'Ouch!' Riley's voice echoes across the empty parking lot. She pulls up the sleeve of her jacket, or Grayson's jacket rather, to examine the scratch on her arm, now slowly beginning to bleed. The barbed wire fence she just crawled through clearly isn't very forgiving. 

Ignoring the pain, she turns to face the building that's casting a dark and foreboding shadow across the property. A single lamp, hanging above the side entrance, sheds a little light on the situation. Carefully moving closer to the door, she looks up at the set of security camera's hanging from a high pole nearby. Though they aren't moving or showing any functionality, she decides not to take any chances. Pulling the hood of the jacket over her head, she keeps to the shadows as she sneaks over. 

Reaching the door, about to begin questioning herself as she assumes it to be locked, she notices the small crack of light. The door is already open. This can't be good, but she can't turn back now. Perhaps her enemy is ready for a face to face as well. 

Soundlessly stepping inside, leaving the door ajar behind her, she takes out a small gun she stole from Sofia's bag last night. Holding it pointed at the ground she examines her surroundings. A large hall, filled with shipping containers and large machinery clearly meant for lifting, is partially lit by yellow lights coming from a control panel in the far corner. There's no movement, no sound, no sign of life for as far as she can see. A shipping invoice lying on top of a crate next to her confirms she's in the right place. She can feel her pulse in her fingertips as she tightens her grip on the gun and begins walking through the hall, seeking direction. 

The sound of her short breaths appears louder than it is in the unnerving silence. Then she sees a light peering through a window upstairs. A steel staircase leads her to the door next to it as she tries to see through. Still no movement, no person in sight. Holding her breath, she very slowly opens the door. A bright white light in the distance, tables, more machinery and equipment come into view as she makes her way inside. A lab? 

Her first thought is quickly confirmed as she walks to the nearest table and observes the test tubes filled with different chemicals, followed by a few empty syringes and one filled. Filled with glowing green liquid. This is it, the place the Glow is made. Overcome by dread as she looks at everything, she suddenly feels extremely unsafe. She had managed to keep calm up until this point, but now is certain she's minutes away from peril. 

She's distracted from her abrupt panic, however, when she hears a voice in the distance. She could swear someone said her name. The need for answers overpowers her fear as she moves further through the lab, finally ending up in front of a large white plastic curtain blocking her way. 

'Riley...' 

The voice again, like a faraway whisper. It sends a chill down her spine as the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Her hand trembles as she reaches out and touches the curtain, carefully pushing it aside. 

In the bright white light the sight she perceives makes her question reality. It's too similar to her dreams. 

Is she really here? 

Is he? 

Strung up by his wrists, dangling from the ceiling, Aaron's unconscious body just barely touches the floor. It pains her to even look at him. As she wills herself to get closer she's halted by the sensation of familiarity. If this is a dream, then now would be the moment her enemy shows up. Standing right behind her. 

'Riley.' 

Her eyes open wide, staring into nothingness as she realizes it's no longer a whisper. She knows this voice. 

Gradually she begins to turn around, unable to lift her sight from the floor until she's facing her company. When her eyes are met by the eyes she was expecting, her body feels like it's slipping into a comatose state. 

'Welcome to the end.' The familiar voice speaks before raising a baseball bat and slamming it against the side of Riley's head. 

Certain her sanity has finally cracked, she crashes to the floor beside her gun.

∾

The cold touch of the ground barely registers in Riley's numbing fingers, but enough to wake her. Opening her eyes as she exhales, she sees weightless white powder fly up on her breath. One quick pull and she's up, trying to find balance on her frigid legs. 

Eyeing the miles of snow covered ground interrupted by icy white trees, she hopes to get her bearings. To the backdrop of midnight blue the forest is lit by a full moon. The feeling of recognition the area gives her is somehow discomforting. 

Beginning to walk in a random direction, she considers her current predicament and the apparent loss of memory. Though she recalls entering the CH Tech building, any events that may have followed are out of her reach. All that's clear to her now is the lack of warmth Grayson's jacket is providing as she wraps her arms around her body. Feeling unusually calm she admires the serene view, only for the intrusion to arrive just in time. 

The sound of footsteps cracking in the fresh snow close by makes her veer around and flash her wide eyes in every direction. Appearing like a wake-up call the dark figure wearing the black mask steps out from behind a tree and into the moonlight. Riley's previously gentle breathing is stalled as her heart rate quickens. At the figure's first sign of movement she begins running as fast as her frozen legs will allow. 

Pushing through the thick snow, struggling to avoid the many low-hanging branches, she rushes aimlessly through the woods. Her tired body, stinging from the cold, can barely keep up as she gasps for air. Just as she realizes she's about to break down she feels the ground underneath her feet even out. It's only then that she looks around and identifies the road she's standing on. Spotting the large sign a few yards off, signaling the nearby town, she understands the familiarity she'd noted before. 

She knows this place. 

Sinking to the asphalt, she gives in to the pain and fatigue. As she hugs herself in hopes of warmth, she glances back at the forest she just escaped. Unable to move she stares at the masked figure getting nearer, finally towering over her. 

As memories flood back Riley looks up at the black mask, noticing a pale hand taking hold of it. 

And as the disguise is dropped at long last, she gazes at her best friend.

∾

'Wake up... wake up... come on, let's go...' Tapping on Riley's shoulder with the little handgun, Bryn loudly expresses her annoyance until Riley begins to open her eyes. 'Finally! You kept me waiting a really long time, and you know I'm not very patient.' 

Letting out a painful moan Riley feels the throbbing and stinging of the large bump on her head. As Bryn positions herself directly in front of the chair she's tied Riley to, Riley enters the first stage, denial. 'No... no, I'm dreaming. This isn't happening.' 

'Afraid it is.' Bryn states. Still impatient, unwilling to deal with Riley's emotional state, Bryn begins pacing around the room. 'Did you seriously steal one of Sofia's guns? What where you planning on doing with it?' 

Ignoring the question, Riley looks up at the girl she barely recognizes. 'You...? It was all you?'

Sarcastically Bryn begins slowly clapping her hands. 'Congratulations, Riley! You solved the mystery! And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling kid!' 

Dazed, Riley stares at her as she jokes. 'Why would you do all this?' 

'Well, according to my therapist it's because I'm... 'confused'. Which is a nice way of saying she thinks I'm crazy.' 

Bryn's upbeat voice, like she's enjoying it, baffles Riley. 'I... I don't understand. Therapist?' 

'Yeah, that was my mother's idea. Because I couldn't deal with losing dad, like it wasn't her fault... But she wouldn't be my mother if she didn't find some way to put it all on me!' 

'Her fault...?' 

Sighing heavily, Bryn interrupts Riley's puzzlement. 'Fine, I'll try to make it clearer. First thing you should know, my dad's death... wasn't an accident.'

February, 2011

Softly closing the front door behind her, Bryn glances into the dimmed hall. As she begins dragging her sleeping bag and backpack to the staircase she's about to attempt sneaking to her room unnoticed when she hears voices coming from the dining room. 

Tiptoeing through the hallway she pauses by the sliding double doors, finding them partly opened. The voices are louder now, it's her parents, they're shouting. Afraid to have them find her home early from the sleepover because she got homesick, but at the same time urged to hear what the argument is about, she positions herself with her back to the wall next to the doors. '

Who did you think you were fooling, Michael?! Everyone knows what's been going on!'

'For god's sake, Lily, restrain yourself. Do you want the whole neighborhood to hear?'

'What does it matter?! My reputation's a joke either way! Don't you care about anything but yourself?! Don't you care about this family?!'

'Family? You call this a family? It's a sham, my entire existence is a lie! And I'm sick of it! She's the only real thing in my life anymore and I will not walk away from it!'

'So you're going to abandon us instead?! Because you got a better deal somewhere else?! A new wife and a new daughter?!'

Slowly slumped to the floor, Bryn's eyes tear up as she listens, comprehending what's being said. This isn't the first time she's hid in the shadows, quietly suffering as she witnesses her parents' marriage fall apart. But it is the first time she's heard the truth, one she'd frightfully suspected but was never confirmed. When her mother's voice reaches her again, there's a change in the tone.

'Sorry, darling, but I can't let that happen. I simply have too much to lose.'

'Lily, what are you doing? Put that down.'

'Don't worry, I'll tell Diana goodbye for you.'

The gunshot's blow surges through the house as Bryn's heart stops. Reluctantly falling to her hands and knees, she crawls to the door. In the flickering light of the fireplace the scene comes into view. 

As her eyes find her father's, his distant gaze in her direction, she can see the life slip right out of him. The dark red stain in his white blouse expands across his chest as he stops breathing. Unable to do anything but watch, she starts to quiver as the shock takes hold. 

Finally she looks up at her mother, standing frozen in place with the gun in her hand, staring back at her daughter. All color has drained from her face, but her expression is apathetic. As she carefully places the gun on the end table next to her she clears her throat and straightens the hem of her skirt.

'Bryn, go upstairs. You don't need to see what happens next.'

Horrified Riley listens to the story, finally looking at Bryn, her face as detached as her mother's was. 'I don't understand. Your father... and my mother...?' 

'Had an affair.' Bryn fills in. 'And a kid. Ah, all the illegitimate children going around. First Amber, now...' 

She gazes at Riley, waiting for her to connect the dots. But as thrown as she is, Riley can barely find the words to speak her mind. 'Carrie...?' 

A malicious little smile shapes Bryn's lips. 'Not quite.'