Cadie woke to a pounding headache and a sense she was somewhere she shouldn't be. *Oh, my head. Must've done some serious drinkin last night.* She sat up slowly, holding her head in her hands. *Oh merde. Dis ain' no hangover, I know where I am now.* She shivered, but not from the cold. *Keep it t'gether, Cadie girl. Don' let him see you're scared, he'll use it 'gainst you.*

"Ah, good, you are awake." The voice sounded tiny through the speaker, but she recognized it just the same. "Then we can have a little discussion. I will ask the questions, and you will answer. Is that clear?"

"What make y' t'ink Arcadia do what y' want, hehn? Got not'in t' say t' you. Lemme out, an I won' hurt you." She forced as much bravado into her voice as she could muster. Inside, she was afraid she was going to shake apart.

"You, little one, are in no position to make demands. On the other hand, I am in the position to grant requests, if the payment is sufficient. I find myself requiring your assistance with a certain--- experiment. You may choose to cooperate, and spare yourself pain, or you may resist. Either way, the result will be the same. Will you assist me?"

She spat a particularly venomous phrase at him in French.

He actually laughed, which terrified her further. "Such fire. Truly you and LeBeau are two of a kind. Or did you think I was unaware of your relationship?"

She was scanning the room as he spoke, searching for one tiny flaw that might mean a way out. So far, the bare white walls had yielded no hope, but she refused to give up. Doing so would be an effective means of committing suicide. She knew what happened to Sinister's "experiments" when he was through with them. *Got t' be a way out. Jus haven't found it yet.*

"Didn' ever wonder what y' t'ought, Sinister. Don' care now either. Lemme out."

"Will you assist me then?"

She spat more gutter French at him.

"The speaker was silent for several seconds, and she began to chew her lip nervously. *Cadie, when you gon' learn not t' play games wit' fire? He jus as likely t' kill you as keep you fo' what he want.*

"Perhaps, then, you require some--- persuasion. The room you inhabit at present is a sensory deprivation chamber, little one. Do not force me to activate it."

*Mon Dieu, non!* The look of horror on her face had him laughing again.

"That is what will happen if you do not cooperate, little one. Is that what you want? Is it preferable to helping me with one small experiment?"

She shuddered. *Talk 'bout impossible choices. I either go mad or die. Mon Dieu, how I get myself int' dese t'ings? Why can't I jus let him do what he wants?*

"Take some time and consider your options, little one. I will return and check on you shortly."

Before she could react, the room plunged into darkness. No one heard her agonized scream as the ordeal began.