What is your real name?
...Elizabeth St. John.

Make sure no one learns it. So, have you thought of a good alias for yourself?

Alias. I suppose I need one, now, don't I... Pity. I liked being Eliza.

...but call me Stheno.

How old are you, anyway?

Old enough to know better. Pre-thirty, and thanks so much for that little rose, Kyle...

...but I'm twenty nine.

How would you describe your own appearance? Height, hair, clothes, whatever.

I hate talking about myself. You know those people who hate talking about themselves? I'm one of them. I'm pretty, and slim, and I dye my hair more than I'd like but less than you think. I'm not tall. I've grey eyes, bleached white hair and...well, no figure...

...but if you must know, I like my collar bones.

Recently all of us are afflicted with these impossibly unreal abilities. Like Mystics. What is your ability?

'Ability', it says. What, you mean this little talent of mine? The one that means I shouldn't see my son again? Or husband? Or feel normal? This isn't a bloody comic book, you know, this is my life and it's ending in what might as well be bloody Siberia for God's sake. So yes, I suppose, I can take people's essence. Or life, or energy, or...whatever. Whatever it is, I take something from them, and if they're very lucky it comes back. Sometimes it doesn't. Is that what you want me to say?

No. No, of course it's not, because that's not enough, is it. There has to be more, there's always more. Trouble comes in threes, they say, so if you must know I'm... I suppose you could say 'strong', but let me stop you there. When I say that, you're thinking bodybuilders, weights at the gym, Arnold Schwarzenegger, but that's not on. Not quite, at least. I'm... more than that.

Swing-a-telephone-pole-like-a-baseball-bat more than that.

Toss-your-car-over-my-shoulder more than that.

And, while we're at it, my skin is strong too, and my bones. They must be, because that's the only bloody explanation I can think of as to why they don't rip or break or cut like normal. I mean sometimes, sure, but not like they ought to. I've put my hand through a car door without a bloody scratch, I mean, can you believe it? I don't know. I just don't know, sometimes.

...but they told me I was strong, and tough, so there you are then.

What is your voice like? Has he told you anything aside to search for Elvarren?

Oh yes, and thanks so much for that little chestnut. Going on about Elvarren, as if that isn't some made up word. I'd say I've gone mad, but apparently I'm not the only one. Mass hysteria is real, you know, I've read about it on the telly, and maybe that's what this is...

...but it's kind, kinder than I'd like. It tells me it's not my fault.

Where did you come from, and how long have you been looking for Elvarren?

Gloucester. I say 'England' and you all think London, like there isn't a whole rest of the country out there.

...but yes, I'm from Gloucester. I miss it. It was warmer there, though I'll give you not by much.

How did you end up here?

Well I flew, didn't I? I certainly didn't swim! London to Montreal to Saskatchewan to a rental car that I never took back...it ran out of petrol a ways back, and I suppose I...well, walked from there. At least I brought flats.

...but yes, I flew. What would you have done?

Anything else you want to get off your chest?

I miss them. God, I miss them so much. Kyle and...and Charlie. I'm so sorry, Charlie, honey, mommy's so sorry...

...but I had to go, didn't I.

It is good to meet you, friend. You’ll be safe here – for the time being…

Oh yes, I'm sure. Of course I will.

...but will you?

The voice in my head has some questions about you. No, I am not crazy.
"I know, I don't doubt you. I hear one too... but maybe I'm the crazy one."

What is your real name?
"Katrina. I'd prefer not to mention my surname. It's. A long story."

Make sure no one learns it. So, have you thought of a good alias for yourself?
"--Wait what? But I just told you-- ah. Well. I haven't-- Do I need to make one now? How about..."
A nearly two minute silence passes.
"Fuchsia? It's my favorite color."

How old are you, anyway?
"Twenty two, just recently. My birthday was-- ah. I guess I shouldn't tell you that either? You didn't ask. I uh. Wow. Sorry."

How would you describe your own appearance? Height, hair, clothes, whatever.
"I'm... okay looking. Oh. But I'm sure you mean more in depth? Well. I'm only five-four, my skin is dark brown, and my hair is wavy though, I like straightening it every now and then. Uh. My eyes a light-brown. I don't work out or anything but, I'm still sort of small-ish. My ears are pierced and I love wearing jewelry. I dress lightly because-- well you-- I-- uh. I don't need to layer up. Er--Anymore that is. And summer clothes are nicer. And all I have anymore."
She holds up a sketch of herself then says, "A friend drew this of me."


Recently all of us are afflicted with these impossibly unreal abilities. Like Mystics. What is your ability?
"I... remember when I said I didn't need to layer? Well. I don't feel the cold anymore. I don't feel the heat anymore either-- un-unless I have to or want to. I mean. There's like a. A field around me, you, everyone and everything. I can see it most of the time-- they have different colors too. I can. I can make mine so that it keeps me warm or cool so-- so it's. I. Reached out once and-- I mean. It explains why lights sometimes stop working when I'm in the same room. The energy in everything-- I can feel and grab it-- shape it. But it's. Hard and it makes me exhausted. Especially when it's not just my own. Or if I use my own to do something. Always-- you know lightning looks similar to what happens when I grab it? I can also charge batteries-- uh. I'm not making any sense, am I? Auras! That's what He called them. Some people get sad or tired and then it dims down-- I can make it bigger for them-- but I have to use some other energy. It's not good to use my own. It. Makes me tired."
She pauses.
"And I don't know if it's part of it but-- I mean. I've always known how people are feeling but now? It's like I super know what they're feeling-- emotionally I mean. I can't read minds or anything but-- I know when someone's feeling sad or angry-- if they're being deceptive or hiding what they feel. If they're good at hiding it's harder to tell but, well, I can see their Aura thingy so maybe that can tell me something? I don't know."

What is your voice like? Has he told you anything aside to search for Elvarren?
"You don't understand I--I don't want to hurt anyone bu-but it. Look. It just wants me to-- to do really. I just. I don't even like-- I wouldn't harm a fly, honestly. If I could go years without stepping on ants I would! I--I just. Why me? Why does it--why does it want me to-- d-do such things? He says I need to fulfill my role. That-- that I'm not meant for kindness-- meant to follow the orders of. Of. The Lords and Gods?! That I'm a--" She takes a shuddering breath in, "I'm sorry. I. I didn't mean to yell. It's just that-- it wants me to weaken them. Like. A hammer or drill-- not destroy-- just weaken. Cripple. Whittle them down until the cracks show. Push their limits-- make them answer and confess--uh. Wh-what were we talking about?"

Where did you come from, and how long have you been looking for Elvarren?
"I settled in Reno. Nevada. Reno Nevada but-- I don't think. I wasn't born there. Doesn't matter. I lived paycheck to paycheck. Barely scraping by. I was alone and... Hungry a lot of the times, but kind of happy. Reno was the best I'd found. And. I had to leave but I didn't-- they shouldn't have been so rough-- I. I woke up and. The car was on fire. They were dying. I-I-I had to escape. Those. They were just doing their job! I was wrong. I was stealing. I was... I was hungry and I had gone for days. I. I just wanted food and now I've murdered cops and I can't go back there-- I'm wanted. Then those men-- the weird men-- they came for me too. I had. And-- and he told me that if I searched for Elvarren I'd be safe-- I'd fulfill my purpose. I was desperate. I felt I couldn't... I can't. Refuse. I don't want to refuse. I have... nothing else now. It's a few months since I started looking, but it feels like years. I'm. I'm so tired."

How did you end up here?
"I drove my friend's car around-- she uh. She's. Well... she passed away-- not my fault I promise! I had to abandon it in Oregon. Took empty railcars and walked the rest of the way because, I don't want to hurt anyone, no matter what the voice says. I just want to. Find Elvarren. That's all-- I don't even. Necessarily. Want to be here-- I'm sorry. That's not nice to say but, well, transparency is good. Isn't it? That's how you know I'm being honest."

Anything else you want to get off your chest?
"No. I don't think so. I. I just. I'm very tired. I need rest and food. That's all. And to... find Elvarren. Maybe-- do you think it could make me normal again? Do you?"

It is good to meet you, friend. You’ll be safe here – for the time being…
"F-Friend? I... I guess. It'd be nice to have some friends, I think. I don't like being alone, even if I think I should be-- especially now that I. I'm. This."