***
When the girl awoke, she was lying on a stone table in Gariana's chamber. Several flickering torches that burned with colorful flames stood in the room, and a spicy smell of incense hung in the air. A smoldering pit lay at the center of the chamber, ringed by a bronze dragon, some of the coals blackened within.
The girl wiped sweat from her brow and said, "It's hot in here." She seemed calm considering the circumstances, though her eyes widened when she gazed at the blue, metallic skin that covered her hand and part of her arm.
"Where am I?" she asked. "And what has happened to my hand? I was out walking in the fields, and then I think I must have fallen asleep."
"You are inside a machine," said Gariana, her eyes full of pity. "It's a sort of puzzle, or maze. Sometimes it draws people in and traps them."
She sat up, her green eyes wide with fright. She looked to be in her early twenties, with curly reddish hair and pale, freckled skin. She wore a black dress and had a black ribbon in her hair, which struck me as odd--though I realized there could have been any number of reasons for that.
"Relax," Fasban said. "It won't do you any good to get all riled up."
"Who are you people?" she asked.
"No one important," said Fasban. "We got trapped here like you, and we've been trying to find a way out ever since."
"We were thieves," I said, not caring in the least what she thought of me. "We were committing a robbery when the machine drew us in."
"How long have you been away from your families?" she asked, leaning forward. Her eyes held a glint that could have meant anything.
"We were orphans," I said. "Childhood friends who ran away from terrible situations and made a living by stealing. We have no families that we know of. As to how long we've been here...We're not exactly sure. We think it has been years, or maybe even decades."
"I have a large family," she said. "And a man I am pledged to marry. I was at my grandmother's funeral when I got upset and walked into the countryside. They're waiting for me to return. In fact, they might even be out looking for me. When can I go back?"
We glanced at each other. "We don't know if it's possible," said Fasban. "As I mentioned, we're still seeking a way out of here. What can you tell us of the world you left behind?"
For a moment she seemed to be pondering, and then she held up her blue hand and wiggled the fingers. "This looks awful. Does it come off with water? Or can I just peel it away?"
I turned away, inwardly cringing.
"It won't come off," said Fasban. "The machine is trying to absorb you. Soon, it will send gears after you to add more of that skin to your body. Eventually..." He cleared his throat. "Eventually you will become a--"
"Fasban!" Gariana said sharply. She went to the girl and caressed her hair. "What's your name?"
"Brilla," she said. Then she put her face in her hands and wept.
"What a shame," I whispered. "The first soul who has ever been able to speak to us, and she knows nothing. I suppose I must return to my duties."
Brilla raised her head. "Wait! Don't leave me here! My father is a famous architect and inventor, and I've learned from him. If the three of you were only thieves...maybe I know some things about machinery you don't."
Fasban's face brightened. "That's the spirit! There's a strange apparatus not far from here. We call it the Control Room. Maybe you can figure out how to activate it."
Brilla managed a smile. "It's worth a shot. Lead the way."