As Jason was leaving the basement, he felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He felt bad about leaving her alone. It made his stomach hurt, thinking about how long she’d been alone. Over six years with no one to talk to, having to wake up to the same thing every single day, nothing ever changing. And the way that guard treated her just made him mad. How did she just live with the constant harassment without doing anything? But he had to admit, he admired her for it. If it were him in her place, he’d have blown a fuse within the first year.

He had just walked up the stairs to go to the guard barracks, when he was stopped. 

“Hey, Jason!” Someone called out.  

Jason turned around, but didn’t see anybody. Just an empty hall. “Who said that?’  He wondered. 

“Jason.” 

‘There it is again! Who-’  He knew that voice. 

“Jason, can you come to my office for a minute?” The voice asked. It was Dr. Freljord. 

He walked back two rooms to where Freljord's office was. The door was open, and he saw Dr. Freljord sitting at his desk, looking at some papers. He paused, standing in the doorway for a minute. 

“You can come in. You know you don’t have to ask permission first.” He said, without looking up from his papers.

Jason walked in the room and sighed. “What do you want, Dad?”