**Chapter 6: Wren's Past**

The cold, grey walls of the asylum seemed to press in on Wren, suffocating her with their oppressive weight. She lay on her narrow bed, her eyes fixed on the small, barred window that let in a sliver of sunlight. Her mind wandered back to her encounter with Xander, and the way he had looked at her - like she was a puzzle to be solved, a mystery to be unraveled. As she thought about her past, fragments of memories began to surface. Wren's eyes drifted closed, and she let herself sink into the darkness. She remembered her childhood, growing up in a small, run-down apartment on the outskirts of New Eden. Her parents had been struggling to make ends meet, working multiple jobs just to put food on the table. Wren had been a difficult child, always getting into trouble and pushing boundaries. But her parents had loved her, and she had loved them. But then, things had changed. Wren's parents had disappeared, taken away by the authorities in the dead of night. She had been left alone, adrift in a world that seemed determined to crush her. The pain and fear of those days still lingered, a raw wound that she couldn't shake. As she grew older, Wren had learned to rely on her wit and her sarcasm to get by. She had formed a tough exterior, a shield that protected her from the cruelty and indifference of the world. But deep down, she was still that scared, lost little girl, searching for a sense of belonging and purpose. The door to her room slid open, and Nurse Pierce entered with a tray of food. Wren's stomach growled at the sight of the bland, institutional meal, but she didn't touch it. She had been refusing food for days, trying to protest her confinement. Nurse Pierce set the tray down on the small table, her expression neutral. "You need to eat, Reine," she said. "You can't survive on air alone." Wren shrugged, her eyes fixed on the nurse. "I'm not hungry." Nurse Pierce's gaze lingered on her face, and for a moment, Wren thought she saw a flicker of concern. But it was quickly extinguished, replaced by the nurse's usual mask of professionalism. "Very well," Nurse Pierce said. "But don't say I didn't warn you. You need to cooperate with us if you want to get out of here." Wren snorted, her sarcasm automatic. "Oh, yeah. I can barely contain my excitement. Get me out of here, and I'll be your best friend forever." The nurse's expression remained neutral, but Wren saw a hint of annoyance in her eyes. "Let's focus on your treatment, shall we?" she said. As the nurse left, Wren felt a surge of frustration and anger. She was trapped, with no way out. And Xander, the one person who seemed to hold her fate in his hands, was still a mystery to her. She lay back on her bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. She knew she had to be careful, that one wrong move could mean disaster. But she was determined to uncover the truth about this place, and about herself. And she was willing to do whatever it took to escape. Later that day, Wren was taken to a small, dingy room deep in the asylum's basement. The air was thick with the smell of disinfectant and fear. She was strapped into a chair, and a series of electrodes were attached to her head. A figure in a white coat entered the room, a clipboard in his hand. "Reine Green, I'm Dr. Kim," he said. "We're going to run some tests on you. Please, try to relax." Wren's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with fear and suspicion. What were they planning to do to her? And what did they hope to find out? As the tests began, Wren felt a sense of panic rising inside her. She was trapped, with no way out. And she was at the mercy of people who seemed determined to hurt her. But she refused to give up. She would fight, no matter what. And she would uncover the truth about her past, and about herself. No matter the cost.