Back outside, Aislin was almost grateful the sky still poured. As Adam unfurled his umbrella she hung back, just out of its reach. Drops of rain washed off the excess grit and grime on her face, which she wiped off as best she could. It was liberating, being able to clean up. The past had less of a fearsome grip in her chest, it seemed. She ducked back under the safeguard of the Power Instructor's umbrella, refreshed.

[b]"Here, Dana. Let me help you."[/b] Aislin gripped the handles of Dana's wheelchair, pushing her along the sidewalk as they walked across campus. It seemed like a small thing to do in comparison to Dana's heroism, but it was a start. 

She almost didn't recognize the Training Hall. It felt like forever ago she was here, marveling over her own potential. The halls called to her again, though only in need of self-defense. The Jungle, it was far too terrifying. The school would become her gray, locked box if she couldn't bring herself to venture outdoors, but she was scarred beyond what a child should be. Traumatized, Aislin had a paranoid fear for her life, petrified of the monsters in the dark. 

Aislin kept at Adam's heel as he took an unfamiliar path down the many halls of his building. They eventually reached his private office which Aislin immediately felt special to have the honor of entering. Jeez, Adam had a golden key for it and everything! It was a spacious and impressive office, and Aislin would kill to sift through his filing cabinets. If anyone knew secrets, it was him. [i]Heh, maybe another day.[/i] There were two smaller cushion chairs facing Adam's imposing ebony desk, which Aislin quietly sat in. She had a feeling they'd be in here for a while. 

[i]"What do you need to discuss?"[/i] Adam asked, still looming over her head despite them both sitting. Aislin couldn't help but appreciate his sharp figure accented by the sunlight shining behind his chair. The dark hues and sharp lines reminded her of a graphic novel. But of course, she was distracting herself with this image, holding her empty tongue. She had no idea where to even start, what to tell him. It was all so insane, Mr. Blackmore might not even believe her. 

[b]"I guess... I'll just start from the beginning."[/b] Aislin gave a shaky sigh, rubbing some warmth into her arms. [b]"As soon as I could, I left the hospital in search of the blue lady. I felt I owed it to both Jaska and myself to get some answers..."[/b]

Aislin talked at length, holding nothing back. She spoke of the growing darkness as she descended deeper into the tunnels, about the panic she felt when she knew she wasn't alone. She exclaimed with bitterness how she blew her chance at meeting the blue lady, infuriating the beautiful stranger in the dark instead. The story got darker from there as Aislin depicted how Luis slashed out at her with knives, and how her upgraded power saved her once, but not twice. The chase lasted seconds, she was certain she wouldn't make it.

[b]"It was in that moment I heard a gunshot, and my assailant collapsed. In the blackness I only saw him once, but with the brief flash I caught a man standing over the stranger in a black wet suit and mask, firing one last round into his... Ugh, his head. After that, silence. Pure, unadulterated silence. If Dana hadn't come, I might still be out there, lost in the caves with a... C-corpse."[/b] Aislin said, rubbing her eyes frustratingly. She couldn't stop the tears leaking from them as she felt the terror all over again, explaining her story as best she could. 

[b]"I was stupid to have ever wandered out, [i]again[/i]. I'm sorry, sir. Truly. ...But the school isn't safe..."[/b]