River awoke on a cot in a room with flat, smooth walls and garish light from overhead. The illumination pierced through her closed lids, giving her a headache. She tried to sit, but barely got halfway up before falling back with a groan. Every internal organ felt bruised and battered, like she had just lost a boxing match. She lay still for a long while, catching her breath and building up the energy for another attempt to get up. She looked at the wall opposite the bed. A heavy metal door met flush with it, a small square window the only access to the outside. Memory rushed in. She knew where she was. The Academy. She thought she would be more afraid. The fear was still there, but mostly she was just numb. With concerted effort, she willed her body upright, gritting through the pain. She sat with her legs dangling over the edge, shoulders hunched. She raised her head to stare out the window. Memories popped into her mind again. Beyond the pane she saw herself, younger, maybe ten years old. She was a bit disheveled as she darted, fleet of foot, across the grass. Simon raced behind her, a young man, though grinning like a child with the thrill of the chase. They ran down a gentle slope until it leveled out against a tall hedge. She skidded to a stop in front of it.

“Got you!” Simon plowed into her and fell to the ground, gasping for breath.

“Look, Simon! Hodgeberries!” The game they had been playing was forgotten as she gazed at the purple berry clusters lining the hedge. Simon rolled onto his stomach and looked up.

“Wow! They’re huge!” He bolted to his feet. She was already kneeling at the foot of the hedge, looking curiously at the berries.

“I wonder if they grew wild?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Simon answered, grabbing a bunch and picking one off the stem. He tossed it into his mouth. “They’re ripe, though. Delicious! I’ve never seen them this big before.” She just kept staring at the berries, like they were the most entrancing thing in the ‘verse. “River?” She blink