Sophie gnced around the cold, uninviting cement walls that surrounded her as she found herself walking quietly down a hall holding a uniform in her arms. She gnced up at the person in front of her who had not spoken a word since they started moving but kept peering back and down at her through their venetian style mask. She tried not to make eye contact but instead was attempting to survey her surroundings to get used to her… home… for however long she was here. But no matter how much she gnced at the grey pocked walls; she found herself not any more at ease than she had been after separating from Nathan.

  “Boys and girls sleep in separate areas” Bir had said. Sophie sucked her cheeks in. Because Bir had been around for a while, she had received her own dorm. But since Sophie and Nathan were new, they would have to share a room with other, newer members of Insomniac. Sophie looked down at the uniform in her hands, staring at a non-distinct pin half mask in front of her. It wasn’t nearly as ornate as the one the person in front of her had. As if hearing her thoughts, the person in front spoke up.

  “It’s a symbol of your rank.” They expined. Sophie nodded quietly, looking back down. There was a pause before they suddenly stopped. The person opened a door for Sophie and suddenly the hall was filled with chatter which died down as they stepped into the room.

  “This is where you’ll be staying. There’s an empty cot over there. Set up your bed and get some rest. Your team leader will be here tomorrow to get you started on your duties for the mission.” They said. Sophie nodded, gncing up at them.

  “Thank you for your help. I appreciate it.” She said softly. They paused before nodding and turning away. Sophie turned around to face the room of women staring back at her. She gnced between all of the faces, while trying not to make eye contact. No one spoke as she headed over to the cot the person had mentioned. She could hear small giggles throughout the room, and shushing. Sophie found her heart pounding and felt as though this room was the longest room she had ever been in. She just wanted to go to sleep and try to get through this whole ordeal. Finally, she reached the bottom bunk of a cot. But before she could even y down, she heard something smming down onto her bed as more hushed giggles ricocheted through the room. Sophie’s head snapped up to see one of the women had smmed a bag onto Sophie’s cot. The woman looked at Sophie, smirking.

  “Sorry, love. Cot’s taken.” She said. Sophie found her body shaking as she made eye contact with the woman.

  “But… then where will I sleep?” Sophie asked. More giggles as the woman gnced down at the floor by the foot of the bed. Trembling, Sophie took her pillow and bnket out from her pile and id them on the floor quietly, not wanting to argue. Soon the room was filled with ughter as Sophie held back every urge to cry. She felt herself wanting to scream at this woman. To kick, fight, hurt this woman. But she also found herself wanting to run away. But she knew she couldn’t do that. Not now. Sophie said nothing as the door swung open.

  “Lights out dies.” A voice boomed. The ughter instantly ceased as all of the lights in the room suddenly went out. It wasn’t until Sophie was ying there in the silent darkness that she felt her heart break. She hoped Nathan wasn’t dealing with the same situation in his room. She found part of her heart wishing she had stayed in Marigold. At least she had a bed there… and an entire room for that matter. She id there for what felt like forever before she eventually fell asleep on the cold, hard floor feeling colder and more alone than she ever had in her life.

  “Sophie… Sophie…” A voice called out. Sophie opened her eyes and found herself standing in a beautiful meadow. She looked up to see a glorious sunset. Gncing back down she could see a small, older home sitting in the field with a woman standing on the porch. She waved to Sophie. As Sophie looked closely, she could see Cheshire sitting next to the woman. As Sophie made her way to the house, she could see the small rodent creatures from Marigold running through the fields. She looked up at the woman as she reached the house, much faster than she expected. The woman smiled at her warmly.

  “You’re just in time for tea. Come inside.” She said, holding her hand out. Despite Sophie not knowing the woman, she found her hand reaching out and grasping hers, allowing herself to be led into the house. Inside was a modestly decorated home. Lots of vintage furniture decorated the rooms. The woman smiled back at her.

  “My friends tell me that you have a kind soul. Which is why I’m afraid you’ve been chosen for this difficult journey” The woman expined. Sophie frowned as she stood in the kitchen, watching the woman as she filled a kettle with water and set it on the stove.

  “I’ve been chosen for a journey?” Sophie asked. The woman nodded.

  “You’ve been on it for a while.” She said, “I sent a few of my friends to watch after you, but so far one hasn’t been the kindest to you, and the other has been pying with you due to past conflicts.”

  Sophie paused.

  “That girl is she-“ Sophie began but was cut off by the woman gncing back down as she leaned against the countertop.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t go into details regarding anyone on your path. That’s for you to find out on your own.” She expined. Sophie let out a sigh.

  “Am I at least on the right path?” Sophie asked, “Or am I not supposed to be here?”

  The woman looked up at Sophie and smiled sweetly as the kettle began to whistle behind her.

  “All paths are the right one. No matter what, you will end up right where you need to be.” She expined. Sophie found herself snorting at that sentence.

  “Yeah, sure. That really helps me, Chimere.” She muttered sarcastically, then paused as she touched her mouth. What had she just said? The woman let out a ugh as she poured the water into two cups with tea bags in them.

  “I see you remember my name at least” The woman, known as Chimere, said. Cheshire, who had actually been there this whole time, just watched quietly as he sat on a counter. Sophie gnced over at him, then back to Chimere.

  “How did I know that?” She asked. Chimere looked her in the eyes as she handed her a cup of tea.

  “We’ve met, long before your accident.” Chimere expined. Sophie’s mouth dropped open.

  “You knew me before the accident?” Sophie asked, excitedly, “But then that means- “

  “I know who you were, yes” Chimere expined, “But I cannot tell you who you were. That is your own journey and your own choice to discover.”

  Sophie took a sip of her tea but found it tasted bitter. It sat in her mouth for a moment as she felt the bitter disappointment fill her mouth before swallowing. It travelled like a hard lump down her throat as she processed what Chimere had said to her. Once again, here was someone who could finally help her but wouldn’t. She looked back up at Chimere, frowning.

  “Why is it that everyone knows who I am more than I do? Why won’t anyone tell me who I am? Was I that terrible of a person?” She snapped. Chimere shook her head.

  “Sophie, no. It’s nothing like that-“ she began, but Sophie cut her off.

  “Then why won’t anyone say anything? Do you know what it’s like to have everyone look at you with a view of who you are in their mind? And for them to know you better than you know yourself? I don’t know who I was before the accident, and I don’t understand why no one can tell me!” She shouted, smming her fist on the table. The teacup next to her shivered at the impact. They all sat there for a moment in silence. Sophie stared at her teacup, watching as the ripples softened to calm herself down. She had never been this abrasive before… was this the kind of person she was? She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she spoke again.

  “Then why have you brought me here?” she asked. Chimere paused, gncing at Cheshire before looking back to Sophie.

  “I… thought you could use an escape for a moment.” Chimere said. Sophie ughed bitterly.

  “So, I’m going to go back then.” She said softly. Chimere looked down at her own cup.

  “Sophie… I need your help. The entirety of the dream world needs your help and-“ Chimere started but Sophie pced her cup down, squeezing her eyes shut again.

  “Sophie, don’t-“ Cheshire started but his voice was cut out by a sudden gush of ice-cold water waking Sophie up. Sophie’s eyes shot open as she sat up abruptly, gasping at the cold. She looked around, back in the room with the giggling girls. The woman who had put her bag on her cot st night stood over her, smirking.

  “Time to wake up, princess.” She sneered. Sophie said nothing but stood up and grabbed her clothes and mask and headed to the small bathroom in the back of the room. She took a moment to change out of her sopping wet clothes and into the uniform provided to her. It was a pin bck t-shirt and pants, with a baggy bck jacket over top. She pced the pin bck mask over her eyes and exited the room quietly, following behind the st women leaving the room. Not a single one acknowledged her presence. She followed the group quietly down the hallway, not even sure where she was going. Suddenly she heard a voice call out from behind her.

  “Paterson. You’re with me today.”

  Sophie turned around to see a girl with a more ornate, purple venetian style mask behind her. But she could recognize the shaggy brown hair and figure.

  “Bir!” She called out, turning around. Bir lifted the mask and smiled a bit, holding a finger to her lips as the women Sophie was following turned to look at the two of them.

  “C’mon Sophie. We have to be professional.” She hissed, still smiling as she looked up at Sophie. Sophie let out a sigh and nodded.

  “Sorry… it’s just after the night I had, it’s nice to see a familiar face.” Sophie muttered. Bir nodded.

  “Yeah… I remember. Nathan also didn’t have the best time st night. Come on, he’s over in the other room too. You both have some tests and such to take today. And since I vouched for you, I get to be your guys’ babysitter.” She expined. Sophie frowned.

  “But if Insomnia is supposed to be so much better to the LDPD, then why are they so awful?” She asked. Bir sighed.

  “There are awful people everywhere, Sophie. I’m not going to lie. And those idiots don’t realize that their attitude will end up making them useless and unable to rise in the ranks. It’s those who are able to resist and grow past that who end up rising through the ranks. Those who have the ability to see Insomnia’s vision through.” Bir expined. Sophie nodded.

  “And… what is exactly Insomnia’s vision?” Sophie asked. Bir smiled.

  “To destroy the LDPD, and with it earn freedom for all Dreamers.” Bir said wistfully. Sophie frowned.

  “Destroy?” She asked. Bir stared Sophie dead in the eyes, her smile faded.

  “Erase any sign of it ever existing. By any means necessary.” Bir said.

  Sophie frowned, but before she could ask any further questions, Nathan suddenly stumbled out of the room they were standing outside of, looking bruised and battered. He looked as though he had even less sleep than Sophie if it was possible.

  “Jeeze, Coello. You look even worse than Paterson here.” Bir joked. Neither of them ughed. After a moment of awkward silence Bir cleared her throat.

  “Okay then. Apparently, initiation is not going well. I’ll make a note of that. In the meantime, if you both follow me, we’ll get started on the information sessions.” Bir said as she spun around on her heel and headed down the hallway. Sophie found herself hesitating to follow but forced herself to continue down the hallway. Suddenly, Bir stopped and turned into a room. This room surprisingly looked like a cssroom with multiple rows of desks before a chalkboard. There was someone sitting in a chair at the front, reading a book. Some of the desks were filled with other members. Some looked young, perhaps just out of high school or even still at the high school age. Others looked older than Sophie. But everyone seemed to have an almost hollow look in their eyes. Sophie shuddered suddenly as a chill ran down her spine. Her mind suddenly snapped back as she realized Bir had been talking.

  “I’m sorry?” Sophie suddenly spoke up. Nathan and Bir stared at her for a moment before Bir repeated herself.

  “I was just saying, we’re going to start you off on some tests. To figure out where you should be pced for missions and such.” Bir expined, “Once we know that we can get you started. You’ll hang out here and when you’re done the instructor will let me know to come get you.”

  Sophie gnced over to the instructor who sat in the room, still reading their book. They didn’t even flinch when mentioned. Sophie looked back to Bir, but she was already leaving the room.

  “You’ll be fine! See you in a bit!” She called out. Nathan and Sophie exchanged gnces before gncing back down at the desks in the room. Sophie turned to say something to Nathan but before she could speak, the instructor suddenly gnced up at them zily.

  “Shut up and sit down. Time to get started.” They ordered. Sophie shut her mouth quickly and sat down. She looked over at Nathan who had done the same. Neither of them had much energy to protest. Sophie’s eyes gnced down to her paper as she began to fill it out. The faster she did this, the sooner she could speak to Nathan again. As she sat, she suddenly began to feel a dull headache start at the base of her neck, working around her entire skull. It was annoying, but nothing that really hurt badly enough to react. She rubbed her neck a bit to try to massage the pain out to no avail. Ignoring the feeling, she continued to work on her paper. She sat there filing out all sorts of questions about herself. Questions about what colour she likes, her favourite food and the like. Sophie’s eyes rested on a question that suddenly changed the mood of the quiz.

  What is your greatest fear

  Sophie frowned for a moment as she reread the question over and over again. She could feel the pain rising up in her head again but ignored it as she quickly scribbled down the word “Cats”. This was wrong, as we already know. Sophie did not have a problem with cats as long as they did not have a problem with her. She looked at it for a moment before continuing on.

  “You have lied to us”

  Sophie jumped up as she heard that voice hiss. She whipped her head around the room, trying to see where the voice had come from. But there was no one in the room except the people who were there before. And they all didn’t even react to Sophie’s sudden franticness. The instructor looked up zily at her.

  “Miss Paterson. This is a quiz based on you. You can’t cheat off of someone else.” The instructor mumbled before going back to their book. Sophie felt a blush creep across her face as her ears burned and she moved her head back down. She continued to write and shuddered as a voice whispered, almost from inside her.

  “Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar.”