" I froze. I was almost there. I turned around and saw my uncle. "Alice, put that oak sapling down and go back to your room!" he ordered. I shook my head. I am not going back down there! I shot a quick shot at him then ran out the door, dropping the bow.

Alarms rose up and people were shouting. I ran for the woods. There was a huge bush with a small opening. I crawled into the bush and sat on the ground hugging my knees. Please don't let them find me.

The sounds of running feet blew past the bush. I was holding my breath. They are so close and I don't want to be found.

"Do you want something to protect you?" a voice in my head said. What do you mean by that? "Just call a name you want your protector to have and it will come."

A name for my protector? I will call my protector Luna.

"Luna, your protector will come when you need it too." the voice said then vanished. I looked around the small space within the bush. I was alone, but now there is a black cat with red eyes. I stared at him with confusion.

"Hello master, I am Luna." a voice said. I looked around then back at the cat. I pointed at him. "Yes master. I can talk to you using telepathy." I nodded. I began to scratch behind her ear. She rubbed against me like any cat would. So how can she protect me?

I jumped when I heard another footstep. The set of feet stopped in front of the small opening. I began to shake in fear. I stopped though when I saw Ricki. She crawled into the hole.

"Don't worry Alice. I wan to help you. I'll lead the search party to the other side of the compound. That will be your chance to run. Good luck." She grinned. I mouthed thank you and she left. For a few minutes it was quiet. I then heard Ricki.

"She ran that way, after her!" Ricki yelled. I heard all the searchers run off following Ricki. I crawled out of the bush and began to run again. Luna ran beside me.

After about ten minutes I was out of breath. I leaned against a tree. My lungs were burning. Luna was right by my feet. She began to glow white and grew to the size of a tiger. She was the same black cat with red eyes, but she grew spikes on her legs, tail and one big one on her head.

"Get on master. I can carry you." She said. I jumped onto her back and she began to run. She was running faster than a cheetah.

We soon arrived at the outskirts of Tenguu city, my home that I have missed. Luna came to a stop and I hopped off. She then reverted back to small cat size. I quickly walked through town trying to avoid anyone. I arrived home and shut the door.

No one was home, like always. I walked back to my room and changed into my night clothes. It was only seven in the evening, but I was tired. I looked down at Luna and patted my bed. She jumped up and as I laid down, she laid right beside my head. I began to drift off to sleep.

Ricki POV.

Alice...please be alright. I was successful in my part. The search group will give up by morning. Stay hidden until then. Hopefully you can find a way to help yourself.