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                “Mankind united with infinitely greater purpose in pursuit of war than he ever did in pursuit of peace.”

                                Father, Equilibrium

                “You’re not going anywhere.”

                My eyes slowly come into focus as Toren looms into my sight, shoving Slate out of the way and into the grasp of waiting soldiers. He stares down at me, then shakes his head. “Damn it.” He curses under his breath. My whole body feels sore as the light from the machines around me and the lamp above me burn my skin.

                “Sit him up.” Toren says, stepping back from me. Two of the white-clad technicians scurry to my said and release the restraints around my waist and hands. They take my shoulders surprisingly gently and help me sit up with ease. My head throbs but it’s dull, almost unnoticeable except when I turn real suddenly.

The blow across the face is pretty sudden.

                I feel like my teeth are going to fall out, the back of Toren’s head twists my face so bad. I’m nearly pulled out of my leg restraints off the tilted bed the blow was so strong. “I’m amazed with your resistance, Sam.” Toren says, anger vividly evident across his face. “Most people would have cracked with all the drugs. But you managed to keep it together.”

                My face feels like it’s swelling already. The left side’s burning harshly. I looked back at up Toren, then glance at Slate. She’s staring a hole through him with her glare. Sadly, he doesn’t seem to notice it.

                “Take them back to the holding cell.” He yells, whirling away in anger.

                I don’t really notice them taking us out of the building into the concentration camp. I don’t really notice them driving us back to the original building, or taking us into the small cell where we first where. But when I’m shoved inside with Slate, the familiarity of the room echoes with me.

                Slate turns back to the guards as two of them aim guns at her while the third locks the door. Then the small contingent of them walk out, leaving us alone in the room full of cells. She watches them until they leave, then turns back to me. “You okay?” She asks, for the first time.

                “Yeah.” I say, holding my head as I stand. I don’t really hurt, I just feel like my head’s going to fall off my shoulders.

                “What happened?” She asks, moving around in front of me. She takes my head with some gentleness and looks into my eyes. I can tell she’s staring at my pupils. “You don’t look too bad.” She says softly.

                “That’s a relief.” I say, trying to smile.

                She steps back from me and flops down into the bench across the room. “So, what was it like?” She asks. “I mean, was it like a dream? Was it real?”

                “It was real.” I say, sitting down on the bench opposite from her. “I mean, vivid. Very.” I look at her and for a moment, I see her naked. I have to look away. “Very.”

                I stare at the ground for a moment, then look at her. But as I’m about to ask a question, I realize she’s glaring at me. “What?” I say.

                “I know that look.” She says viciously. “What happened?”

                I look down. If I give her the wrong answer, she might actually kill me. I look back at her. “Nothing I believed.” I say, my answer kind of stunning.

                “What does that mean?” She asked.

                “In the dream,” I say, trying to choose my words. I swallow. “They managed to get to you. They took away your will, I guess. Broke you.” I shrug. “It was vivid and realistic.” I smile. “But I simply couldn’t believe it.”

                She smiles, somewhat flattered.

                I sigh and lean back against the bars behind me. “So what do we do?” I ask. “I mean, what’s the plan?”

                Slate leans on her knees, thinking. “I don’t know. The security here is extra tight. And all the soldiers seem really top-notch. I’m not sure we could fight our way out of here, even if we could get out of the cell.”

                “Do you have any idea what Toren wants with us?” I ask. “I mean, any idea why he’s bothering to keep us around? Or why he’s doing any of this to begin with?”

                “Not a clue.” She says. “But I do know that he hasn’t gotten what he wants.” She looks across at me, a worried gaze in her eyes. “And I’m pretty sure he’s not through with us.”

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