I look up in his face. Concern overshadows his eyes like clouds that are hiding the sun as he stares intensely at Dr. Bitch and her escorts. The red of his eyes reminds me of pools of blood. As Sylus notices my gaze, his eyes swift back to me, and they lighten up immediately, now shining like rubies in the dark. "I promise, everything will be ok."
Somehow, Sylus manages to melt away some of my fear and I do not feel completely hopeless anymore. My heart becomes lighter within minutes as more and more of his warmth seeps into my palm and I return the squeeze of his hand with a slight smile. We are in this together.
Finally, we are approaching the entrance to the facility. I can feel my heart racing with a mixture of fear and anticipation. Seeing the guards and the security checkpoint up ahead, with its biometrics and facial recognition systems, causes my stomach to flip. 
Looking over at Sylus, I notice that he is intensely scanning the area, carefully studying all the security measures that keep us within this facility. I try to take comfort in his presence. His grip on my hand is firm, and the warmth of his skin is a small reassurance in this new and scary situation. The thought of walking through that door and leaving the only place I have ever known is overwhelming. We exchange another gaze as Dr. Bitch gestures us to step outside.
The doors slowly creak open, and a gust of cold air wafts into my face. I take a deep breath, and the crisp, fresh air fills my lungs. As my eyes adjust to the dim light, I am completely awestruck by the sight before me. The night sky stretches endlessly above us and is illuminated by a blanket of sparkling stars, twinkling like diamonds against the black canvas. 
The forest around us is dark and mysterious, but also beautiful in its own way. My ears are overwhelmed by the variation of sounds coming out of the timber land. The wind rustles through the trees shaking the leaves, while an owl hoots, and I can hear the occasional cracking of wood. There is also the sound of crickets or other insects.
The realization that lifetimes of experiences and memories have been stolen from me leaves me dazed and disoriented as I take in the sights and sounds of the world outside. There are too many stimuli that affect me all at once and my world starts to spin. I feel how my knees give in, and I have to hold onto Sylus tightly to keep from falling to the ground. He wraps his strong arm around my waist to support me. "It's okay, Kitten. I am here. Just breath."
Dr. Bitch and her escorts guide us to a black van parked outside of the facility. I can feel the texture of the various surfaces beneath my feet: the grass is soft and slightly damp, while the gravel and concrete of the parking area are rough and uneven. Without Sylus's support on my waist, I would certainly stumble over my own feet.
Sylus helps me to climb into the backseat of the car, fastening my seatbelt for me, before he takes his place next to me. All the time, he never let go of my hand. As Sylus is holding my hand firmly, he slowly slides his fingers between mine. "I am here, Kitty. It's going to be ok."
Dr. Bitch takes her seat across from us, her gaze studying our entwined fingers, while a satisfied smile appears on her face, but there is no warmth in her eyes as she says. "Good. You will need each other in the coming trials." There is an ominous feeling in the air as we both sense the weight of her words and the uncertainty of what's to come next.
One of the guards starts the engine of the van and the hum vibrates through the inside of the car, as the tires crunch against the gravel. The movement of the car causes me to be slightly pressed into the soft leather of the seat. As I look outside the window, I can see the forest dashing in a blur of green and black colors past us.
As the minutes are ticking by an awkward silence spread inside the car. I am deeply in thoughts, thousands of questions, doubts and fears filling my mind as I feel the thigh of Sylus's leg pressed against my body. His presence is anchoring me back in the moment. His fingers squeeze my hand, and I can feel his rapid pulse under my fingertips. His heartbeat is almost in sync with my own racing heart.