I lost track of time very quickly here. I know that time passed by, but every single day felt the same. We could have been stuck here for days, weeks, months, and I wouldn't know it. All that I knew was that I was always hungry and always tired. No matter how much I slept or ate, I was always miserable. But at least I was learning my way through the halls. I had them fully mapped out in my head now. I also had noticed where different supplies were kept. That was very helpful.

  Every morning we would walk down several small halls to the "dining room" than we'd turn down a much larger hall on the way back. Sometimes when Tiffany needed to do something, we'd follow this larger hall all the way down to the lab.

  The lab was also right next to Alexander's office. His office was one of the several rooms that we had not yet been inside of. We spent most of our time in the lab. I have no idea what they did to Tiffany or what the tests were even for. People in white would shine lights in her eyes, give her weird things to drink. After that, they would talk and use very long words.

  Tiffany seemed to understand more than I did. I would just sit in the corner and wait. I spent most of my time in the lab fighting the urge to fling myself at Alexander and tackle him. I asked Tiffany a few questions about what exactly they had done to her. But I still couldn't understand it. She would begin to explain and it was like she suddenly started speaking nonsense.

  "Are you at least getting some answers?" I asked. Tiffany shrugged. We were both having trouble sleeping. We spent most nights staying up and talking. It was one of the only times we were alone.

  "I don't know... maybe. I hope so. I just don't know how much of what I'm told is the truth," Tiffany explained. "I'm excited to learn more about my Adamantine and how it works. I just don't know if I can trust anything that Alexander says."

  "Where is your Adamantine?" I asked.

  "Right next to my heart. It's a very small organ. It's hard to understand that something so tiny can do so much damage," she whispered. "I-I just wish there was a way I could figure this all out myself! I want to learn! I want answers! I need to know what I am! But I hate it here! Oh, Tyla! Everywhere I look I see a bad memory! I remember all the things I want to forget!" Tears were forming in her eyes.

  I didn't know what to say to comfort her. I couldn't imagine how awful it must have been for her to stay here before. She had only been a little girl at the time. Now, she was back in her old prison.

  "Maybe I should just put the past behind me!" Tiffany said bitterly. "It seems like I'm just going to have to stay here forever. I might as well get used to this!" Had she totally given up any hope of getting out of here?

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "Don't say that. We'll find a way." I flung my arm around her shoulder. She gave me a tearful smile.

  "You never stop hoping, do you?" Tiffany said. This place seemed to have a strange effect on Tiffany. She became more and more distant as time passed. She slept less and less and ate less and less. The less she ate, the more she would be yelled at. One time someone actually pinned her down and force-fed her a whole quart of that white powder. I tried to help her, but Alexander held me back. He didn't let me go, even when I bit down on his wrist. Waiting was hard, but I knew I needed to wait till the right time.

  I had everything that I needed. I had a mental map. I had a sense of where we were in this huge maze. I even was able to steal a knife from the dining area without getting caught. All that was left for me to do was wait and stay alert. At last, my time to fight back came.

  “Would you two like to have breakfast?” Tiffany and I stared at the woman in total shock. We were unsure of what to do and what to say. The voice was identical, but the person who stood before us looked nothing like Miss Roberts. This was a whole new face. She had a rounder, softer face and looked at least ten years younger. The only thing that looked the same were the eyes. I glanced over at Tiffany. She nodded silently and gave a concerned frown. What in the world? This was just one of many strange mysteries that I wasn’t going to have time to solve.

  I knew Tiffany wanted answers, but if she wanted to see her home again, we were going to need to escape soon. Besides, she clearly was miserable here. We were led down the hall for the very last time, to the dining hall. We ate in silence slowly and calmly. I waited. Everything was ready. Last night I had recreated my map for Tiffany using the bedsheet. If the timing worked out, she’d be able to look over it before it was noticed by anyone else. I watched as Tiffany finished the last little bites of her powder and scraped her plate clean. It was now or never.

  I got to my feet. I reached into my left pocket. I just needed to make sure that the knife I had stolen was still there and that it hadn't vanished into thin air for some reason. It was indeed still there. I was ready; I could do this.

  "May I speak to Alexander?" I asked one of the guards. Tiffany shot me a concerned frown. "It's very important," I added.

  "Is everything okay, Tyla? Why do you want to talk to him?" Tiffany asked. I gave her my best I'VE GOT THIS, DON'T QUESTION ME look. Tiffany rested her hand on my shoulder.

  "We'll have to ask him," was what the guard said.

  "What are you doing?" Tiffany hissed in my ear. "Please don't do anything dumb! Let me come with you!" I shook my head.

  "No. You need your rest," I said. I also gave her another look.

  "You don't know how dangerous he is. I'm coming too," Tiffany insisted.

  "Trust me. I need you to trust me," I whispered. The guard was returning now. I gritted my teeth. Tiffany let out a sigh.

  "I trust you," she whispered.

  Miss Roberts' led her back down the hall to our cell. I followed the guard to Alexander's office. Hopefully Tiffany would have enough time to look over the map I left her. I had no idea what was about to happen or how this was going to end. But I knew I had to try to fight Alexander. I was going to give this everything I had.