"....well, at least there's that." the man responded.

"Thank the heavens for small... well... miracles in disguise, I suppose." he said further.

"At any rate, I'll leave you be to clean up." he told her.

"I'm sure I'll be seeing you shortly."

No sooner had she finished writing the last word, did she hear a loud whistle, and heavy footsteps.

Quite a few of them.

"Hey! You!" someone called.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" they demanded angrily.

"That's defacing property, and spreading deceiving propaganda!"

It was clear that she was making them angry now, as she could practically hear their teeth gnashing.

"...what... was... that." the head of the group snarled.

"That sounds like pro-mutant dissent." they said further.

"Care to say that again?" they then asked her.

"Maybe I... just didn't hear you properly."

That seemed to have done it.

She found herself grabbed by the collar, and her wrists were put into cuffs.

"That's it." he said.

"You're coming with us." he told her.

"You WILL be judged for your crimes against humanity."

"Child are not, all are equal when dissent is involved." he replied.

With that, she was forcefully led from where she was, and taken to the stronghold that she had approached before. When she was led past the guards, they looked at her, and she could feel their judgemental stares.

When she was inside, she was led down several corridors, until they went into an elevator. It descended several floors before opening, and she was shoved forward, into a dull grey area, surrounded by even more of the statues... except THESE ones were broken and cracked... like people had purposefully destroyed them.

A couple of them stayed behind to watch her, as the others went into the elevator.

"Make sure she doesn't do anything funny!" the one in charge ordered.

"I need to inform the Leader of this, and get our weapon." they told them.

"Yes sir!" they answered in unison.

When the elevator closed, one of them sighed deeply.

"...that thing freaks me out." they said. "I hate watching it do its thing."

The guard that had spoke looked at her.

"...if you must know, it's creepy to watch it happen." he responded.

"Hey!" the other male snapped.

"What? She's a dissident, and going to be punished anyway... no sense lying to her or keeping things secret." the first one responded with a shrug.

"That, and its gaze is so... hollow... it's frightening." he added.

"At least its useful." the other one muttered.

"It's like a train wreck. You can't take your eyes off of it." he responded.

"Plus... you know... its creepy how it's so lifeless." he muttered.

"All right, that's enough." the other one said.

"Use this time to reflect on your decision to oppose us, and attempt to stand in the way of order and law." they told her.

"SILENCE!" he snapped.

"It is clear you are unrepentant." he said.

"Your punishment will be well-deserved." he said further.

At that point, the elevator doors opened again, and several figures emerged.

Most of them looked like guards, but one looked like an obvious commander... though he was not the figure that grabbed Ana's attention.

The one that did was a male that looked to be about 17 years old. He had long black hair that was clearly unkempt and messed, as well as tattered plan clothing... but he was also wearing a pair of cracked goggle-like eyewear, that seemed to be forcibly strapped and locked to his head.

When she looked into the goggles, she saw his eyes.

They were different than last she saw them.

They were still the same colour, but there was something else to them. They were sunken... dull... almost lifeless. They were the eyes of a broken soul contained inside a broken man.

"............" he was silent, as the leader laughed.

"Hm? You know this thing?" he asked her.