“Alright, Miss Graves. You may remove the apparatus.”

Dyna straightened her back, gripping the handles built into the armrest of the chair to help pull herself forward. She reached up, undid a small buckle set under her chin, and slowly lifted a complex series of interlocking metal plates off her head. Cables and wires ran up into the ceiling. Most were for data transfer, but a few were connected to winches and counterbalance weights, causing the helmet to practically levitate away from her with barely any force applied on her part.

“Thank you, Miss Graves. That will be all for today.”

“Really?” Perking up, Dyna looked over to the glass pane separating the test chamber from the control room. Two technicians accompanied Harold, Cross’ chief assistant, in running the equipment safely on the other side of the psionically insulated glass. “I thought I was supposed to head to the Infusion Lab?”

“After the anomaly with your previous test, Doctor Cross wishes to postpone further experiments until the results of today’s activities can be properly analyzed.”

“So I’m free?”

“Correct. Would you like an escort?”

“No thanks,” Dyna said as she popped out of the reclining chair. “I’ve learned my way around.” A step away from the door, she paused and looked back. “Is Emerald around?”

Harold didn’t answer right away, checking something on one of the computer terminals around him. After a moment, he leaned forward to a microphone, pressing the button to talk. “I believe Doctor Livermore has chased her back into the city.”

“Oh.”

“Ruby is topside, I can direct you—”

“That’s okay,” Dyna interrupted a little faster than she meant to. “I’d like to spend my day relaxing, if I’m really free.”

Harold smiled and waved a hand. “Good day, Miss Graves. Details of any upcoming tests will be sent to your phone.”

“Wonderful,” Dyna said, practically skipping out of the room.

Two weeks of being poked and prodded deep within Psychodynamics had been exciting at first. A whole new world stood before Dyna. One filled with strange equipment and actual results, scientists who paid her full attention and dedicated many hours of the day to her and her alone. It was basically everything she ever wanted from Carroll.

The hours were long and hard. Dyna moved from test to test, room to room, scientist to scientist. From the moment she woke up in the morning until the time she staggered back to her room and collapsed in bed, they put her through the wringer.

Dyna hadn’t complained once. Not out loud. Internally, she quickly realized that Melanie had been right. All work and no play made for one dull boy.

She barely knew what to do with her newfound free time. It had been two weeks since she really had any. Two weeks since she attended any of the topside lectures or sessions. Two weeks since she had been into the city—not that she cared or was allowed to head there anytime soon. The Carroll Institute didn’t want her leaving campus for the time being and Dyna had no desires to disobey that order.

Regardless of what she ended up doing, Dyna had to stop by the locker room before leaving Psychodynamics. At least, they called it the locker room. As Dyna stopped in front of the heavy hexagonal door made from solid metal, she once again thought that it would have been more at home in a bank vault than a research facility. Moving to the console on the wall, she pressed her hand flat against a small glass pane. A slight heat rolled from her fingertips down to her wrist as the device scanned her biometrics.

But that wasn’t enough to open the door. She had to lean down and peer down a dark hole until she could fully see a bright green light. The bright flash of light as the console took a photograph of her retina always made her wince.

Still, that wasn’t enough for this door. The console lit up, displaying a simple clock.

Dyna winced again, this time because of the odd sensation of a mental intruder. Foreign thoughts intersected with her own. She wasn’t quite sure how it worked or what Walter had done to her despite his attempts to explain, but a series of numbers drifted through her mind.

“Temp - one, zero, eight.”

“Access granted.”

Shaking the slight dizzy sensation from her mind, Dyna idly watched as locking panels twisted, thick metal rods retracted, and heavy gears turned. The hexagonal door split apart down the center, sliding to either side of the wall. A much thinner glass door slid apart just beyond the metal door. After that, a single silver pedestal emerged from the ground. One of many.

Dyna stepped forward and into the locker room as the faceted shielding on the pedestal opened like a blooming flower, pressing flat against the sides of the pedestal. She reached in and withdrew a small plastic object.

All that to keep her artifact safe while it was out of her presence. Frankly, Dyna wasn’t sure that anyone would ever try to steal it while it was down here in Psychodynamics. Outside of testing, she kept it close at hand at all times. Which meant it spent a great deal of time up in her dormitory room while she spent the nights sleeping. Her dormitory room did have a lock on both the hallway door and the balcony door, but neither were anywhere near as impressive as this.

Protocols were protocols. Silly as they were, Dyna had to comply.

As she did every time she touched the pocket mirror, Dyna flipped it open and quickly checked both panes. She didn’t think anyone was watching her with hostile intent down here, but that didn’t stop her from feeling immense relief at seeing nothing more than her own reflection.

Leaving the room to seal itself shut behind her, Dyna headed straight for the main elevator. A few researchers passed her in the halls. Aside from Cross, Harold, and Walter, she didn’t really know any of Psychodynamics’ personnel. Even still, she nodded back to them when they did the same. Down a few more halls and she finally reached the elevator. The doors to it slid aside automatically as she approached.

“Topside,” Dyna said, eying the little spherical camera and its five lenses.

Beatrice didn’t respond to her, but the elevator started moving.

Dyna tapped a foot on the ground, shifting slightly. It was a bit strange. Now that she had been through Psychodynamics, she had started noticing the cameras with their little red lights strewn throughout the rest of Carroll. They had been there the entire time—she was sure she was suffering from the Baader–Meinhof phenomenon, but it was hard to believe that she hadn’t seen those red lights following her around in every hall and set atop the many walkway lights outside.

“Did I ever thank you?”

Knowing that she was being watched constantly by some kind of computer system wasn’t as uncomfortable as she had thought it would be. Probably because it had saved her.

“Beatrice?”

“I performed my assigned tasks. ‘Thanks’ are unnecessary.”

“Still…”

Beatrice didn’t say anything else. Not until the light chime rang, indicating that the elevator had completed its ascent. Then, the speaker crackled to life.

“Be warned: Ruby is present within your room.”

“What? What is she doing there?”

“Unknown.”

The doors to the elevator slid open. Beatrice wouldn’t say anything more. Her existence was apparently almost as big a secret as the artifacts and Psychodynamics. The lobby of the Carroll administrative building wasn’t secure enough for an open dialog.

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For a moment, Dyna considered heading back down to Psychodynamics just to get an answer out of the computer system, but she ended up rushing out of the elevator instead. “So much for a peaceful and relaxing afternoon,” she grumbled to herself.

As soon as she entered the chilly open air of Carroll’s campus, she checked her mirror. Doing so had become a habit over the past two weeks. Any time she moved to a new location or really any time she felt mildly uncomfortable, she would consult with the mirror to ensure that there weren’t snipers hiding in ghillie suits off in the desert. So far, she had been lucky enough that the mirror hadn’t shown off any more of those creepy men chasing after her, but the way Walter and Emerald talked, it would only be a matter of time.

It wasn’t like she could hide out inside Psychodynamics for the rest of her life. It was probably physically possible, but Dyna knew she would end up with a severe bout of cabin fever within weeks. Even these last two weeks had been trying on occasion. Once the fear of pursuers waned, Dyna found herself left with roughly the same exact thing she had been doing before getting her artifact.

Lots of tests.

This time felt slightly different, if only because she had a demonstrated ability now, but deliberately trying to use it still didn’t work out all that often.

Which reminded her that Doctor Cross wanted her to try at every available opportunity. Her run came to a stop just outside the dormitory building. This certainly seemed like an opportunity.

Dyna took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and tried to concentrate. The goal was obvious, clear, and concise. She needed to see through Ruby’s eyes. Whatever the little menace was up to, it wouldn’t be anything good. Knowing in advance could save Dyna from a throbbing headache later on.

Opening her eyes, Dyna didn’t feel any different. Colder, perhaps, now that she wasn’t actively moving around. But then, she had never felt any different than normal even while being chased around the streets of Idaho Falls. Trying to steady her hands, she flipped open the mirror.

Dyna stared down at the black lenses.

Her heart skipped a beat. Something was happening. That was better than the usual. It wasn’t useful. At least not yet.

Dyna waited, hoping the lenses would change to someone’s perspective. She started tapping her foot and drumming fingers on her thigh. It was taking too long. Just like every attempt at using the artifact since the incident, it wasn’t going to change.

Letting out a sad sigh, Dyna entered the dormitory building. She kept the mirror out and an eye on its lenses as she slowly made her way to the elevator, but she had a feeling that nothing would happen. The mirror showed off the perspective of people who had genuine hostility toward her or… Emerald? Dyna wasn’t quite sure about that last one and neither were the scientists, but the sad fact was that, annoying though Ruby was, she wasn’t actually hostile.

Doctor Cross’ assistant, Harold, suggested that self-hypnosis and mental discipline might allow her to subconsciously recognize anyone as hostile, thus triggering her artifact. Those tests hadn’t even been outlined, let alone scheduled yet.

The elevator chimed. The doors slid aside and Dyna stepped out into the corridor, eyes roaming over the plain white walls, speckled tiles, and even the panels of the ceiling between the fluorescent lights. If there was one thing Dyna had learned about Ruby in the past two weeks, it was that the little girl had more tricks up her sleeves than a magician.

Making it to the door to her room without spotting anything worrying, Dyna first pressed her ear to the cold wood of the door.

Nothing. The dorms weren’t sound proofed, though they did have some degree of dampening installed. Enough that Dyna hadn’t ever lost sleep because of neighbors or noise in the hall.

Slowly, she pressed the door open, using her foot to keep it from slamming shut.

The inside was dark. Darker than normal. Although overcast outside, there was plenty of light. Someone—Ruby—had blocked out the windows. Dyna started to reach for the light switch.

She snapped her hand back through the narrow gap in the door, avoiding the gleaming silver blade. At the same time, a heavy weight slammed into the other side of the door. Dyna’s arm would have been caught had she not planted her foot in the gap.

Spotting the opportunity, Dyna slammed her own shoulder into the door. It swung just a small bit before hitting something that let out a quiet grunt. Whatever she hit went down to the floor. She heard the clatter and noise.

Deciding to press whatever advantage she had gained, Dyna jumped into the room, ready to tackle Ruby straight to the ground.

Only to find herself looking down at one of the couch cushions on the floor and a butter knife at its side.

Dyna tried to step back. A little red-eyed menace popped out from behind the door before she could, tackling her. The small weight of the little girl wasn’t enough to send her to the floor, but she did lose her balance and stumble against the wall.

Cold metal pressed up against her neck before she could recover.

“Dead.”

Groaning, Dyna planted one hand on each of Ruby’s shoulders. With every scrap of force that she could muster, she shoved the girl away. It felt a bit weird to use so much strength against someone so small, but Emerald said to not be afraid of using too much force. There wasn’t too much force. Not with Ruby’s artifact.

Ruby didn’t even pretend to lose her balance. She hopped away to bleed off the momentum, spinning the knife in her hand as she moved. Her other hand stayed locked behind her back.

“What’s your major malfunction, Ruby?” Dyna snarled.

“Malfunction?”

Rather than explain a reference four times older than Ruby was, Dyna just slammed the door and flicked on the light switch before whirling on the girl. “What if I had been my roommate?”

“Your roommate wouldn’t have been so scared of opening the door. She would have stepped inside and stupidly blinked her eyes at the darkness, leaving me plenty of time to hide the knife and act like your cousin or whoever.” Ruby demonstrated as she spoke, slipping the knife under the bottom hem of her black T-shirt. A natural, practiced movement that left no trace of the short silver blade. Not even a bulge or lump in the fabric. “I’m far more worried about you. What if I had been one of those men?”

Dyna flinched. She… hoped that her artifact would have worked in that situation, giving her plenty of time to completely avoid the problem by getting help from elsewhere.

“Where’s your gun? Why didn’t you draw it?”

“I’m not going to shoot you in the middle of the dorms.”

“You should have. It would have been the smart thing to do. Shoot first. Ask questions later. Where’s your gun?”

“The walls here are thin. I’d end up killing someone else when I mi—”

Ruby stepped forward, one hand still behind her back and the other finding her knife once again. “Where is your gun?”

Dyna, through grit teeth, said, “In the drawer next to my bed.”

Ruby held out her hand, the one she had kept behind her back, clutching far more than should be possible for her tiny hands. A series of metal pieces and parts fell, clattering to the floor next to the couch cushion. The metal was, obviously, parts from the gun. Dyna’s gun. The same one that Emerald had given her in the alley.

“Why didn’t you have it on you?”

It was Dyna’s turn to step forward. “You were snooping around in my room?”

“You still don’t get your position,” Ruby said, completely unimpressed with Dyna’s posturing. “They’re already after you. You—”

“This place is safe,” Dyna said. “We have Carroll security, Walter, you. Beatrice watches from every camera and half the people here are mind readers trained to resist psychic influences. Nobody is going to make it into my room.”

“I did.”

Crossing her arms, Dyna put on a smug smile. “Beatrice warned me of you. If you had been an actual enemy, she would have taken more drastic measures.”

For the first time since entering her own dorm room, Ruby flashed an upset look. “That bit—”

“Ruby.”

“You’re not Emerald. I can swear if I want. And Beatrice can’t do anything without authorization besides act like a secretary. That means someone told her to watch for you specifically.” Despite her statement, Ruby did not go back and finish her interrupted sentence. Instead, she looked up and down, eying Dyna. “You need more training. Walter should have you skipping all Cross’ tests about your fake artifact and have you locked into the gym for three weeks straight.”

“It’s not fake,” Dyna said with a mild pout.

That was a bit of a sore subject. Maybe Cross hadn’t known that it wasn’t an artifact when he handed it over to her, but he had since confirmed its status. Probably. Unless he was lying again.

Dyna couldn’t be sure. And she wouldn’t ever be sure. That was the point of single-blind tests. The test subjects were intentionally kept in the dark to keep from biasing results. All Dyna knew was that the artifact worked for her.

“Come on,” Ruby said, kneeling. “I’ll show you how to reassemble the gun, then we’ll head down to the range and get you more comfortable in using it. It isn’t anything to be afraid of if you just respect it.”

“I’m not afraid… And today is a day off—”

“I know. Cross told me.”

“Then you should know that I have been constantly in testing for two weeks. I’m going to relax and… maybe I’ll watch a movie.”

“You’ll rot your brain.”

“I’ve been thinking nonstop. Sometimes you need to just turn off your brain to better let it grow later. Like sleeping except while you’re awake.”

“I don’t sleep.”

Dyna opened her mouth to call the girl a liar, but stopped herself as her eyes trailed down to the black ribbon holding the ruby gemstone to her neck.

She didn’t know exactly what Ruby’s namesake artifact did. Something with her body, according to Emerald. She could survive stabbings, burning, gunshots, probably even dismemberment and decapitation. Taking all that in mind, the idea that she didn’t sleep wasn’t quite as far fetched as it first sounded.

“And you sleep far too much as it is,” Ruby added. “Emerald sleeps for only a few minutes every night.”

Dyna let out a long sigh. “Do you want to watch a movie, Ruby? Turn off your brain for an hour?”

“That sounds like a nightmare.”

“I’ll pop popcorn. Relax for a few hours. And…” Dyna dropped her gaze from Ruby down to the pieces of the gun on the floor. There was merit to what she was saying. What she was trying to do. If Dyna was going to be chased around for the foreseeable future, learning some self-defense wasn’t a bad idea. “And if you watch a movie with me without trying to attack me at any point during, I’ll go with you to Carroll’s gun range and pay full attention to everything you say.”

Ruby’s back straightened a little more than it already was—she normally had the best posture a ten-year-old could have—as she looked to Dyna. “You’ll listen to me? You’re not just saying that?”

“You’re far more experienced than I am. Of course I would listen to you.”

A small grin spread across the little girl’s face before she could stop it. She did stop it eventually, narrowing her eyes. “You better not be lying to me just because I’m little.”

“I’m not. I’m not. Now, what’s a good movie for a kid to watch?” Dyna hummed to herself. “Have you ever seen The Ring?”