River woke up screaming, glad her nightmares had finally released her from the torment of the secrets and darkness that swirled around in her head; like oil in water. River called out for her brother, “Simon, Simon.” Her voice echoed harshly against the metal walls, bouncing off in all directions, but reaching nobody’s ears but her own. She was alone…alone and trapped.

Her eyes were wide and searching, but her confined cell was dark, and they met no one and nothing except for the harshest, blackest existence she could ever imagine encountering. River blinked several times before her sore eyes adjusted into a state of comfort that would allow her to receive the dark atmosphere that now housed her. At first glance at her dreary cage, River slightly hoped she was still trapped in the creepy nightmares, that not to long ago held her in their grasp.

The small cell limited River’s motion and a silvery chain of metal anchored around her leg tethered her to the wall. At first she didn’t realize the cool metal against her skin, not until she got up too fast and tried to travel too far, and was yanked forcible back to the ground. Her backside smacked hard against the damp floor and when the pain receded she tried moving again to explore the cell, this time with caution.

She stretched out her hands until they made contact with the solidness of the wall. With this new found hope she began searching her tiny prison for a way out. River continued her vigorous search of the tiny space although she still couldn’t go to far due in part to the chain that held her into place. Within less than a minute she had made a full circle around the room.

River sat with her knees pulled up to her chin rocking back and forth, it was all she could do since her searched had gotten her nowhere. A light from outside of the cell came to life and shone brilliantly beneath the door.

River had felt the presence even before she saw the shadow pass beneath the door. She didn’t know what was on the other side…d