SPARK FLEES.

1774, NOVEMBER 28th, MONDAY 12:16 am.

Spark stretched the metal points she called legs. They scraped the floor with their sharp needle points. It had taken her years to learn how to stand on them, and longer still to walk, yet running she picked up quick. It was a skill she would use today.

Beyond the red glass, the door to her room opened. Two DeathTech soldiers followed behind Edward.

"Helloooooooooo, Spark? Was it?" He chuckled. "I honestly struggle to remember your silly little nickname."

He paused. A finger came to his chin and tapped it a bit.

"We should call you nubs!" He grinned. "You know — cause of the nubs where your limbs used to be."

Cold welled inside Spark's chest. She swallowed as a bucket of ice fell down her back. Despite the sensations, she forced her face to stay calm. Yet when Edward's gaze fell on her it seemed like he could see through her like glass.

His jaw moved inside his closed mouth — as if he was tasting her fear.

"You're brother found an old friend of yours. I'm sure the name will be familiar to you," his grin became wider than a man's should. "Do you recall, Noche?"

Spark's eyes widened. Her mouth opened and shut in silence. Edward smiled the entire time as the girl processed his words.

"She's alive?" Spark sputtered. "Noche's... Alive?"

The President of DeathTech exploded with laughter.

"SHE IS! But we'll see for how long," he said. "Do you know whyyyyyy Noche came back to DeathTech?"

Cold seeped into Spark's veins. Edward's pupils became slits and his mouth unhinged like a snake's. He was grinning as his gaze locked onto hers — his delight evident.

"To save you," he whispered. "Noche's here to save you."

"No," she muttered.

"Yesssss, you. Noche and a small group of friends are coming to save you," saliva dripped out of his mouth. "And they're all being lead by your brother."

Dread filled her very bones. The world lost all warmth as fear made its way into her heart. Legs buckled, she fell to the floor, and the whole time Edward's eyes rolled into the back of his head.

He swallowed.

"Delicious, but that's just a snack... The main course is being delivered," he paused for many heartbeats. "We're moving you to a different cell."

Spark's head snapped up to the monster looming over her.

"Ahh, did I not clarify?" His grin widened into something unnatural. "We're using you as bait."

Her eyes widened. Edward pressed some buttons on the pin-pad next to her cell. The red glass wall slid down — the entire area was open. Her cell door was open.

Edward grinned and maintained eye contact with Spark. He stepped aside and raised his arm towards the exit. Two soldiers guarded it, but the hallway was visible.

The girl ran.

"Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho! Run Spark, run as fast as you can!" Edward laughed. "There's a chance you might even get away. So run! RUUUUUUUN!"

Both DeathTech soldiers stood in her path — Spark jumped and in mid-air did the splits. The metal spikes pierced both skulls with a sickening pop. Bits of brain and bone began to regenerate in the soldier's heads, but Spark was long out of the room and into the hall by the time they started.

For the first time in years, she had left her little box. The layout was a maze of corridors and pipes, but she didn't care. She had to get to Boots — let him know of Edward's plan. He knew they were here.

Edward knew they were coming.

Tears fell down Spark's only remaining eye as she ran. The past filled her mind — all the times she spent with Noche as a child. Some of the corridors seemed familiar as she ran down memory lane. Others were strange and different.

All the heavy-metal songs, the break dancing, Noche's laughter, and Boot's rare smile. Edward was going to take it all away again — she had to warn them. Warmth filled her heart with the explosion of a geyser. It was a sensation almost dead to her. It was hope.

The elevator was before her.

She impaled the up button on her spiked leg, there was a ding, the doors opened. The warmth vanished — replaced with freezing, ice cold. Raven stood in the doorway. She turned to run but was caught like a rabbit. Her metal legs were held in place by an intense magnetism.

"For what it's worth... I am sorry," Raven whispered.

Spark couldn't hear him, her heart was pounding too fast, there was a throbbing in her ears. It was like she would explode at any moment. She couldn't move — she couldn't escape. Edward emerged from the depths of the darkness; all hope vanished.

"WHY! Why did you do that!" Spark screamed. "Why did you let me believe I had a chance to escape!"

The rubber man wiped the drool that cascaded from his false lips.

"Because I can't savor true fear, if I don't sprinkle in a little hope."

Edward leaned closer to Spark and patted her head. His fingers became razors that tore open her skin with each gentle tap.

"Your dread was delicious," he grinned. "A fine appetizer before the main course."

The magnetism on her metal legs released. Spark fell to her knees and cried. Since she had no arms, she was forced to curl her knees to wipe away the tears from her single eye.

"Raven, take the bait to her new abode."

The strongest bird of death bent down and laid his hand on Spark's shoulder with the gentleness of a kindred soul. When her tears stopped he helped her up.

Edward laughed and walked away. Each fluorescent light above him flickered for a few seconds, before exploding and obscuring the area in darkness. In these patches of black, the temperature dropped to frigid and rotting meat became the dominating odor.

Yet even in the comfort of the light, Spark couldn't escape the sickening giggles of the rubber man as he strolled deep into the bowels of DeathTech.