I risk stopping after a mile. I'm not even sure what direction we've run, it doesn't really matter. I let go of the strangers arm and drop my bag to the ground, as I stuff my hand into it I look up at the guy. His face is red from running and his eyes are still panicked. "You alright?"

He nods. "I think so."

I find the pocket knife I acquired a few months ago and flip it open. I cut the plastic tie around his wrists and he lets out a breath of relief and rubs them where they've chaffed. "Thanks..."

"Sure." I put the knife back and watch him look around the forest like he's never seen it before. He's cute, light brown hair over hazel eyes. His nose is a little big, but it doesn't distract from his eyes. "So why'd they tie you up? I've never seen them do that to anyone before."

He shrugs and I pull out a bottle of water and hand it to him. Finding drinkable water is never a concern of mine. He drinks half of the bottle and hands it back. "I knew they'd be coming for me, so I hid...didn't help though, they still found me."

"So you knew you were a Misfit?"

He glares at me, "I'm not a Misfit."

"So why'd you run? What were you scared of?"

He shrugs and doesn't look at me. He stuffs his hands into the front pouch of his hoodie. "Well-" I take a quick drink and put the backpack onto my shoulders, "You're welcome to come with me if you have nowhere else to go. Surviving out here by yourself can be hard, especially the first couple of weeks."

He looks me up and down, "How love have you been out here for?"

I shrug, "I don't just live in these woods. I live in all the woods. I keep moving...I have to if I expect to survive. But it's been about eight months since I ran."

"Why did you run?" He looks me in the eyes.

"I'm a Misfit." The word no longer scares me, whatever I am, whatever they want to call it. It's just the way it is. I control water, whether I have a virus or not, that's the simple truth.

He looks away from me and in the distance I hear the barking and howling of dogs. I spin on my heel and look into the forest, listening hard, the howling picks up. "We've been here to long, we need to get moving. You can come with me or not, but either way you-" The stranger holds an empty syringe in his hand and I look down at the small bead of blood on the upper arm. "-what...?" My arm burns and the muscles lock and cramp. I let out a cry of pain and drop to my knees. I grip my right forearm with my left hand as the fire slowly begins to spread up my arm. "Who are you!" I demand through my teeth. My vision swims and I take a deep breath.

"I told you." He says putting the syringe back into a little box he pulls from his hoodie. "I'm not a Misfit." He curse loudly and double over. Help me. My vision swims and turns black and white. I close my eyes and search inside of me. The water in my own blood reacts to my presence and I focus to my arm, but there's a block, whatever drug he gave me, there is no water content, none, the only upside is that its slow to spread. I can't stop it. I can't control a drug that has zero water. I can't get it out of me.I curse again and the man takes a step back and leans against a tree. He produces a cigarette and lights it.
I curse loudly again and the man smirks. "See, we figured out a new formula for the drug. Lovely isn't it? It's a bit more like a slushy than liquid, but it gets the job done. We were getting sick and tired of you pulling out the tranquilizers." The burning is halfway to my shoulder, I can't let it spread. I can't fight if I'm passed out. I can't fight even if I'm double over like this. The barking and howling continues to grow louder. It can't end like this.

The man whistles loudly using two of his fingers, "We're over here!" He shouts.

"Shut up."

He chuckles, "Or what freak? You'll move some water around and shove it down my throat? No, I don't think so." The howling is close, I have to move. My shoulder is starting to burn. I'm running out of time. Once the drug out of my arm it there will be no chance of containing it. I'll be defeating. I can't accept that.

Help me.

The water in my blood responds and begins to pull away to form a wall within my veins, and slowly as the water builds up, blocking the drug. Faster. Men emerge from the forest. I can hear the dogs being restrained just out of eyesight. There are four Handlers, the stranger takes one last drag and stamps out his cigarette. "Glad you found us alright." He greets the Handlers who are all looking at me. I close my eyes. Faster. The burning has stopped spreading, but how long can I hold my blood for? I can't keep this up. I need to get away and get somewhere safe until the drug wears off.

"Seems the new formula is working." One Handler states.

"Shouldn't she be passed out by now though? I don't like it." Another speaks.

The stranger shrugs, "She hasn't moved from that position since I stuck her. She'll be out shortly. They did assure us that the drug works."

"They told you that?" I say and look at them, I let go of my arm, trusting the water in my veins to keep the drug contained. They all reach for their guns and take a step back. "I was waiting for you." I say and push myself to my feet. I sway slightly but manage to stay upright. Just a little longer. "I knew I wouldn't be safe until I took care of whoever came after me."

"She's bluffing." The stranger says.

"Are you willing to test that theory?" I say, but he's right. I can't fight, not like this. The moment my focus shifts off the water in my blood the drug will spread.

One of the Handlers glares at the stranger who stuck me. "I thought you said it was working."

"It is working. I'm telling you she's bluffing, she hasn't even moved since she stood up. You called for a Specialist, so we'll wait for him to arrive."

A Specialist? I've never heard that word come out of the mouth of Handler, and I don't like the sound of it. But what can I do? Then a crazy idea comes to me, a stupid, dangerous, crazy idea. Freeze. The water in my blood freezes, effectively holding the drug back. I look up and grin at the Handlers, my vision turning gray.

"You shouldn't have called my bluff." I call the water out of the earth and it jumps out of the ground and pools under my palm like a floating jellyfish. I shot it towards the Handlers like baseballs and jump to the side as they go for their guns. I'm not sure how long my blood will stay frozen. I have to end this fight immediately. More water jumps to my hands and I shoot it towards the Handlers, this time willing it to freeze and hit them where it will hurt. But before the water gets halfway it falls the ground and the fire in my arm intensifies and spreads.

I yell out, but the water in my blood doesn't respond, it's unfrozen, the drug is loose. My vision is colorful. I panic. Help me. Nothing. Please help me. The water doesn't respond.

"I'm here now." There is a figure in the shadow of the trees, I drop to my knees. The world spinning my body burning I collapse to the ground. There is nothing but heat and pain and I groan, too overwhelmed to cry. Let me die. But the water ignores me.

"What took you so long?" The stranger demands.

The figure in the shadows doesn't reply, a Handler puts his foot under me and flips me onto my back. I stare at the blue cloudless sky and curse it. This day shouldn't be so beautiful. "That doesn't matter." He says looking down at me with a small half smile, "All that matters is that she's ours. Sleep now Adie, you'll be handled with care I assure you."

"Go...to...hell..." He chuckles and my vision fades away.

I remember something...an old memory long forgotten emerges from the depths of my mind and consumes the darkness and pain. I embrace it and remember.

I run around the back yard of the orphanage with the other children. There are so many of us. I can't remember their names. I only remember one boys name, Steven. He is playing on the swings while I playtag with the other boys and girls. Eventually I figure out that no one is actually chasing me or even paying attention to me. I decide to go visit Steven instead.

Steven is a year older than me, but he is the only one that's befriended me since I've come to the orphanage. It's the only reason I remember his name. "Whatcha doing?" I ask, he isn't swinging, he just stares down at a crumpled photo that he holds gently in his hands. His feet scatter woodchips as he twirls them around in random circles.

"Nothing." He looks up, stuffing the photo in his pocket as he does, "I thought you were playing tag." I look away, and try not to show how upset I am.

"I didn't feel like playing." I shrug and Steven makes a face.

"Whatever you say Ed." I crinkle my nose at the nickname. Since I met Steven he has called me Ed, I never understood why. I've only ever heard him use my name once, and that was when he thought I had been hurt from falling off the monkey bars.

"Well come on, let's do something fun." I hold out my hand, but he doesn't take it right away.

"Like what?" He asks, kicking more woodchips. I shrug and look around.

"Sandbox?" I offer. He makes another face.

"I saw a stray cat pooping in there, I won't ever play in it again." He accuses. My mouth drops, I was about to call him a liar but he stands up and takes my hand before I can, "Come on." He pulls me away from the swing and towards the edge of the lawn, where the fence towers over us. There are hedges growing off to one side and he runs towards them. My shoes are a little big for my feet, so I keep stumbling. Finally we reach the corner of the fence and duck down into the hedges.

"What are we running from this time? Wild dogs? Dinosaurs?" I ask excited. His face isn't playful though, he just sits in the dirt under the branches, staring out through the fence. One of his hands is in his pocket, fingering his photo.

"Do you miss it?" He asks, I've found a caterpillar and watch it climb up a stick.

"Miss what?" I ask distracted.

"That." He motions towards the woods beyond our fenced yard and happy little world, "The real world, vacations, your parents." I frown. I'm paying attention to the caterpillar anymore.

"I don't..." I stop talking and bite the inside of my cheek. I never liked talking about this with Steven, I hate when he gets like this, when he's serious.

"Don't what Ed?" He demands, his hand is in a fist in his pocket, "Why don't you ever finish? I'm not going to tease you like everyone else, I'm your friend." He promises.

"I don't want to talk about it." I pout, trying to distract myself with the caterpillar again.

A look comes over Stevens face, his freckles and blonde hair accent his wild blue eyes, "You don't remember." He says firmly. I feel my stomach knot up and I don't feel good suddenly.

"I said I don't want to talk about it." I look away and stare intently at the ground at my feet, I won't cry in front of Steven.

"Ed, look at me." I pout but I look up at him, his face has become softer and he's pulled out the photo from his pocket. "These are my parents. Here, See." He shares his photo with me for the first time. I feel like I am peeking on something I'm supposed to. He has never shown me the photo before, but now that he's offered it to me, I look at it greedily, memorizing the entire thing, just in case he never shows it to me again.

"That's my dad." Steven points to the older man on the left hand side of the photo. On the man's shoulders is Steven, a little younger but still Steven. He still has the blonde hair, freckles, and blue eyes. "That's mom." He says softer. I let out a breath that I've been holding; his mother looks just like Steven. Long blonde hair, light freckles, and vibrant blue eyes. They are all smiling back at me and they are a little red at the cheeks, as if they had been laughing in the sun all day.

"You look like your mom." I say quietly, breaking the silence that's slipped between us. Steven just nods then looks at me.

"How could you forget Ed?" He asks, "How can you forget your parents?"

"I don't know." I almost cry but I hold my tears back, Steven hates when I cry. He would call me a silly girl then run off. Tears make him uncomfortable. "I just, can't remember." I admit, "Before I came here I lived somewhere else, a different orphanage. I don't think I ever knew them. Maybe I'm just a regular orphan."

Steven looks angry when I say that, "You're a Misfit, don't ever forget that. We aren't like them." I gulp at the way he says 'them'. The venom in his voice is unmistakable. I hug my knees close.

"I don't think I want to be a Misfit anymore." I say quietly. My voice sadder than I want it.

"Don't say that Ed." He says firmly, "Or else we can't be friends. Us Misfits have to stick together. Promise me we'll stick together." He reaches out and touches my arm.

I manage a nod, "I promise." Steven nods back and together we leave the hedges to go back inside. We're both hungry and ready for lunch. Our conversation in the hedges isn't mentioned. What happens in the hedges stays in the hedges.

The memory fades and I open my eyes to blackness. I panic, thinking I've lost my sight. My hands shoot out and hit solid metal. I suck in a sharp breath and reach out with my feet and hands at the same time. I'm in a metal box. My God, they've buried me alive. My heart picks up and my breath comes out in short ragged gasps. I bang against the box and push but there is nothing to pry open, nothing to move or push. Help.

And the water in my blood responds. I instantly let out breath of relief and close my eyes. The water hasn't abandoned me. I focus on the water, I sense as it flows through my veins and into my organs and skin. It calms me, helps me clear my mind. They can't have buried me alive. If they wanted me dead they would have shot me. They've placed me in this box so I wouldn't be able to find water. I put my hands flat against the metal. There is a steady vibration that hums through my fingers when I do and my body rocks in consistent intervals.

What would you do if you've just captured a dangerous person and put them in a box, I ask myself, I'd throw the box in a trunk and take them wherever it is they needed to be taken to. So there's the answer. I must be in a car or a truck of some sort. I turn my body and press my ear against the metal. After a few seconds I can barely make out the irregular hum of voices. I lay on my back again and close my eyes, connecting with my blood to keep me calm and focused.

Breathe slowly and steadily, if the box is sealed then you need to save your air. I breathe through my nose and focus on my heartbeat.

What will I do when they open the box?

Fight and run.

I'm not sure if they've expected the drug to wear off this quick, but the moment the box opens I know I have to make a move. It may be my last chance. So in my mind I play and replay possible attacks, outcomes, and scenarios. I decide that it might be best if I pretend to still be drugged when they open the box, and then spring a surprise attack. They might expect me to do something like that, but it's the one option that seems to have the best possible outcome. At least, I hope, there's also the chance that they don't plan on taking me out of the box. I shake my head, don't think about that. Just think about the here and now and what you'll do when the time comes.

The steady sway of the box turns rough and the vibrations more violent, which tells me that if I am in a car. Then we've just gone off the paved road, and that's never a good thing. Images of them shooting me in the head and dumping my body over a cliff fill my brain and I have to focus on breathing again. I have to remind myself that the government doesn't have to go off the beaten path to kill people. They just do it.

Eventually there are a few thumps that sound like car doors shutting then my box moves and sways violently. My stomach churns from the sensation of moving and not being able to see. I ready myself for the moment the box opens. I close my eyes place my arms at my sides and breathe steadily. I try not the think about where they are taking me or what I'll find when they do open it. I just breathe. Then I'm set down, I know because the box jolts and the sensation in my stomach disappears.

There is a grinding noise. Light hits my face along with new air. I don't flinch, I just breathe. "She's still out." Water. The water in my own blood responds, and I know that when I open my eyes. I will be able to see where my ally is. "Good, get her on the table and start the monitoring process."

"Very well."A door shuts. I open my eyes and push myself up grabbing onto any water source in the room. An IV pouch bursts and the solution knocks a doctor in a white lab coat off his feet. His head hits the ground and he doesn't move. I'm on my feet and facing another doctor, he drops the clipboard and hold up his hand.

"Please don't kill me." The solution from the IV pouch shoot forward and knocks him in the head like a fist. I drop the connection and run for the door. Miraculously it's unlocked and swings open. I step into a white hallway with bright florescent lights. I'm not sure which way to go, so I turn left, and I run as fast as I can.

My first mistake was going to town. My second mistake was helping the stranger who turned out not to be in need of help after all. And my third mistake was taking a left. I'm not sure taking a right would have been better, but I need something to blame other than my internal compass.

I expect to run into a patrol of guards or a group of Handlers every time I turn a corner. But there is nothing, just white walls, white lights, white floors, and white doors. With every step the bad feeling crawling down my spine grows. I feel like I'm in some experimental underground laboratory. And then it takes me two seconds to remind myself that I probably am. I run faster, sweat begins to bead on my skin and run down my neck. I'm probably going in circles.

I reach a hallway that ends with two double doors. It's the first difference I've seen so I run for them. Once through them the building changes, the temperature drops and the walls are concrete and the lights are dimmer. The doors are solid metal and on each door there is a letter and a number. I shiver and run past turn offs of other hallways with more concrete and more doors. It feels like a prison. And I shudder again, because this place probably is a prison, and a laboratory, and whatever else governments have to keep secrets. I descend a few steps and push through a light metal door with a small square window.

I take eight steps into the room before I stop in my tracks and realize what sort of place I've just entered. It's as big as a gymnasium, with no windows. The walls are concrete and the floors a dark linoleum with drains scattered throughout. Chains hang from the ceiling like some medieval dungeon, there are chains hooked into the floor with large metal rings. Troughs of water line the left wall and there is blood on the floor and tables with metallic instruments that I don't even want to imagine what could be used for. Straight ahead to metal staircases line either wall and attach to a catwalk against wall. There I can see three doors, and man standing on the catwalk, watching me.