Biana

Shoot! Biana thought. She needed to escape. But Fintan was watching her like a hawk. His eyes sparkling with amusement. Biana was caged. Trapped. His prisoner. Well, technically, the redhead's prisoner. But it was one in the same. They were both in the Neverseen. Both evil. And both insane. 

How could a girl so young join the Neverseen? What had made her so full of rage, she'd resort to evil and revenge?

She tried to wriggle her wrists from their binds, but it was no use. It only scratched her skin and Biana could feel a rash forming. 

"Can you let me out of here?" Biana asked Fintan, "It really smells. Like, bad." she scrunched her nose to prove it, the odors of the smelly cave-looking area stung her nose. 

Fintan laughed.

"You'll get used to it," he said, circling Biana. Inspecting her. Watching her. 

"I've been here for hours," Biana whined, "I got to go to the bathroom! Also, when will that girl come back?" 

He stared, glaring into Biana's eyes without speaking. 

"What's the purpose in keeping me captive if you aren't going to torture information out of me? Interrogate me?" 

She instantly regretted the words, hoping he didn't get any ideas. Luckily, he wasn't listening. 

"Helloooo? Are you ignoring me? Rude!" Biana grumbled, her voice hitting an unusually high pitch as she whined, but Fintan just stared into the distance, dazed. Communicating with Gethen?

She groaned. Redhead was much more fun. With her snarky remarks and at least then, Biana had a chance at getting information. Redhead loved to talk. Sadly, Fintan insisted on being boring. No villain monologue or anything. Not even empty threats of torture. 

But on the bright side, it gave Biana time to think of a plan. How would she escape? What could she use to her advantage? 

She couldn't escape with Fintan there, that was a fact. But should she wait? Or try a trick?

The wheels inside Biana's head turned, winding and whizzing as they thought up a plan for escape. 

Biana pursed her lips, trying not to show emotion as she twisted and rubbed her wrists. The pain burned. But she instead focused on other thoughts to distract from the pain. 

Once free, she'd look for Fitz. She needed to tell him about Alvar. They'd devise a plan to rescue their friends. And hopefully find out where Sophie was. Wait. Sophie! If Biana was with the Neverseen, and Sophie had been kidnapped, she was bound to be in a dungeon of some sort. She had to be somewhere nearby.

But what worried Biana, was the fact that Sophie hadn't tried to reach out. No attempted telepathic communication, no nothing. Was she hurt? Unconscious? ...Dead?

Biana shoved the thought from her mind. No. Sophie was strong. Stronger than the Neverseen's tricks. Stronger than their techniques. If Biana had to guess, Sophie was just biding her time until she could find a chance to escape. Knowing the Neverseen, they were watching Sophie like a hawk. 

Biana internally cheered as she pulled one hand free from her binds. Now, the second. But before she could even try, a voice spoke. 

"I'm back." And Biana turned to see the redhead. Her electric blue eyes glittering with excitement as she entered.

"Finally," grumbled Fintan, turning to leave the cave room. 

"Aw," the redhead pouted, though a grin was hinted at the corners of her mouth, "You don't want to play a little?" 

Biana raised an eyebrow.

"Play what? Base Quest? 'Cause, I'm all for that. Wanna cut me loose?" Biana jumped in, though her comment was disregarded with a redhead scowl. 

"I've got an assignment. So, help yourself." 

With that, Fintan trudged out of the room and leaving Biana alone with the redhead. 

"If you didn't mean Base Quest, what games do you wanna play?" Biana did her best to keep her voice from shaking, and her gaze determined. She wouldn't show the redhead how terrified she was. Did 'games' mean torture? Something worse? 

"Tell me," the redhead said, "Do you really think Alvar is evil?" 

Biana blinked. No questions about the Black Swan? About Fitz and Keefe's whereabouts? Nothing important? Biana shook the thoughts away. She should be glad she wasn't being probed for real answers. 

"So," Biana said, ignoring the redhead's question, "You're an Inflictor? Rather rare ability, isn't it?"

The redhead shrugged.

"It's important no one knows, okay? So, keep it hush." 

Biana grinned. 

"You're asking me to keep it a secret?" she asked, chuckling, "We're enemies. I'm surprised you're not blackmailing me to keep it secret. You're just... asking."

Another shrug, "I prefer to do this the easy way. No one gets hurt. But if you insist on being a pain, I can change that?" 

It was an actual question. Genuine and all, from what Biana could tell. Her voice was innocent. Sincere. Why? How?

"Do you have a name?" Biana pried, "Or do I just call you 'Redhead'?" 

The girl laughed, tossing her red hair past her shoulder. 

"'Redhead' works. And you're Biana. Alvar's sister, right? So, do you really think he's evil?" 

They were back to this again. What was it with this girl? She was working with the Neverseen. But at the same time, it felt as though she weren't. As if, she followed their orders, but in her own way. She was independent. Strong willed. 

Similar to how you'd wear a uniform to school, but in your own style. Leaving your own "touch" for personality. It was strange. But intriguing. And for that, Biana answered truthfully. 

"Alvar is a traitor. He's hurt many people. And he deserves to die for that. At least, that's my brothers thoughts..."

"And you?" 

Biana met Redhead's eyes, "Huh?" 

"You. What do you think? Does Alvar deserve to die?" 

Pursing her lips, Biana searched her mind for an honest answer. She'd never really thought about it, before. Sure, she'd thought he'd deserved whatever came to him. But, death? He was her brother. Family. Would Biana kill him if the chance came? Could Biana kill him?

"I... think he deserves whatever horrible things come to him. But, I don't think I could kill him. He's family. And family deserves a second chance." 

Redhead stayed silent, as if processing the words. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. 

"What are you thinking?" Biana asked when it felt as though the silence alone would kill her, "Why do you care so much? About Alvar?"

"He's like family to me," she answered, a loving smile crossed her face, "He saved my life."

Biana straightened. Alvar? Save a life? As far as Biana knew, he was a traitor. He'd kidnapped Sophie and Dex. Hurt them. He'd killed, too. Or... been the cause of death. But he was a monster. What did this girl see in him?

"Explain," Biana prompted. And Redhead didn't argue, gladly sharing her story. 

"I was lost. I didn't know where I belonged or what my purpose was. I just knew that I was hurt," she said the word sadly. As if she still felt that way sometimes. As if she wasn't fully complete. And Biana couldn't help but feel a hint of sympathy for her. 

"But then I met Alvar. He showed me my purpose. Gave me everything I have. A home, strength, family." 

"What happened to your family?" Biana couldn't stop herself from asking, starting to twist her final hand from the ropes. She should've done that awhile ago, but she'd forgotten about it. 

"They died. The Black Swan murdered them. And that's another thing Alvar gifted me. Revenge."

"The Black Swan...?" she asked, "I'm sorry to say this but... I think Alvar lied to you. I don't think it was the Black Swan who murdered your family." 

Redhead fixed her posture, her shoulders straightening with curiosity. 

"Then who?"

"I don't know. But the Black Swan wouldn't do something like that. We're the good guys."

And suddenly, Biana felt like she needed to help this girl. Show her the truth. After all, she couldn't let her go down the wrong path when it's all built on a lie. If there was a valid reason, sure. Biana would let it be. But it wasn't. It was a lie. All that rage, revenge, and anger. It was all based off a lie.

Redhead's laugh cut Biana from her thoughts, "The 'good guys'? No. You guys messed with my mind. Hurt me. My parents. My little sister. They're dead because of you." 

"Messed with your mind?" 

The girl refused to go into detail. Probably feeling vulnerable. An idea began to form in Biana's mind. This girl had a weakness. Biana just needed to expose it and she'd be free. 

"If you tell me what they did to you, I might have a change of heart towards them. I don't want to live a lie. Please." 

That sparked something in the girl. It made her relax, if only a little. 

"The Black Swan hurt me," she repeated, taking a shaky breath as she relived the memory, "They tortured me. Burned me." 

Rolling up her sleeve to show faint burn marks for proof. It must've been awhile ago, because they definitely weren't recent. Biana glared at the marks. Whatever they were, it wasn't the Black Swan. They didn't have the tools for that. And Marella hadn't been in the Black Swan for long, let alone a pyrokinetic. 

"That burn mark?" Biana said, "Wasn't the Black Swan. Our only pyrokinetic, Marella, hasn't been in our group for very long. And that was what, three years ago-four?- I'm guessing?" she waited for the girl to nod before continuing, "Marella wasn't here back then. There's no way it could've been her. Or anyone else in the Black Swan." 

"It was. I know it."

Biana was intrigued by the confidence in the girl's voice. She sounded certain. As if it were a fact. No question about it.

"How are you so sure?" 

"Because... that's what I remember."