The elevator opened on the third floor and spit out a very nervous Raven. Her little heart fluttered. She examined the directional sign across from her, then hurried off to the right. The polished white corridor was lined with mahogany office doors with frosted windows. They were lettered in gold, but she was too nervous to peruse them. She had never been this high in the building before. Her office was on the first floor, and she never had reason to wander.

Her sneakers felt out of place in such a clean facility. She always felt so under-dressed here in her sage green scrubs and sneakers next to all these bureaucrats and scientists. She couldn't imagine what went on behind those doors.

Human Resources was at the end of the hall on her left, the door identical to all she had passed but for its label. Three deep breaths, and then she knocked on the glass. The second of silence after gave her another burst of anxiety.

"Come in."

Raven let herself into the small office and settled into the available plush armchair opposite the woman's desk. The other was occupied by a man in a crisp black suit who smiled politely. She returned it, then faced the coiffed human resources manager.

"Thank you for coming, Raven," she said, offering a small smile that dimpled her left cheek. "You're right on time. Are you excited for your first day?"

"I am. I'm very honoured to be able to work in the facility itself."

"They're excited to have you. Your experience in the emergency room will come in quite handy down there." She slid a folder across her desk and flipped it open. Bubblegum pink nails skimmed the first page. "Before we can send you down, though, I'll need you to read over and sign some paperwork."

"Of course."

She was offered the pages on a clip board with a gorgeous golden pen in the clip. A standard contract, a daunting nondisclosure agreement, and tax slips later, she was one step closer to her dream job. Next up, she needed to have her security badge upgraded.

"If you'll follow me," said the man, who until then had been completely silent.

They entered the hall and he led the way back toward the elevator. Raven's heart beat faster than ever. Finally, she would learn what actually went on in this place.

"My name is Martin, by the way."

"Raven, it's nice to meet you."

"Likewise. How long have you been a nurse for?"

"Nine years. This is my first time working in a private facility, though."

Martin gestured for her to enter first, so she did. He pressed the first floor button, and the doors closed a moment later. Her heart was in her throat the whole trip down.

"Firstly we need to get you a new security badge. After that, I'll show you around the facility."

He led her to the office behind the metal detectors, where a young man sat typing away at his computer. He barely spared them a glance before finishing up what he was working on. His thick glasses caught a glare from the fluorescent lighting overhead.

"How can I help you?" he asked, finally facing them.

"Ms. Day will need their security card upgraded. I have the paperwork right here."

Martin reached into his jacket and passed a folded page over to him. He read it thoroughly, twice, then nodded. His bright eyes sought Raven out.

"Step back here, please, we need a new photo."

Raven rounded the counter and took her place before the bulky camera system. "Should I smile?"

"We would rather you didn't."

Noted. She kept her face as straight and natural as possible until the shutter snapped. Blinking spots from her eyes, she joined Martin again by the door while the young man clicked away. A machine buzzed to life, then spit out a plastic card with her photo on it. It was a sleek black with gold writing to match the doors upstairs.

"There you go, level two access."

"Thank you."

She removed the old one from her lanyard and passed it over to him to be destroyed and replaced it with the new one. It shone like a beacon on her chest. She was eager to see what sorts of things it would reveal to her at long last.

The pair returned to the elevator and waited only a moment for it to arrive. Martin entered first. He had his security badge on a pulley at his waist. It whirred as he pulled it out to swipe it in the console just beneath the buttons. The reader beeped once, a green light flickered, and the elevator doors shut them in.

"Your new badge will allow you access to the lower levels. Just swipe it through here and it will take you down to the second level."

"What sort of things should I expect in my new position?"

He smiled. "It's probably best I just show you."

Nonplussed, Raven kept her questions to herself. So long as she got answers, she could wait a bit longer. She was eager to know what went on behind closed doors here. What sort of miracles were they working toward? What life-changing science would she be part of?

The elevator stopped a year later, or so it seemed. Raven struggled to remain calm as she exited to a sterile white hallway. Wonder took her. It was just a simple, plain hallway, but it held so much potential. If the hallway was this clean, the rest of it must be spotless. She could hardly wait to see what her office would look like, where she would be spending her days, what she would be doing there. It was just too exciting.

"Follow me, Ms. Day." Martin turned and strode down the hall, the short heel of his dress shoes clicking with each step. "This level is where you will spend most of your time. The majority of research is completed up here. The third level is more ... specialized. You'll see."

He stopped by a white door with a window in it, offering a view of a pristine lab with two scientists bent over their work. They barely glanced up when the two entered. It seemed to be a common theme in the facility. One was bent over a microscope, the other over a thick binder of handwritten notes.

"Gentlemen, please say hello to Raven, the nurse who was just promoted."

Reluctantly, both glanced up and offered their welcome. She returned it with a shy smile. She had no idea why she was being introduced to people, there had to be dozens of researchers on this level alone what with how big the facility was.

"Doctors Nelson and Mikkelsen will find themselves in your office on a regular basis. They are always finding creative new ways to injure themselves."

Raven joined in on the chuckling, but was glad to follow him back into the hall for the next part of the adventure. They walked to the end of the hall and followed it right. The outer side of the hallway was mostly normal doors, but the inner side was lined with iron doors that appeared to be on tracks. She was eager to ask about them, but thought it best to wait until the end, as hard as that would be. Partway down, he stopped outside a single door with the word Nurse on the frosted window. Raven grinned. She couldn't wait to see her space, her brand new equipment. It had to be brand new, right, in a place like this? Everything else was. Oh how excited she was.

Martin let her enter first, and her hands trembled as she reached for the handle. The door swung in silently, and the light switch was immediately to her left. She flicked on the lights, then gasped. There was a polished metal examination table against one wall beneath framed anatomy posters. Her desk was crisp white with a second tier behind it with plenty of space for her to put some trinkets. A brand new Acer computer sat in the stand beneath it with a set of shiny monitors. The setup stood in stark contrast to the white desk. Smooth white drawers lined the opposite wall with cabinets above and a small shelf stacked with tongue depressors, cotton balls, and bandages. Her stool had wheels and a plush leather seat that had never been touched. Everything was so shiny and fresh, and so white. The whole effect was a little overwhelming, if she was being honest.

"What do you think?" Martin asked from the doorway as Raven strolled around the room.

"It's perfect."

Martin smiled and gestured for her to follow. "You were wondering what it is we do here. If you'll follow me, I'll show you exactly that."

Raven all but skipped down the hallway to the elevator once more. They were going down to the third level, which she had thought she wouldn't get to see for a long time. It was nearly identical to the previous floor, except almost every door here was metal. Her excitement mounted. They went right this time, and Martin strode with purpose now. She had to hustle to keep up.

At the end of the hall he stopped before the last door before it branched off. Every door had a card reader beside it. Martin swiped his and beckoned her forward.

"Your card won't get you into the cells, and I don't advise you try. You will have to use the intercom when you need access." He gestured again, inviting her in as the door rushed open. "Now, please keep an open mind."

Raven chewed her lip and stepped inside. The room was surprisingly dim, the lights behind cages. There were two people in white lab coats in here, and both turned to see who had just entered. When they spotted Martin, they relaxed visibly. They stood before a huge pane of glass which partitioned off a good portion of the room. The other side was even dimmer, the light overhead flickering.

From the depths of shadow, something shifted. It lurched forward, its gaunt face catching shadows. At first, she thought it was an extremely malnourished woman, but she learned better very quickly. She unfolded from her crouch to a towering height. Supremely long legs dragged it forward, into the light proper. It scanned the room with wide, sunken black eyes. Its tiny frame was draped in dishwater rags that had once been a dress. It paused, then sucked in a huge, strained breath, and then let out the most spine-chilling scream. Through the glass, she could still hear it, a dull vibration in her head.

"That glass is soundproof."

It took a moment for the implication to sink in. Soundproof glass, and she could hear it as loudly as someone talking in the same room as her. The creature's mouth gaped four times wider than should be possible, as though she could unhinge her jaw.

"What ... what is that thing?" she stammered.

"That is a banshee. She's a creature known as a faerie," one researcher said, then paused to let it sink in. "There are hundreds of fey species here."

"W-why?"

"A few reasons, really." Martin stepped up beside her, hands clasped behind his back. "Firstly, they're incredibly dangerous. Fickle little creatures, really. They take joy in killing us. They have been doing it for centuries, for as long as we have existed. The primary goal of the facility is detention. They can't hurt us if they're restrained.

"We keep them alive for research purposes. Are you at all familiar with fey lore?"—Raven nodded—"Good. Then you know they possess very strong magic. One of a kind, really. Imagine what we could do if we could harness that power. Fey are never sick, they never develop cancer, they're immune to just about every disease out there. Imagine the possibilities."

And imagine she did. No more illness, no cancer, the ability to create at will. What more could anyone ask for? Mortality rates would be so drastically different. So many people would have a second chance at life if they could harness this power. But at what cost?

There was no time to find out. Martin gestured her along, and she hurried to keep up. This time they made their way to an office around the corner. It was home to another man in a black suit with his hair slicked back. He smiled politely when they entered and gestured for Raven to take a seat.

"Excuse me," Martin murmured and ducked out.

Alone, Raven turned nervously to the new person. "Hi, nice to meet you. My name is Raven."

"Hello, Raven, my name is Ross. I will be your direct supervisor going forward. Welcome to the team, we're excited to have you. How was the tour?"

"It was ... enlightening."

He smiled again. "Yes, I imagine so. It's a lot to take in."

"It is."

"Well, let's get right to it. I already have a task for you. I need you to go to cell 214 and mend the fey in there. She has sustained some injuries that need tending. When you're done you can go to your office and do as you please. When we need you, we'll ring or we'll show up at your door."

"Right, of course. Do I have a go bag?"

"In your office, yes, though I'm not sure where. Do hurry, we don't want her bleeding out."

"Right."

Raven made her way to her office, backtracking through the square hall system. She felt so out of place in the crisp interior. Somewhere in there was a bag of medical supplies for her. A quick dig through the cupboards revealed it quickly. She snatched it up and raced down the hallway, skimming number plates above the intercom system. Finally she stumbled upon 214, one of the many cells on her floor. She held down the intercom button.

"Hello, this is Raven, the nurse. I've been sent here to-"

The door buzzed and slid open for her mid-sentence and she stammered to a stop. This room was somewhat better lit than the last. It was also much smaller. There was no observation room here, just a series of desks on one side and a slumped woman against the opposite wall. She was restrained at her wrists and ankles by heavy iron shackles. Her head dangled, long black hair hanging stringy on all sides. Thick, black blood pooled on the floor beneath her, dripping from a series of gashes across her arms, torso, and legs.

Horrified, Raven hustled over and dropped her bag on a clear section of flooring nearby. "What happened?"

One of the researchers glanced over. "She tried to kill me, and she was punished."

"How could she possibly have tried to kill you?"

"She got a hand free." He tilted his head up to show off the purple handprint on his throat. "Nearly got me."

"Don't let her die on us, she's extremely valuable," said the other callously.

There was no time to be disgusted. Raven slapped on a pair of examination gloves and at once got to work applying pressure to the worst wounds. The woman groaned deeply and thrashed.

"I'm trying to help you!" snapped Raven, glancing up from the gash on her thigh.

The woman glowered down at her with inky black eyes. "I would rather die."

"I'm not going to let that happen."

"Right, because they said so. Typical."

"No, because you're my patient and I won't let you die on me. Let me help you."

"I don't want your help."

"That's nice."

Nonplussed, the faerie stopped her complaining and settled for glowering at Raven as she worked. Some of the wounds were deep enough to need stitching, but most could get away with a simple butterfly bandage and a bandage slapped overtop. She worked quickly to stop the bleeding and wiped up what she could.

The fey was stunning. It was impossible not to notice while she worked. Delicate yet formidable muscles strained against her restraints, glistening with sweat. Her complexion was pale, but not ghostly. Sharp features made her dark eyes severe and alarming, but her beauty was still apparent. Raven found herself a little flushed as she worked despite her normally professional persona.

For the most part, the woman appeared human, albeit supernaturally beautiful. The only thing that gave her away were the stunning lilac wings that dangled behind her. They glittered in the light and twitched from time to time, but hung limp as though defeated. Raven longed to touch them, to see if they were as delicate as they appeared, but thought better of it.

"What's your name?" she murmured, crouching slightly to better see the woman's face.

She glowered back for a long time. "Why should I tell you?"

"You don't have to, I just thought you might like to be treated with some civility. Forget it."

Raven stooped to gather her things, fuming a little. How rude. Yes, she was a prisoner, but she should recognize a helping hand when she sees one. Whatever, Raven wouldn't waste the energy. She did her job, and she wanted nothing more than to be out of this nightmare.

"Amethyst."

"What?"

"You may call me Amethyst, human."

"My name is Raven."

Dark eyes scanned her from head to toe. "I suppose that suits you."

"Don't talk to her," one of the researchers warned, glancing over his clipboard. "You never know what they might do."

"Right, sorry."

Raven turned back to her and caught her pleading gaze. In that moment, she knew. She knew she couldn't continue to work there. These were sentient beings, just as she was. They were being tortured, as was evident by the wounds she had just mended. It had to stop. But how? If she left, the horrors would only continue. There had to be something she could do.

"It was nice to meet you, Amethyst," whispered Raven.

The woman only stared.