While there are signs of spring everywhere, the morning is cold around me. The river carried me safely in its embrace until my knees finally hit land a mile outside the facility. I lie on the frozen earth and watch the building at a safe distance. Sunrise is still an hour away but there is enough light for me to see. I push the cold from my thoughts and watch the perimeter fence. I can hear the buzz of electricity from here, they aren't messing around.

Soldiers with large black and brown dogs walk the fence every fifteen minutes. Even as I watch a black car with tinted windows rolls up to the fence and soldier walks out of his post. The window rolls down and the soldier waves him through and the gates open. I my eyes trail the car to where it parks and two Handlers emerge from the vehicle and walk through the doors. I shiver and look back at the gate.

I tried going back through the drain but in the time since our escape they have filled it with concrete. There is no easy way to do this, but somehow I have to figure out a way to get inside, save Aiden, escape again, and not die in the process. I take a breath and shiver, my fingers have numbed along with my nose and ears. The trees are bare and I know when the sun rises I'll be more visible from the tress, I can't stay here indefinitely.

"Come on, Adie," I whisper to myself. "There's an answer here. Think."

I'm not a trained soldier, I know I don't stand a chance against a regiment of trained men, but I also have my own weapon. Henry said I was only human. I might still bleed like one, but I'm a Misfit. I slowly crawl backwards into the woods and when I'm far enough back I stand up and make my way back to the creek.

I step into the water and sit down. At my touch the ice cold water warms and soon after steams begins to rise off the surface. I close my eyes and take a breath. Find Aiden. My conscious stretches into the water and I press myself out away from my body. I press my connection into every source of water within the facility and the maze below.

IV pouches, toilets, sinks, drains, a cup of coffee cooling on a desk; I push myself outward until my head starts to pound and each image flashes across my mind. Then I see him, surrounded by concrete and hanging on chains. His shirt is torn and he's beaten and blood but alive. The room brings dark memories and I struggle to hold the connection against the onslaught of my own fear. The water approaches Aiden's foot and rolls up to his body until it rests on his temple. Aiden. I feel only a slight hint of his consciousness. Aiden. He doesn't stir so I drop the water onto the floor and find a larger source from a trough on the wall.

I push my consciousness further until my physical body is a distant feeling. I stand up and step out of the trough and walk to him. I press my hand against his cheek. Aiden. Wake up. He still doesn't move so I walk to the wall and lower the chains. I unlock the shackles around his hands and throw the chains aside. I touch his face again and push myself into his mind, wake up!

Aiden's eyes flicker open and he takes a sharp breath. He focuses on me and scrambles backward. "What the—?" I stand and his eyes follow me warily. I hold out my hand and offer it to him. He frowns, his eyebrows slowly drawing together. "Adie?" he asks tentatively. I nod and he looks me up and down. "How in hell are you doing that?" he asks and takes my hand. When he makes connection I can feel his consciousness again.

I don't really know, I say honestly. But I'm here to get you out.

He keeps ahold of me so we can communicate. Where are you?

Outside the facility, I tell him.

Are you safe?

For now, I reply and take a second to focus on my physical body sitting in the creek unharmed. Are you strong enough to walk? I ask.

I think I can manage, he says and he glances up to the catwalk where there are three doors.

What's up there? I ask

Him, he says and heads for the exit. He doesn't have to clarify, we both know who he's talking about. Aiden makes his way down past the concrete cells. I glance at each door as we pass and look down each hallway. How many prisoners are down here?

Aiden spares a glance down one of the hallways, too many. I want to help them, but I know now is not the time. Aiden is my first priority. We reach the set of doors that lead to the white halls and labs. I tug on Aiden's hand.

I'm going to cause a distraction. The drain we escaped from has been blocked off so you're going to have to find a different way. Do you think you can make it out? I ask him.

He nods, I can make it to the main doors well enough but once we're out there you better have a plan.

I'm working on it, I tell him. Be safe.

You too, he drops my hand and disappears through the door. I pull away from the connection and push myself to the front gates of facility. Fog starts to form between the trees and stretches out toward the gates and guards. Thickening and gliding silently until they are surrounded by it. A dog barks madly as I brush against its conscious and pull away. There's a shout of alarm at the sudden lack of visibility. The fog continues to thicken at my command until the soldiers can see nothing but their own hands in front of them. Voices swim in and out of focus as orders are relayed through radios.

Then a blaring alarm erupts and shatters the eerie silence. I focus my attention on the facility and watch as red lights flash and reflect through the dense fog. Come on, Aiden. I keep my attention on the front doors of the facility and a minute later they burst open. More soldiers pour out, at least a dozen, followed by Mr. Handler. He stops on top of the steps and squints through the fog. Two other Handlers walk out of the building behind him. Aiden is unconscious between them. No, no, no.

"Adie!" Mr. Handler calls, his voice echo's inside my head and I shiver. "I know you're out there. Come out and show yourself and I'll refrain from immediately putting a bullet into Aiden's skull."

I snap back into my body like a stretched rubber band and scramble to my feet. My legs and arms feel heavy and awkward but after a few steps my mind settles into place and I'm sprinting towards the facility. The fog hangs in the forest like a damp blanket and branches of the trees slap at my exposed face but I barely feel their sting.

The gate is open when I approach but the fog is still too thick to see through. I release a breath and then fog peels away like a piece of bread being sliced. Mr. Handler and I lock eyes the moment the fogs clears and the soldiers train their weapons on me. The dogs bark and snarl, pulling against their leashes.

"Adie," Mr. Handler says with a wicked smile.

"I'm here," I say stepping forward.

"So you are, returned to us at long last," he walks down the steps and the two other Handlers follow behind him with Aiden.

"Let Aiden go," I tell him.

"You know that's not possible. So why don't you step inside so we can have a proper chat?" he suggests, motioning me forward.

"I don't think so," I shake my head.

"You forget that I'm the one with all the pieces in this game. Come here," he grabs a handful of Aiden's hair then points to the ground in front of him. My fingers curl tightly and I take a step forward. "Good girl."

Breathe Adie, he's just a human and he'll bleed like one too. The moment I clear the gate it swings shut behind me, another second later the electricity pops to life again. I stop when I'm a good ten feet away from Aiden and Mr. Handler. He's still got a firm grip on Aiden's hair. The soldiers surround me in a wide circle.

"What do you want?" I demand.

"I want order," he says simply. "Aiden seems to have forgotten his place and he must be reminded." He steps away from Aiden and snaps his fingers. Two more Handlers come out of the doors, dragging another prisoner between them. They stop at the bottom of the steps and Mr. Handler walks over. The man between them is tall but thin. His smock hangs of his shoulders and his blonde hair is matted and tangled. Mr. Handler places two fingers beneath his chin and holds it up for me to see his face. While I study the man Mr. Handler speaks.

"It took me a long time to search your records after you escaped," he starts. "I searched every scrape of available information until I discovered a small seemingly unimportant note left by the head mistress of your last orphanage. Do you know what I discovered, Adie? A friendship noted by the head mistress, she feared that two orphans had grown close. When I hunted for the Misfit mentioned I was pleased to find that he had already been apprehended and processed."

I can't look away. His freckles are gone; the boy is gone, replaced instead with a broken nose and eyes that reflect years of pain. "Steven," I whisper, shocked. He doesn't seem to register or recognize my face.

Mr. Handler flashes his canines like an animal and releases his chin. "Ah, so you do remember your old friend," he says. "Isn't this fun? Quite a lovely reunion, I think."

"Why?" I ask. "Why are you doing this?"

"To prove a point," one of the Handlers sticks a needle into Aiden's neck and a moment later his eyes open and focus on me. Mr. Handler grabs his hair again and forces Aiden to look at him.

"You've displeased me, Aiden," he says softly and Aiden trembles visibly. He closes his eyes but Mr. Handler jerks his hair sharply and he opens them again.

"I'm sorry," he whimpers. Aiden's voice is like a child's, terrified and small.

"Aiden—" I start.

"—silence!" Mr. Handler snaps, silencing me. "You must be punished, Aiden." My hands curl into fists and I glance at the soldiers around me. They are all waiting for me to move and make a mistake, any excuse to shoot me down. Can I fight them all? Can I win against a small army? I've grown stronger with controlling the water but will it be enough?

"Please," he begs. Tears fill his eyes. "Please."

"Please, what?" Mr. Handler demands and jerks his hair roughly again.

"Have mercy," Aiden's voice comes out broken. I've never seen him this way before. He's different from the Aiden I fell in love with and different from the Aiden that betrayed me in the beginning. This is something I cannot bear to see, something else entirely. Aiden's memory come flashing back, the one with the woman and the slit throat, I see him as a child all over again.

"Stop it!" I scream and Mr. Handler and snaps his attention to me. "Stop it," I repeat firmly. "He's not yours anymore."

"You think so?" he challenges. "Let him go," he orders the two Handlers and they release Aiden. He falls to his knees with a sob. I can feel my heart shattering, seeing him this way will break me. "Your knife," Mr. Handler says to one of the Handlers. The man places the handle of his knife into Mr. Handlers open palm. Without a look in my direction he crouches in front of Aiden and whispers into his ear. Aiden takes the knife from him and my heart jumps in my throat. I wait for him to thrust it into Mr. Handler chest but Mr. Handler stands up unharmed and takes a step away.

Aiden locks eyes with me and I shake my head. "Aiden, you can fight him." He stands up and takes a step toward me. Mr. Handler thinks Aiden can be successfully leashed again. "Aiden," I say gently. His eyes are filled with tears as he steps closer.

Something takes ahold of me then. Not fear, not anger, but a calming peace. Some instinct assures me that everything will work out and I know have to trust in my parents and in Aiden. I have to trust the love I have for them and the love they had for me.

Aiden, I say gently forming a connection between using the wet grass. Aiden, I'm here. I'm right here. I love you. Do you understand? I-love-you. The knife doesn't move in his hand, he stands frozen while eyes lock with mine and don't look away. "Kill her," Mr. Handler commands. "Kill her and I will spare your life."

I'm right here, I tell him. Do it, Aiden. Do what he says but not because he told you to. Do it because I'm asking you to trust me.

"Adie," he pleads so I can barely hear.

Do you trust me?

Aiden locks eyes with me and then he wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me against his body. The blade disappears between my ribs and I gasp from the pain. Aiden holds me tighter and shakes. "I'm sorry," he cries softly.

Don't worry. Trust me. I feel my connection slip. The pain washes through me and I cough as blood fills my mouth. I close my eyes and welcome the darkness that comes over me, trusting that it will not consume me.

I'm crying and screaming for help yet no one comes. Help. Please help. My mother's face looks down at me without a trace of emotion. I'm scared. Please help.

"No!" A familiar voice yells, full of rage and sorrow. He sounds like an animal and yet his large hands are gentle when they gather me up. Father. I quiet and look into his face; brown eyes and long dark wild hair. "Shh..." he hushes and holds me to his chest. He kneels by my mother, she still hasn't moved. My father's trembles as he touches her face, smearing a red mark across her cheek. He's shaking and yet I feel safe and perfect in his arms.

"Over here!" shouts fill my ears. I cry again and my father tightens his grip on me and stands. He walks into the water and when he turns back around my mother is still lying motionless on the rocky shore of the river. Lights and silhouettes of men fill the trees around us but before they break through the tree line the water raises, cocooning us in a bubble of ice and protection from the outside world. I focus on my father's face. He's looking straight into my eyes. He kneels in the water and I feel its cool embrace soak through my clothes at blankets.

"My sweet River—" he chokes on his words and continues through his tears, "—I'm sorry. Sorry that we couldn't give you more. Sorry that we did have more time." His tears fall onto my forehead and cheeks. "But we love you kid and we loved the time we had with you, we wouldn't trade it for the world." He kisses my forehead, my cheeks, my eyes, my lips. "I love you, River. Find strength in your power but most of all remember to find strength in yourself because when everything else fails that's all you have." He takes a breath.

"This is my last gift to you, River. Never give up, don't ever stop fighting for what you love." He places me in the water and it holds me as if I were its own child. "I love you," he kisses my forehead again and a spark in the back of my mind ignites and he lets me go. The water carries me away as the ice shatters and the world erupts with gunshots.

The pain consumes me and ignites my mind on fire. It erupts from the base of my skull and spreads down through my body. I open my eyes and breathe sharply. The memory my father left behind was more than just a memory, it was a push, a push of his own power. A discovery of what we are truly capable of doing.

I sit up and grip my side where the knife wound is bleeding out. Aiden stands off to the side and I watch as Mr. Handler takes the bloodied knife from his red hands. I push myself to my feet. "Sir!" a solider shouts in warning and everyone turns their attention to me.

Mr. Handler shoves Aiden aside and throws the knife at me. Before I react Steven is in front of me, unwatched and unsuspected he moved away from his Handlers without anything noticing. He collapses in front of me and I lock eyes with Mr. Handler. Hatred boils underneath his eyes. The charge in my head hums and pulses to life.

"Stop," I say and the world stops. The dogs stop barking and the soldiers lower their weapons. It's not just Aiden's consciousness that I feel now, it's all of them. Mr. Handler, the soldiers, the handlers, the doctors and assistance in the labs beneath the ground, the prisoners and other Misfits. I reach out and sense all of them like a million small threads lying in my hands. I tug on the soldiers and the handlers and the doctors. I pick out all the individuals who are not prisoners and Misfits and I gather them together in my consciousness. I wear a hundred different skins. I hear a thousand thoughts and questions. I am everyone and no one at once.

I pull on individual strings and feel when each drops from the connection. I pull on memories until there is nothing left but a black void. I watch as each soldier around me begins to fall until there is only one thread left in my hand. I focus on Mr. Handler.

I step forward, the pain at the base of my skull is almost unbearable now but I push to keep my hold. "I used to hate you," I tell him and step forward. Aiden stands off the side, wide eyed and silent. "But you don't even deserve my hate. You deserve nothing at all, which is exactly what I'm going to give you. I'm going to let you experience what it feels like to be no one." I tighten on the thread and pull Mr. Handler to his knees. His face is red from my control and sweat beads on his forehead. "Goodbye." I pull on everything that Mr. Handler is. I erase his memories, his emotions, and his feelings. I pull until there is nothing left but a glimpse of humanity and sense of loss. When I let him go he collapses forward and lays motionless in the grass.

I groan and Aiden steps forward and catches me before I fall. "What did you do, Adie?" he asks astonished.

"I'm not entirely sure," I bring my free hand to my nose. It comes away red and my vision swims. I feel like I've been hit in the back of the head with a hammer. I look over to Steven, the knife Mr. Handler threw stick from his chest.

"Take me to him?" I ask and Aiden carries me to Steven and sets me down beside him.

"Hey Ed," Steven wheezes. I reach my hand out and curl my fingers around his hand.

"You remember me," I say with a small smile.

"You're a hard one to forget, Ed," he says. Blood is dripping out of the corners of his mouth. I look at Aiden.

"Can you heal him?" I ask but he shakes his head.

"They drugged me, I don't have my power. If I can find the counter serum I might be able to help him," he says looking at the doors of the facility.

"Hurry," I tell him and Aiden nods and disappears at a run inside.

"Ed," Steven says and I turn my attention back to him. "I can't remember their faces. I used to...stare at...that damn photo but now..." he coughs and more blood bubbles from his mouth. I reach out and pull him toward me. My side shoots with my pain and my head throbs dizzily but I manage to pull him onto his side so he doesn't choke. I know Aiden won't make it in time. Steven has seconds, not minutes.

Tears brim my eyes, my own wounds are taking their tolls but I will have the strength to do this one last thing. I will. I reach out and connect with Steven. I feel his fear and his frustration. I push past his emotions and pull him into a memory. I share it and experience it with him. Together for one last time we are children huddled in the bushes, staring at a wrinkled photo, dreaming of a better world.