The city was empty and gray. There was no sound, no movement, even the wind seemed dead. It took all of River's willpower to keep walking down the abandoned street. The sound of her feet hitting the pavement sounded thunderous when compared to the silence of the world around her.

"Beautiful isn't it?" asked a voice from the shadows. River turned in all directions, but couldn't find where the speaker was.

"So quiet… how long has it been since you've experienced quiet like this River? The voices don't reach us here. No screams to disturb us, no sudden thoughts to interrupt your own. This is the peaceful quiet of nothingness. When I was younger I struggled to avoid it, but now this silence is truly my greatest pleasure."

"Who are you?" asked River.

"That isn't relevant… I'm more interested in discussing you." As the voice faded River saw as two of the blue hands emerged from an alley in front of her. When their eyes fell on her, she felt the terror and fear swell within her. Images of two years of torture passed before her eyes as she ran screaming.

"Why are you running?" asked the voice. "Fear? They do not deserve your fear. Look past your pain and remember." River struggled but memories of her time at the academy were all she could think of as she ran. "What they did to you… What they took from you… It makes you strong."

"I can't… they'll hurt me… they…" She crashed heavily into something hard and fell to the ground. Above her was a man shrouded in a dark cloak. His presence was more overwhelming than even the thought of the academy and she backed away.

"Stop your cowering! You are strong. Focus your mind. Is it you that is feeling fear? Or are you feeling the fear in them?" River looked back at the blue hands that were running towards her now. They hid it on their faces, but underneath the surface she felt the fear. It was all around them… They were afraid of her.

"They know what you can do, even if you do not. You are their worst nightmare. They took your life, but in payment you