The forest worked with different clocks, fracturing time the more spread out from its centre one was. While Ronan and Khalifa had slept under the calming gaze of the night, the sun had just begun dipping for those swallowed in the belly of the chamber.
Bathed in dim light, Thea ate the tasteless grey paste from the decaying bark bowl with a ravenous intensity that had once been exclusive to animals. The meal was grit given form, but it was her lifeline, injecting vitality in bits into her gaunt body.
Mira watched her scavenge the slobs of paste stuck in between the bowl's cracks. With pity, she pushed the majority of her own ration towards Thea. She huffed, acknowledging the gesture of thanks Thea enthusiastic made. Her mind was in a whirlwind of indignation. She had endured the chasm of impossibilities to escape the Owl's hold, or rather, wait out her time in it. Only to find herself back in a cage. Although, this one was made of rickety bars and not mystical boundaries, the implication was the same. But like all abysmal disadvantages, there was also a bigger one hiding behind this. Being confined had protected them from the brutal grinds of the forest dailies, and with the new addition of food, they were in paradise as in relation to the rest of the entrants. But that also left them out of the constant growth that everyone enjoyed, and if it remained that way, death was all that awaited them.
She shuddered, thinking of Thea's dying face. How would she live with herself if that happened?
'Actually I'll live just fine...'
Mira's subconscious seemed to revolt at the thought, but she shook off the feeling with a frown. She had noticed something unusual about her since they had met along the mound path. She had for no reason, developed a protective, almost motherly instinct towards Thea that she definitely had not earned. Thea had mentioned something about being utility based before, so maybe this was what she meant. Then, what was this?
With that thought, she decided to do some interrogation.
"You know," Mira started, pushing herself off the cold rough wall, "I never thought someone like you would be in slop so much."
Thea looked up from her bowl, forcing the mouthful of paste down her throat with visible strain. "And why is that?"
Mira chuckled. "Because if the Beaumont headquarters had any, I'm sure Celine would have had me fired in seconds. Luckily, it was all organic protein bars and ginger ale." Thea took a few more slurps before dropping the bowl, leaning against the wall with a weak smile. "Ahh...now I remember you."
Mira smiled back, though a bit forced. "Employee 131."
Thea's smile sank into her face as the torch outside their cell flickered. " Saying it like that makes it seem like you guys were filed I shelved away somewhere... like I was some soulless tycoon. It was a business Mira, the schedules were too tight to build relationships."
"The schedules that I made if I may add. But, I know. It would be a bit too selfish for me to have wanted to be singled out among the hundreds, so I don't blame you. Still though, you were quite heartless. My mum hated every single day I worked there, she said my role was too undermining. And she was hell right. I mean, I was the assistant to your personal assistant."
Thea looked down, pretending to actually have interest in the crude curvature of the bowl. She didn't feel guilty, just...at fault.
"Anyway, that's not the point. I saw your cooperating with conglomerates whose clothes were probably enough to buy my whole neighborhood. Never thought I'd see that face stoop to eating... whatever this is."
"Fascinating isn't it?" Thea sighed wearily. "Look Mira, I already know were this is heading. I heard you thinking about how you'd ask me about my abilities, but I don't think neighborhood talk would get us there. I'm sure the price of your neighborhood is quite high and no suit can buy."
Mira didn't hear the last couple of words. 'SHE CAN READ MINDS?!'
Thea clasped her hands apologetically, not minding Mira baffled expression. " I'm sorry I made you feel less than important when you were at Beaumont. If we make it out of here alive...I promise to make up for it."
This was usually the moment were teary eyed friendships formed, but unfortunate for friendship, Mira's ego wanted none of that. "Well... since you've seen true my masterclass facade, I guess I'll cut to the chase then."
Thea nodded.
"If we are going to work together for the time being, we need to set the olive branch of honesty on the table," she took a pause. " I assume your ability is mind reading?"
Thea shook her head. "It's my Attribute actually."
Confusion swam across her raised brow. "Aren't they the same thing?"
"Not quite," Thea started, slipping into the wise granny tone. "Attributes are like the tree, and the abilities are the branches of that tree. One Attribute, two active abilities, and one passive. Everything I can do is somewhat mental related."
Mira sat straighter, curiousity eclipsing her frown. "So how do you know all this? Didn't we all arrive here at the same time?... quick, what year is it?!"
Thea stared back blankly, silently amused. "We all arrived together, at least for all I know. But while everyone else used their resources for growth, I traded mine in for knowledge. But in hindsight, it might have not been the best idea considering I can't fight my way out of a paper bag now."
"So you know everything you can do?"
"Almost everything. There is only so much one can get with the pulsing carcass of predator meat. Apart from my second ability, I know the others."
"... I'm listening," nudged Mira.
"Okay. Mind reading is the first one. I can hear thoughts whenever I choose to focus on someone. Then, Topography–"
"Topography?" Mira interrupted.
"Yeah, I can use my spirit to create a three dimensional model of my surroundings in my mind as long as there's enough of it. Helpful for evasion, only problem is the fat demand."
"And?"
Reluctance flashed in her eyes, but she spoke anyway. "Insistence. It's the passive one. In a nutshell, it allows me to shape perception on certain things, usually in alignment with what I believe."
"Doesn't seem to be working too well on the guards though," Mira noted.
"It's like a subtle whisper that gets stronger when you aren't looking, not full on brainwashing."
Mira nodded. Thea was a powerhouse, but not just the kind that could be noticed outright. In a world that demanded physical violence, she chose the other path. "So...with that out of the way, I guess it's your turn," Thea said. "What are your powers?"
Mira looked away. Compared to Thea's structured knowledge, she was an elementary student. But if she said nothing, it would be unfair. "One is... shaping. It allows me to control the nature of matter to some extent. The only use case is that stick that they took from me."
"Does it have any special properties?"
Mira smiled." Yes, sentiments."
Thea smiled knowingly, glad they had gotten to the point of making jokes. "Any others?"
"There's this...void in my hand," Mira said, staring expectantly at her palm. "It can trap, or maybe kill things that get sucked in. I don't really have a name for it, and I haven't been able to activate it again since I first did."
"Maybe the Owl knows something about it," Thea muttered. "Anymore?"
"None I know of, unfortunately." Although it was sketchy, it was her truth.
"Okay then," Thea said with encouragement. "When we get out of here, we'll pay the Owl I visit and demand for answers."
Mira shuddered, but nodded nonetheless. She wasn't exactly comfortable around it anymore.
"Get some rest," Mira whispered. "Tomorrow, I'll let them know what they want."
Thea grinned softly and nodded.
And as the torch burned out, they drifted into sleep, unaware that minutes from now, Thea's mark would pulse in forest changing pain.