The man places a thin soft blanket over my body. I feel the fabric against my skin, but my back seems to have gone numb. It's a relief from the pain, even it were permanently numb I would not complain. "Rest for a bit, I'll be back for you." I hear the cell door scream open and then all is quiet. I press my cheek against the floor and let the cool seep into warm skin. I let out a deep breath and my body shuts down.

My body flinches when the door opens again. I'm not sure how long I've slept but my brain feels fuzzy and my body feels heavy. I lick my lips and try to sit up when I remember that only a thin blanket keeps my body covered. So I stay where I am.

"Are you awake?"

"Yes."

"Good, I've brought you some clothes, it's not much but it's all I could find."

"I don't know if I can..." I say embarrassed. My back isn't hurting me, but that doesn't mean my body is better. I feel the effects of the blood I lost. I feel the drain on my body and mind. I want to curl up and go back to sleep, but I refuse my body, because I understand what this man is offering me. I know that even if it means walking through hell and possibly dying I will take the risk.

"Let me help you."

He helps me sit up and despite the fact that I'm almost one hundred percent positive its pitch black in here, he keeps the blanket draped over my shoulders. The pants are too big and are made of some rough fabric, but he puts a belt around my waist so they'll hold. The shirt he helps me put on is also too big. He pulls a hoodie over my head and for the first time in a long time, I feel like a real person.

"I couldn't find any shoes." He says.

"It's fine." I drop the blanket and rub my hands together, slowly feeling the heat build up around my body. I've forgotten what it's like to be warm.

"There's one more thing." His voice is hushed even though we are alone in a concrete cell, "I'm going to give you a shot, it works like an antidote against the drug they've been giving you." I'm not sure what drug he's talking about but I say OK anyway. I don't care what he does. I just want to get out of here. I hardly feel the small prick of the needle on my arm. My tolerance to pain at least, has increased.

"Can you walk?"

"I don't think so." I hate admitting it, but I'm having trouble standing up. I'm afraid if I try to take a step I'll just topple over like a broken doll.

"Wait here a moment." The door screeches and there is silence a moment. "OK the coast is clear. I think it will be best if I carry you." He presses his back to my stomach and pulls me onto his back. I wrap my arms around his neck and he lifts my legs. My back is still numb, but I have some strange feeling that it's just an illusion, that right now if I woke up I'd be immobilized and screaming. I'm too tired to lift my head I put my chin against his shoulder, the collar of his jacket tickles my cheek.

He runs, well, he goes as fast as he can with me on his back. But from the way his footsteps fall I can tell he's making good time. He stops randomly, I can only guess to check to make sure it's all clear, before he takes off again. His breathing remains strong and steady, and his muscles bunch and loosen under my skin. Whoever he is, he's in good shape. Soon his footsteps turn to echoes and he slowly sets me onto the floor. I sway on my feet. "Stay here, I'm going to make sure the way is clear." I hear the sound of trickling water and then I hear his feet splash into it. It doesn't sound deep, but its still water, the sound fills me with an emotion I haven't felt since before I came here, peace.

He comes back, "Alright lets go." He takes my hand but I stop him.

"I can walk now."

"Are you sure?"

"I'll manage." He helps me down a small drop off and my feet hit water. I smile as he leads me through it. I try to connect with it, but the water simply rushes through my toes and carries on. We walk for some time, my feet go numb from the water, but my body still feels warmer than I ever remember it being. I wish I could just pause time and feel this way forever, I would be content.

"We're coming up on the end." He finally says to me, he drops my hand and walks on ahead. I reach out and use the wall as my guide. "It's clear." He calls back, his voice echoing off the walls. "I'll go down first then I'll help you-why are you still wearing the blindfold?" He sounds surprised, and I feel surprised. I've left it on, somehow even though I know this man his helping me escape, I've accepted the darkness. I reach up to take it off, but his hands are already there. His fingertips are calloused but his hands are gentle as they loosen the blindfold and slip it off my face.

The light blinds me and I close my eyes instinctively, then open them slowly. I see his boots first. The tips of the leather are scuffed and worn. I trail up his dark jeans and then his open bomber jacket and dark t-shirt that fits snuggle on his torso. My heart pounds hard and my breath picks up.

I look at his face.

And then I slap him.

"Get away from me!" I push him back and then I try to climb out of the drain, because that's where we are. Some sort of storm drain, but the drain drops into a small creek, it's too far down for me to reach and I fall. My back hits stones and water and I let out a small cry. My back is starting to ache. Whatever spell I was under, it's beginning to fade.

"Are you alright?" He jumps down from the drain and kneels over me. I push him away and struggle to me feet.

"Stay away from me." I stand and waver. He slowly gets to his feet and faces me. His dark wild hair hangs above his dead blue eyes, only now they aren't dead. There is something different about him. "What is this?" I demand, I'm so exhausted, of everything. The tricks, the lies, the pain, all of it, "Is this some sick joke? Some sick torture Mr. Handler's concocted to make me feel safe and free only to rip it away, to break my soul? Is that it?" I start shouting, "Well you can come out now, wherever you're hiding! You're little game is over!"

"SHH!" The betrayer slaps a hand over my mouth and stares down at me. He's a half foot taller and he's stronger, I can feel it under his hand. Had we met before I came to this place I might have stood a chance against him, but right now I'm useless. "Do you intend to bring them down on our heads?" He whispers harshly, "This is not a game. I am trying to save your life."

I push him away and wipe my mouth. "If that's true then stay away from me."

He shakes his head, "You're in no condition to go anywhere without me."

"Yea and whose fault is that" I demand, "You just stood there while they made me this way. You fought me to help them. So sorry if I'm not too quick to trust you or accept your help."

He looks away from me and stares at the creek that flows into a small river. His eyes go hard, "That wasn't me."

"Oh, so you have a twin brother then?" I shake my head and turn around, "Then tell him to go kill himself, I'd do it myself, but it seems I'm out of commission." I step onto the grassy bank.

"You won't make it." He calls to my back, "Not without me."

"I did it before."

"But you're not the same as before."

I stop walking and look at him. The pain in my back slowly increases. "I know."

Behind him I hear branches snap, he snaps his head and turns. "Get out of here!" He yells raising the water to his hand. But it's too late, guards in black uniforms pour out of the woods, rifles raised, a single gunshot goes off and the betrayer drops to his knees, the water falls away from his fingers. Four handlers emerge behind the guards, Mr. Handler among them. "Run Adie." He says to me but I don't move. I'm locked in place, my hands in fists, staring at Mr. Handler. He tries to get to his feet, but he can't. I see the tranquilizer sticking out of his shoulder from here.

"Well well, isn't this an interesting development." Mr. Handler steps forward and stops a few yards away, his hands clasped behind his back. "Did you honestly think I didn't notice your immediate change Aiden?"

I look at the betrayer, so he has a name.

"You're so twisted in the head I didn't think you'd notice anything but your own suit." Aiden spits and tries to get up, but he drops to his knees, one hand braces on the ground, keeping him up. He's going to pass out any moment, if it's the same drug they hit me with then he doesn't have long.

I look at Mr. Handler, he doesn't even care that I'm here. He's just keeping an eye on Aiden. My back throbs violently and I take a sharp breath and close my eyes to steady myself. Breathe Adie, just breathe, I open my eyes.

Help me.

The water flowing from the drain and onto the rocky creek bed surges for a moment and splashes harder on the ground before trickling again. I stare at the drain. Had that been me? Or had that been Aiden?

"Well go on, the faster you pass out the fast we get this over with." Mr. Handler smirks.

"I won't stand by and watch, not anymore."

"Good thing you won't have to. Just let go, you'll black out, we'll take care of the girl, and then we'll deal with you, you won't have to watch anything." Mr. Handler clicks his tongue, "Honestly Aiden, I thought we've come to and understanding. I'm afraid this little outburst is going to cost you..."

I see the muscles in Aiden's neck tighten, he's fighting the drug, but he's losing. The moment he drops Mr. Handler will put a bullet in my brain, maybe a dozen of them.

I look at the river where the creek empties. The pain in my back is becoming unbearable again, but I'm feeling again. I'm waking up. I can feel it, I can feel the water. I know I'm not imagining it.

Help me. The water in the river splashes up against the bank, Mr. Handler and the guards don't notice. I take a large hard breath and focus everything to the river. I recall the rage and freedom of the flood when I rescued Henry. I recall the emotions of the river and the emotions it brought to life inside of me. I call the river, I urge it to awaken.

The river jumps over the bank and recedes, but it every time it jumps it reaches further, it's rising, coming to me, it's hearing my call.

Aiden slouches forward, my heart picks up and I face the river and hold my hands out. Help me!

The river recedes all the way until it looks empty. I hear the rifles being cocked, and I hear Aiden's body hit the rocks.

"Fire when ready."

Help us now!

The river roars over the bank in a tidal wave. I jump forward and land on top of Aiden. I grab onto his body and the water descends upon all of us. I hold my breath as we twirl and spin. The water bubbles in my ears tugs at my baggy clothes but I hold onto Aiden and let the river take us.

I don't remember much, halfway through holding onto Aiden and trying to hold my breath I black out. When I open my eyes the river is tickling my feet and gently waking me, making sure I'm alright. I groan and cough, some water comes up, but for the most part I'm breathing air and I'm alive. I push myself to my knees and look around.

Noise fills my ears, the wind in the trees and the birds in the air. The large smooth rocks press against my knees but I place my hands on my legs and breathe in the scent of the forest, the smell of the dirt and the wind on my face. The water swirls around my feet and I start to laugh.

I'm alive.

I survived.

I stand up and whoop loudly, my face to the sky, challenging the world and feeling invincible. I jump back into the river and it splashes against my face playfully and I swing my arm around and fling it in an arch and the droplets drop and sing as they return to the river.

I could stay like this forever. Nothing but me and the water and my freedom, but its short lived. I hear a moan and look further down the bank. Aiden is passed out on his back, half his face stuck in the dirt.

I drop my hands, the water quiets. I walk out of the river, my bare feet slipping on the soft stones, the mud squeezes through my toes. I don't think I ever want to wear shoes again. I stop and stand over Aiden. I look down at his expressionless face and vulnerable body. I could kill him right now. I could make a spear of ice or smash his head in with a rock. I'm not out of commission anymore and he deserves no less.

I pick up a smooth stone and rub it between my fingers. The green algae stick to the pores of my fingers. I look down at Aiden.

He saved your life.

He condemned me.

He protected you.

He attacked me.

I rub my forehead with my free hand, my short hair sticks to my forehead and I rub it away, almost wishing it were still buzzed short. I'm not sure what to do with Aiden. He's the betrayer and savior all at once, so what's the right thing to do? Half of me wants to watch the life leave his eyes, the other half owes him my life, my gratitude.

You already saved his life, you don't owe him anything.

Oh yea? Because I'm pretty sure he's saved me twice.

I sigh because it's true. He got me out of the compound, and he put himself between me and Mr. Handler, not only that, he wouldn't have given them the chance to kill me if he hadn't been tranquilized. He was ready to fight them while I ran away. He was ready to sacrifice himself, but why? What changed him?

I sit down next to him and drop the stone. I pull my knees to my chest and drop my chin onto them. I stare at the river.

So what do I do?

You could leave him.

That's a good idea. I'm not required by any law or contract to say with him. He's alive and I'm alive. I don't have to kill him if I don't have to see him again. I could get up and walk away and we'd be even. Only...I look down at him again, he might not wake up for a while, and I know Mr. Handler won't give up so easily. He knows we were carried by the river; he'll be searching these shores relentlessly. If I leave Aiden here, I may as well kill him myself.

"Why couldn't you have just been someone else?" I ask him. "Why did you have to make this so damn difficult?"

He doesn't respond so I pick up another stone and throw it into the river and scream. I'm free. I should be running already, I should be miles from here. I should be headed to the middle of a forest in some remote part of the country. I shouldn't be sitting here with a man who was a lap dog to the Handlers.

I stand up.

"Fine, I'll help you, but as soon as you wake up you're on your own." There's still no response.

I pull the river up around his body in an oval shape and use it to help me carry him. The water runs along the ground, carrying his body and follows me into the woods. After three miles of walking and making sure Aiden doesn't run into a tree I find that I'm utterly spent. My back doesn't hurt. Whatever happened in the river did something to it. I don't feel as though the pain will return any second, instead I twist and turn and feel fine. But I'm not how I used to be. Looking at myself I'm thinner and the color of my skin isn't sun kissed and healthy. I need a good hearty meal, one that Gretchen would have given me. I stop.

I think of Henry. I think of how he told me to come back if I needed anything, even if it were dangerous. I start walking again, shaking my head, that's stupid, I couldn't possibly go home. The Handlers will look there, won't they? Then again, it's been a long time since I've been home, I look at the changing leaves on the trees and feel the cool air through my damp clothes. It was the heat of summer when the Handlers took me, and now it's turning to winter again. Which means it's been almost a year since they took me. Would they really expect me to return home?

I rub my head again, it's starting to ache. I need to sleep somewhere warm for a long time. Too much has happened, my body is spent, and yet I can't, not if I want to forfeit my life. Right now, I need to keep movie, I need to put as much distance as I can between me and Mr. Handler. I'll get answers later.

I look down at Aiden and the water that carries him. It glows in the dying light of the forest, illuminating the things around it, casting light over Aiden's face. "I should take your jacket." I say to him, "It would be warmer than this hoodie."

But I turn around instead and keep walking. I'm not sure which direction we're headed, or if we're going towards civilization or away from it, but I don't care. I just keep my feet moving, and let my body soak in the sounds and scents of the forest, and when the sky turns purple with the dying sunlight, I wonder how I ever began to forget the colors of the world, and the smell of fresh earth.