Biana

Biana's eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she forgot where she was. But seconds after fully waking up, it all came rushing back; the memories, crashing into her like a tidal wave.

Being kidnapped, taken hostage, talking to Sophie. Sophie. Tears once again welled in Biana's eyes. 

When Sophie said she'd been forgetting things, getting sudden urges to hurt people, it was the Neverseen. They were brainwashing her. Erasing the truth. They were lying to Sophie. And it was hurting her, more than she even realized. It was like an invisible weight on Sophie's shoulders. Undetectable, but still affecting her. 

Sophie was gone. Not dead. But lost. She was breaking, Biana knew. And it wouldn't be long until she was broken. Shattered. The confusion Biana was giving Sophie. 

Sophie had been so sure, before. And now? She was probably confused. Lost. Scared. 

Scared that she might not be who she thought she was. Scared of getting hurt. By Alvar, and everyone else she cared about. She was scared of herself. Scared of the truth. 

Scared, scared, scared. It was a never-ending cycle of fear. And it was crushing Sophie. 

"But she needs to remember," Biana whispered to herself, a tear slipping past her cheek and onto the cold, stone floor. 

That's when Biana finally took in to account on her surroundings. Another cave, barred and trapped in with stalagmites and stalactites. She was trapped. 

And Biana wished more than ever that she could be a Telepath. Just to tell Sophie she was sorry. That she didn't mean anything. It was all a trick. 

Sophie was a true Neverseen member. Fighting for what she believed was good and just. 

"What about you?" Sophie's voice rang in Biana's mind. She'd been focusing so much on Sophie. But what about her? Biana? What did she think? She'd just learned one of her best friends were being tricked. Lied to. And being misguided down the wrong path. By none other than Alvar-- Biana's traitorous brother. He was manipulating Sophie. And it angered Biana. That wasn't even the right word. Infuriated. Biana was furious with her brother.

She pounded the rocky ground, pain buzzing through her arm and she cradled her arm with instant regret. 

Biting back a yelp of pain, she tried to process her thoughts. Sort through her emotions. But as she was doing so, she realized. When Sophie had inflicted, she'd inflicted all her emotions. And Biana could use that to her advantage. See Sophie's mental status, and go from there. Figure out how to help Sophie. Tell her the truth, without shattering her sanity.

Because Sophie was different. Guilt didn't affect her like everyone else. It was something much more. Something not entirely specific. 

She remembered confusion, for sure. It was the base of the many emotions that had overwhelmed Biana into submission. But alongside it was anger, hurt, doubt, rebellion, denial, pain. 

And many more emotions. The list went on and on. But those emotions were strongest. Biana blinked back tears, but realizing she was alone, she decided it was okay. Okay to let down her guard. For once in her life, she didn't have to be the perfect golden child the Vacker name had bestowed upon her.

She didn't have to be perfect, happy, or brave. No. She could just be Biana. She let the tears spill from her eyes, screaming her cries into her arm to muffle the noise. 

Sophie was gone. She couldn't be saved. Helped. Not now. And if Biana was trapped, unable to coax Sophie back, it might stay that way forever. Sophie needed to be strong enough to learn the truth. To get through the two emotions and confusion. But if Biana wasn't present to keep Sophie in between, she'd lean towards the Neverseen and her confidence in Alvar would be restored. Not only that but strengthened. 

Biana needed to warn someone. Fitz. Keefe. Wraith. Someone. But, she was helpless. 

Biana mumbled a string of *unfriendly* words. Why did she have to manifest as a Vanisher? Sure, it had helped her get out of a bind a couple times before. But it would've helped a lot more if she'd manifested as a Telepath. A Pyrokinetic to defend herself. Or even a Hydrokinetic. 

Something useful. Nope. Biana was stuck as a useless, sitting duck. Left powerless. A laugh bubbled in her throat. How had she managed to keep up the "golden child" act so long? She was useless. Powerless. She couldn't even protect her friends. She had no chance of doing something great with her future, like the other Vackers before her. She'd never had a chance. 

Not like Fitz. He was a Telepath. Got his nexus off early, almost impenetrable mind, could break into almost any mind. He was strong, brave, and he'd been the one to find Sophie in the first place. In a way, he'd technically saved the world because he'd found her. 

What had Biana done? What had she accomplished? Yeah, she had a few scars. Sure, she'd been Sophie's friend. She'd fought beside the Moonlark multiple times. But other than the gorgodon time, when had her ability actually come to the rescue? When had she done something great? Save the moonlark, save the gnome species, fight against the ogre king? Join the Neverseen for someone else's sake? 

Please, Fitz. Biana thought, Please connect. Talk to me. I need to tell you something.