The Unexplained

-Abby-

I don't know how I got here. All I know is that there are rules. My mother taunted me with them as she wrapped my head in a blindfold and pulled me along at demonic speed until we reached her specified destination. The whole way there, low branches and bushes slapped at my legs, forming bruises and scrapes, and the maniacal, devious voice of my mother flowed into my ears. All the rules.

Rule number one: Anything I do wrong can result in Jack or any of my other friend's harm. I remember as she told me this, a branch slapped into my right shin. That shin is now swollen with a nasty purple bruise.

Rule number two: I will comply with everything my mother wants me to do. If I don't, that also results in harm to Jack or any other of my friends. Rule number three: Don't speak unless spoken to. My mother told me she came up with that rule because she didn't want to constantly hear my complaining and spiteful comments. Failure to follow the rule brings harm to my friends.

Rule four: Don't use my powers without being asked to first.

Rule five: No complaining. This rule is probably a branch off from rule three.

Rule six: No reaching out to Cas, whether it is mentally or through self-harm or through anything else. My mother knows how Cas and I work. She wouldn't forget about it.

All consequences of breaking the rules lead back to my friends being harmed. Especially Jack, who I don't even know what he is to me anymore...something more? That doesn't matter now.

By the time we got here, my mother finished explaining all of the rules. There were so many, I spaced out and left her to ramble on to herself. Now, we stand in front of a small little box-like structure with a single door and a single vent. No windows.

"What are we doing here?" I question.

She simply reminds me of rule number three as we step into the structure.

The whole thing is a single room. Inside, I find myself glancing around at the tank in the center of the room, the large desk in the corner, some sort of control panel in the corner, the cords that are splayed out on the ground, and the pipes that line the ceiling. I hug myself, my palms rubbing against my arms. I don't speak again, afraid of what might happen to my friends, or Jack, if I do.

"Step into the capsule, Abby dear."

I watch my mother's unmoving expression as I slowly step over to the glass tank. I grip the handle and I open the door, stepping inside. As I was doing this, Lilith walks over to the control panel. She clicks a button and the door shuts behind me.

My eyes widen and I slam my fist into the glass. "Hey! What the—"

"Ah ah ah..." My mother warns. My mouth immediately shuts, and she smirks. "Very good. Now, Abby, I need you to strip down. Completely. To nothing."

My eyes widen even more. I can't disobey. I'm already at risk because of my goddamn blurting, I can't risk ignoring another rule. My jaw clenches, and I start to peel off each piece of clothing I have on. I get to only my bra and underwear before my mom quickly holds up a hand. "You can stop there," she says. "I won't strip you of your entire dignity."

I only scowl as she lets out a chuckle. Lilith walks over to the tank and opens a small door on the side of the tank, only big enough to stick a couple arms through, maybe a plate of food. I mean, she has to feed me, right? She gestures to the clothes on the floor of the tank and I lift them up reluctantly pushing them into her hands. She gives me a smirk, before wandering over to the control panel.

"Now," she says, "you must be wondering what you're doing here, hm?" She says as she sets the clothes down on the small table beside the panel.

"I don't know. Is that your permission for me to speak?" I retort with a huff.