Foolish girl, Grandmother’s voice, without echo, sliced across my thoughts so cleanly that I flinched.

But my daughter…

Is safe enough for now. You will do her no good if you storm back to Camp 32 still broken. Please, believe me when I tell you this.

I listened with every shred of my concentration, searching for any emotional whisper I could find behind her words. But the silence was absolute, and there was nothing. Anger welled within me and I felt Her rumble in response.

Why should I? You keep your thoughts hidden, memories of Martin and Kseniya and their half truths colored my words and I knew she felt my distrust.

Grandmother sighed, You have learned nothing, and I watched her eyes change color from green to brown.

The shields fell and I heard a new voice, rich with pain and hatred, No, you are not the only one who was speared open and driven insane. I heard the wail of the Camp 32 sirens and the slam of a cell door.

“Who are you?”

Natalya. Now, shut up and listen to me.