"What's wrong with them?" Daria asked Amy intensely.

Amy sighed. She and Berry had been up all night, helping everyone get settled and treated. It was midday, but the sunlight only exposed the bags under their eyes. "Exhaustion and dehydration. Severe in the first case, most mild in the second. They've been walking in the desert for quite some time."

Berry chimed in. "We've got everyone hydrated, but they're exhausted. It's hard to get a straight answer from anyone. It seems as though they have no memory of being there."

Daria nodded. "I'm grateful they're safe," she said.

"Yeah, but why?" Daniel cut in. "Why would the Eyeless just let them go?"

"We aren't sure why the Eyeless took them in the first place," Berry said sharply. She was still upset with Daniel for scaring Naomi away. The poor girl had been kicked down a billion times. "That's usually step one."

Daria raised a hand, signaling them to silence. "We may know more than it seems. It may provide insight into both answers."

Berry, Amy, and Daniel stared. "And?" Daniel asked.

"They only took gifted," she said. "And Gregg, who essentially walked into their hands."

"A decision I stand by," Gregg grumbled.

"Gregg, this is a private conversation," Danial called to the werewolf resting behind the curtain.

"They why are you having it in public?" he shot back .

"Grumpy old man," Daniel mumbled. He turned back to Daria. "If they don't know what happened to them, we have nothing to go off of," Daniel said. He lowered his voice. "Do we have to worry about infection?"

"Maybe," Daria confessed. "But I'm afraid it is already too late for that. For now, we will rest up and heal up. Maybe as the exhaustion fades, someone will remember something. Until then, Daniel, I expect you to keep our defenses up. Amy and Berry, please get some rest as you can."

The three of them nodded.

+++++++++++

When I woke up, I blinked into the deep and vivid sunshine. My entire body ached. I pushed up from my cot and was surprised to see I was in a cell. For a moment, I thought I was back at Redwood in my cottage.

No. I was here. I groaned as I moved, but I could move. I was grateful for that. I looked down at the back of my hands and saw that there were purple splotches across them, tender to the touch.

I looked at the foot of my cell door and saw that another pair of clothes had been left for me. I reached for them and winced as my hands shook. They were all gray with long sleeves. I showered, enjoying the frigid water, and I changed. I managed to braid my hair despite my shaking hands and explored my cell.

It was about the same size as my cottage was and a similar layout. I inspected my hands again. They felt weak, which compounded in shakiness. I imagined it was early morning. The sun was over the horizon, but in the desert, even slight sunshine was powerful.

I had been here for a day, I realized. My heart ached. No one had come for me.

Why should they?

I jumped as I heard the front door bang shut.

"Sorry," a voice called. "That door needs a good greasing."

Suddenly, Sam's soulless eyes popped in front of my door. I began to shake. Surely I had more time?

He smiled at me. "Naomi!" he exclaimed. "We are really liking you," he admitted. "You produced as much juice yesterday as we did in eleven months with the other crew. I think we keep you on for another few days or so and we'll have all we need! Of course, we'll take more. You did agree to this. But just so you have a tangible and achievable goal."

"What do you need?" I asked softly, clutching my hands together to keep them from shaking.

"Well, magic, of course. You see, everyone wants magic, illegal or not. In fact, I think the fact that it is illegal makes it more alluring. Yet, we are the only ones using it for something useful."

"What is that?" I asked.

"It's all for Levi," he said. "It's all for Levi. You ready?" he asked. Suddenly, the three other Eyeless appeared behind him.

I shook my head. "Please," I begged. "No." Fear began to course through me.

Sam sighed. "It was really a rhetorical question," he told me. "Think of everyone you saved!" he exclaimed. I didn't respond. "Okay, grab her," he said in disappointment.

One of them pulled the gate open and pulled me into the hallway. They grabbed my arms and manhandled me across the street into the torture chamber. Despite my struggle, they strapped me down like they did yesterday.

I screamed as one of them pressed the button on the floor, raising the metal posts.

"Let's go forty for five hours," Sam said, placing the purple creatures on my hands. My hands were already shaking.

"Please! Let me go. Please. It hurts. Please," I begged.

"It hurts?" Sam asked. "We haven't even turned the machine on," he mused. One of the Eyeless flipped a switch and I felt like my skin was slowly being peeled off me. I sobbed in agony. "Now, that. That should hurt. See you soon, honey!" he exclaimed.

With that, they slammed the door and left me alone.