No matter what Louis did, the healers refused to release me from the psych ward. He yelled, explained, even got to begging, but none of them listened. Even Dad had no power in that situation. 'We can't allow her to roam the Rift free given her spontaneous violent outbursts.' they claimed. So with a heavy heart and shaking hands, Louis held me tight before he had to leave, whispering a promise to get me out before Allister came.

I couldn't sleep that night. My dreams were all memories, all of them only scaring me.

I witnessed my grandfather being killed by Allister's mental talent.

I saw my mother teleboarding high in the sky to try and distract Allister while Dad ran on foot with me in his arms towards the exit of the Cavern.

I saw Minerva crying and promising my grandfather I would survive, that I would live up to all the expectations he had for me.

I saw all the bad things that had happened the last time Allister visited a Luxien portal. The Cavern had been destroyed all too easily, set on fire and burned to the ground while Nox killed anyone who ran for safety. Would the same thing happen to the Rift?

I couldn't sleep at all. Instead of sleeping, I paced. I would get out of my bed and walk around the room for hours, occasionally heading to my window as if Allister was already here. I would constantly check the small window, as if I didn't, maybe I would see a town caged in metal rods of fire and smoke. Maybe there would be a padlock on the exit, maybe only Allister had the key.

Wasn't there a famous poem by someone wondering whether the world would die in fire or ice? And they debated which one was better, which one would hurt less? I didn't need to debate. I knew how my world would die. My world would die in fire. I would die in fire, tied up and unable to move in this stupid room like a witch being cursed of sin.

As I thought about it, I realized the fire had already started. Allister was gathering his wood and materials when he first visited me, lit the match when he got me placed in here, and now that he was coming, the fire was too big to be smothered. Maybe he had already won.

I sighed before looking down at the floor, wrapping my arms around myself. When I looked up, I was surprised to see that the window was reflecting my image back to me faintly by the light of the moon.

I had found a book in the psych library later in that day. I had originally been going to see if there was a book on talents, but instead I found a book on Luxien legends that I surprisingly ended up reading the rest of the day.

The book said that ancient Luxien myth claimed the universe was formed by Chance, the first spirit to be created. He was proud of his work, seeing so many beautiful stars and galaxies all around him. However, he was lonely, he had no one to share his creation with. He thought of an idea to create more worlds, perhaps a world would have a spirit like him to share the universe with.

He got to work creating thousands more galaxies and planets, but became somber when none of the worlds held a spirit like him. Still, he didn't give up. One more, he had believed; he would make one more world and it would have a spirit.

And so Chance made the Milky Way, filling it with stars and solar systems and planets. He looked over his creation, disappointed that there were no spirits, until he saw a beautiful blue aura wrapped around a solar system. The aura was said to swirl and sparkle until suddenly a woman was formed, beautiful and wise. She changed Chance's creation, creating a Sun and an Earth and Moon and so many more celestial bodies. In doing so, she also created life, and Chance was amazed.

'How did you create something so strange? My creations do not hold life, only more planets and stardust.' Chance had asked the beautiful woman, who shook her head.

'You create much, but do not look after them. That is your flaw. I will care for this place, write its destiny and protect it.' She had told him.

Chance was amazed. This woman, his creation, was far wiser and more beautiful than he could have ever dreamed. He didn't see a reason why he should create more and wander the universe alone.

'I shall stay here with you then. I will help you look after this sliver of the cosmos.' Chance told the spirit, getting down on his knees before her. She smiled at him and asked for him to take his throne in the Sun, so that her creation of life may exist for many millennia and admire him and his power. Chance agreed, but before he took his place, he asked the spirit her name.

'I am Fate.' She had told him as she took her throne on the Moon, so that she could watch over her creation closely. And so the two spirits ruled, Chance during the day, Fate by night, and so the world came to be.

I looked up at the moon, unknowing if the myth was real and if Fate was really watching over me. I whispered to myself quietly.

"Please Fate." I mumbled, my eyes fixed onto the full moon that hung in the sky. "Please let the Rift live."

I've never been very religious or spiritual, but I swore I felt something as I looked up helplessly to the stars. It was a strange feeling, one suddenly of empowerment and strength. It was as if Fate was telling me everything would be alright, that the Rift would live and so would I. I smiled softly up at the moon before turning to head back to bed.

As I climbed in the covers and closed my eyes, I only had one thing to say.

"Thank you."

~•~

When I woke in the morning, the Rift was not engulfed in flames like I had thought it would be. It looked strangely normal. People were walking around and going about their morning, unknowing of Allister's warning. Children were getting up to go to school, shopkeepers opening their stores for another day of business. It was a normal day.

Had Allister not come yet? I guess we would know when he came. He would set the Rift ablaze like a match, just like he had the Cavern.

I found relief in the sight of the Rift still standing. Maybe I had more time, maybe if Allister waited long enough I could get out of this box and fight him freely when he came. Allister's plan was to keep me locked up and out of the way when he came, if he waited long enough I may be able to get out of here.

I had knocked on my door for a nurse, one popping in shortly after. She offered me a plastered on smile, one that tightened her face in an uncomfortable way.

"Yes, Miss Lane?" She asked, the overly bubbly smile never going away. I looked her over a bit in question before ignoring it. I needed to act on my best behavior. That was the only way I got anything here.

"Can I go out today? I'm feeling better." I asked softly, the girl's smile still staying as she shook her head no. She was starting to creep me out.

"I'm afraid not, Miss Lane. The head healer had ordered you to stay here in your room all day." She informed me, exaggerating a pout before her fake smile came back.

"I just want to go to the library." I gestured to the book still on my covers, the girl still shaking her head.

"You can't leave today Miss Lane." She said promptly before turning and leaving my room, slamming the door closed with a violent force. I thought I heard a clicking sound after the door shut, my eyes widening. I ran over to the door and pressed my hand against it, my telekinesis sensing a lock had been placed on the door handle.

They had never locked my door before...what was going on?

I raced back over to my window, pressing my palms against the glass. My eyes searched the Rift below me for any sign of Allister, but I couldn't find him. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling in my gut that something was wrong. What was happening? 

My stomach was twisting in knots within me. Was Allister coming for everyone? Or was I just being paranoid? No, I had to believe in myself. I knew I was really seeing Allister and I ended up being right, I had to believe this feeling meant something.

I had to get to Louis. Real or not, I had to get out of here.

I tried banging on the door but naturally it didn't budge. I could use my sword to break out, but just then my eyes spotted the camera in the corner of the room. If someone watching the video saw that they would probably only add onto the lock already on the door. So how was I supposed to get out?

I stood there in the middle of the room just thinking about it for a second before a brilliant idea came to me. Sure, it was a bit dark, but it would certainly catch someone's attention.

I ruffled my hair so it stuck in different directions wildly. I started scratching on my arms and pulling on my clothes, forcing a tortured scream to echo around the room before I pulled my sword from the runes on my arm.

If this plan would work, I needed to go all out. Psych healers never let any patients get remotely close to hurting themselves.

The camera in the corner turned just a bit, but it was all I needed to know I had an audience.

"I'm done!" I screeched and slashed the golden sword out at the bed, the sharp blade cutting through it surprisingly easily. I wildly cut sheets and the metal bedpost, my breathing ragged and my screams continuing. I dropped the sword and started running around, banging my fists on the door and the walls, anything in my reach. I made myself run over to the sword, raising it and continuing to scream like a banshee. Someone had to be coming soon.

I upped the act by turning the sword and raising it to my stomach, the sharp point barely pressing into my clothes as I looked straight at the camera.

"I want to die." I spat at it, and just then I heard the bang of metal on metal from outside my door. The door opened quickly, several healers rushing in to sedate me. I smirked before standing and holding my hand up.

The plan worked.

With one swipe of my hand, my mind sent all the healers to the walls, their bodies hitting the ground as I raced towards the open doorway. I was home free until I felt something grab my foot. I hit the ground with an umph! sound before turning to see one of the healers was holding me. I tried kicking him away, but his grip was too strong.

"Get off!" I yelled before slicing my sword down at him, watching as he ducked and released my foot. I clambered to my feet and sprinted out of the room, closing the door quickly and preparing to fix the lock so they wouldn't get in my way. I couldn't fix the lock, but I could still keep the healers inside by cutting the handle off the door with my sword. I heard them banging against the heavy door from the other side, but I only laughed and ran down the hallway.

I did it, I was free. Now I just had to find Louis and-

As soon as I rounded the corner, I came face to face with the same nurse who had kept me locked in the whole day. I wasn't in the mood to deal with her now, my hand raising to push her out of the way so I could find Allister. I stopped when I saw the nurse's image changing, her form transforming before my eyes to a familiar woman.

Marissa.

My heart sunk when I realized if Marissa was here, Allister was too. The calm I had seen earlier from my window was the calm before a storm, and now the storm was here.

"You." I mumbled, Marissa lips twisting up into a little smile. She wore all black, the fabric laced with armor and braces. Her hair fell over one shoulder, and she flicked it behind her as she stood in front of the exit.

"I'm sorry, Mira, but you can't leave. Allister gave me very specific instructions." She said.

"And those instructions are?"

Marissa's eyes narrowed as her chin raised up so she was looking down on me as if she had already won.

"Do not let you escape under any circumstances. If that means you get a bit roughed up, then so be it."

I rolled my eyes before swiping my palm to the side, Marissa's body launching into the wall next to her. I quickly raced over to her to finish this, my golden sword raised as I prepared to plunge it into her. However, when I reached the crumbling remains of the wall, I didn't find my aunt.

My brows furrowed as I looked through the wreckage, where was she?

Suddenly, I was pulled back by my shoulders, my body slamming against the ground hard. My runes stopped me from getting seriously hurt, but the wind was still knocked out of me and my sword clattered across the floor. I gasped for breath like a fish out of water while Marissa laughed.

"Don't underestimate me." She warned, her shoe pressing against my stomach as she leaned over me.

"Get off." I spat before trying to shove her off, her strength overpowering mine. My eyes looked over to where my sword was, and I telekinetically commanded it to return to my hand. It soared over to me, the handle pressing against my palm reassuringly. I lashed out at Marissa, who reeled back but wasn't quick enough to stop the blade from cutting a thin line across her cheek. Scarlet drops of blood leaked out, but were quickly brushed away by her hand. It left a red trail that looked like spilled paint.

"You'll pay for that." She muttered before charging towards me with a murderous look in her eyes. I raised my sword to defend against her attacks, my heart sinking when I realized I probably should've studied sword fighting in my training. I was going off of instinct and what I saw in movies, and that wasn't going to beat Marissa.

With one fluid movement I released the sword and allowed it to return to my body, my hands now free to fight the way Minerva and Louis had taught me.

Marissa was getting creative now, shoving a cart of healing supplies towards me before running at me. I pushed the cart with my mind back towards her, my eyes widening when I saw her flip over the cart and lunge at me. I saw gold as my runes created a barrier around me, Marissa hitting the bubble and flying back instead of hurting me. I heard a heavy thud as her back collided with the floor, Marissa's body unmoving. My barrier disappeared as I carefully stepped over to her. Did I do it? Did I win?

Marissa's eyes were closed, a deep cut on her forehead trickling blood down her forehead. Was she unconscious? Did I knock her out? Only one way to find out. I ran my hand down my arm to draw my sword from my runes again, holding it out in front of me as I approached her more. I was ready to defend myself, but I began to wonder if maybe I had taken care of her when she didn't move save for her ragged breathing.

My sword dropped a tiny bit as I reached out to see if she was truly knocked out cold. My fingertips were barely an inch away from her face when suddenly her eyes opened, her hands reaching for my neck. I was caught off guard, too surprised to protect myself when her hands seized my neck and squeezed tightly, flipping us over so I was underneath her.

I gagged as she squeezed tighter, her knee pressing against my arm holding the sword so I couldn't use it. I bucked my hips, trying in anyway to get her off, but her grip was tight as she tried to asphyxiate me.

"Don't worry, I won't make you suffer." Marissa hissed, her eyes turning darker into a pitch black. "I'll just break your neck the same way I hurt your boyfriend."

"This will only hurt a lot." She grinned before smiling, her pitch black eyes staring into mine. My heart was pounding, waiting for the moment when her pain talent would take control of me, make my bones snap on their own. I waited. I waited. My breathing was quick, my heart pounding.

I waited.

I waited more.

Marissa seemed confused, her eyes narrowing at me as she tried to kill me. It wasn't working.

"W-What...how come..." she mumbled in confusion. I realized what was going on and laughed, the sound getting caught in my throat as her hands constricted around it.

"You...can't..." I mumbled, my mind throwing her off of me and perfectly into a spare wheelchair against the wall. I took a moment to get my breath, my hands pulling in close to my body as I commanded the metal in the chair to bend inwards, wrapping around my aunt and trapping her.

"W-what?" she was still confused, glaring at me. I raised my golden blade, my aunt quickly silencing herself as I smiled.

"Your talent doesn't work on a protector." I smugly told her, Marissa grunting and trying to wrestle her way out of the chair. I acted quickly, pressing the point of my sword against her throat. She froze, too in shock to take a chance of moving. I don't think she expected me to beat her. Victory was sweet.

"Where's Allister? I know you know where he is." I interrogated her, Marissa not quite liking being on the other end of the questioning.

"I'll never tell you. You'll just stand there waiting while Allister enacts his plan." Marissa smirked, but I knew better. Allister must have told her where he would be going, and there was one way I could find out. I walked over to her and touched her hand, immediately seeing visions of her and Allister. I let go when I had the information I needed. My sword returned to my body, Marissa looking wide eyed at me.

"He's in the Sanctuary. Thanks Aunt Marissa." I smiled big, bright, and oh so fake at her before running out of the doors of the healing center. There were several teleboards outside of the healing center just laying there, and I quickly picked one up and strapped my feet in before soaring high towards the glittering golden tower in the distance.

I'm coming Allister, I thought. I'm coming for you.

A/N: And the action begins...

Also I'm in no mood to discuss Louis being a father unless it's with Mira and their Lira babies.

Dedication goes to TommosTurtles for singing the Wonderpets theme song in the comments xD

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