I stumbled forward, barely registering the rough stone floor beneath me as I was shoved unceremoniously into the dark prison cell. Disoriented and confused, I tried to make sense of my surroundings; what little light filtered in from the corridor outside revealed only shadows and dust.

"Watch your step," a deep voice warned me as I nearly tripped over a raised stone. Blinking away the darkness, I began to discern the outline of a man sitting on a dusty bed, his posture relaxed despite the grim setting. As my eyes adjusted, I could see that he was a bulky man; he had short turquoise hair and sharp green eyes that hinted at a mind still sharp and keen.

"Who are you?" I asked cautiously, remaining vigilant.

"Ren," he replied simply, his tone measured and calm. "And you?"

"Ryemi," I answered hesitantly, still struggling to process how I had ended up here.

"Nice to meet you, Ryemi," Ren said, extending a hand towards me. His grip was firm as we shook hands awkwardly.

"Where am I? What is this place?" I asked, my voice echoing off the damp walls.

"Black Spiral Prison," Ren replied, his expression somber. "It's where they throw outsiders like us who don’t live under their rule."

I shook my head in confusion, recalling how I was arrested out of nowhere. "I don't understand. I was just asking the guards for directions when they grabbed me and dragged me here. I didn't do anything wrong!"

Ren regarded me with a look of sympathy. "But you are an outsider, right? Since the goddesses took over, any human not registered in an official settlement is considered an 'illegal'."

"An illegal?" I asked. "Why would I be considered an illegal?"

"Because you were wandering outside, which can only mean that you escaped from another settlement or have been living illegally outside the goddesses’ sphere of influence," Ren explained patiently. "The goddesses have established a strict system of control. All humans must live in designated settlements controlled by a goddess. To travel freely outside their domains is a crime." 

I felt a chill run down my spine at his words. I had known so little of the outside world before setting out on my journey. Now this stranger was revealing a terrifying truth - the world I hoped to explore had become little more than a prison, not much different from the cell we were currently confined in.

"So we have no rights? No freedom?" I asked quietly.

Ren shook his head. "Very little. Us 'illegals' even less so. We'll likely be sentenced to hard labor, or worse." He paused, shooting me a peculiar look. "Do you really not know any of this? Just where did you come from?”

I hesitated, unsure of how much to divulge to somebody I just met. But something in his calm, intelligent gaze seemed to tell me he was a good person. 

"You're right, I'm not from around here," I began, not wanting to reveal too much. "I travelled here to find somebody. But now..." My voice trailed off as the severity of our predicament sank in.

Ren listened thoughtfully, his expression unreadable.

I took a deep breath before continuing. "I was raised in a very remote place. I never even set foot into the outside world until a few weeks ago when I started this journey."

Ren's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "That would explain your lack of knowledge about the world. But for you to have lived completely unaware of the goddesses’ influence, I never thought that such a place could still exist on Earth."

I bit my lip, debating how to answer him.

"Let's just say that I got lucky," I replied carefully.

"I see," Ren murmured. Though I could tell he was still burning with curiosity, he didn't pry further.

"Well, you certainly chose a dangerous time for your quest," he remarked dryly. "This world is not what it used to be."

Ren went on to describe how the goddesses conquered humanity sixteen years ago. How their massive size allowed them to easily subjugate all who resisted. How mankind was now enslaved, forced to worship these cruel giants who treated them as playthings. 

As he spoke, vivid scenes sprang to life in my mind. Immense shapely legs striding through cities, reducing towers to rubble beneath delicate feet. Beautiful but terrible faces looking down from the clouds as tiny people cowered in the shadows of their voluptuous bodies. I shuddered at the thought of being at the mercy of such senseless torment. What little freedom humans retained seemed to be because the goddesses enjoyed their desperation.

"I had no idea things were this bad," I gasped in shock.

Ren nodded somberly at my reaction. 

"It's a dark era for humanity," he agreed. "But it wasn't always this way. Before the Goddesses appeared, mankind was prosperous and thriving."

His green eyes took on a faraway look as he described the world that existed before. Vast shining cities of metal and glass. Fast vehicles that traversed land, sea and air. Instant communication across great distances. It sounded too good to be true, though Ren spoke of these wonders in a factual manner.

"I worked as a scientist and engineer for the Interstellar Exploration Agency. We were attempting to develop technology that could break through the mysterious light barrier surrounding our planet and finally reach the age of spacefaring," Ren described with an excited glint in his eyes. 

Ren went on to explain his role in greater detail - the advanced propulsion systems, the experimental alloys, cosmic radiation. His voice grew passionate as he recalled those days, working alongside the brightest minds trying to achieve the impossible.

I listened, enraptured by this glimpse of the past. Humanity had been so advanced, standing at the cusp of the stars themselves. A swell of admiration rose within me for this man who had dedicated his life to the pursuit of knowledge. To think he had come so close to unlocking the secrets of space travel, only to have everything snatched away by the cruel whims of godlike beings. 

"I'm so sorry this happened to you and everyone else," I said softly. "You deserved so much better."

"Thank you, but I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do about it," Ren glanced down sadly. “I feel especially bad for your generation. You were too young back then, so you will probably never know what it’s like living in a flourishing civilization.”

I shook my head vigorously, determination burning in my heart. "It’s too early to be so pessimistic. As long as we don’t give up, perhaps things will go back to the way they were someday… For starters, why don’t I help us get out of this place first!"

Ren frowned, eyeing my petite stature dubiously.

I shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny as I took a step back, my side ponytail swaying slightly.

"I like your attitude, but that’s easier said than done. Especially for a small girl like you," he finally remarked.

Anger flared at his doubt, though I tamped it down.

"I may not look like much, but I can definitely do it," I stated confidently.

"How?" Ren asked skeptically. "Are you some kind of magician?" 

I bit my lip, tempted to demonstrate to him just what I was capable of, but I resisted the urge.

"Not exactly," I began hesitantly. "I just need you to trust me. If you turn around, cover your eyes and promise not to peek, I'll get us both out of here."

Ren frowned, clearly torn between doubt and hope. His longing for freedom eventually won out, and he nodded. 

"Very well," he agreed. 

Satisfied, I took a deep breath and steeled my nerves. It was time. 

"Now turn around, cover your eyes and do not move," I ordered. 

Ren obeyed, turning so his back faced me. I watched anxiously as he covered his eyes with both hands, hoping with all my might that he would keep his promise. After all, I had been sternly warned to keep my abilities a secret from anybody I met.

My heart pounded as I focused, drawing on the energy coiled tight inside, the power surging through my veins like liquid fire. 

With a deep breath, I thrust my hands forward and unleashed a torrent of flames. They erupted from my palms, scorching hot and blindingly bright. The fire roared as it spewed forth, slamming into the prison wall with the force of a battering ram.

The stone barrier didn't stand a chance against my onslaught. The flames melted through it with ease, boring a massive hole straight through ten inches of solid concrete. 

I grit my teeth, feeling the heat wash over me. My skin tingled from the inferno raging mere centimeters in front of me, the surrounding air shimmering with intense waves of heat.

Finally, I cut off the flames. Panting with my shirt disheveled and drenched in sweat,, I stared at the gaping hole I had created. Beyond, I could see the dark hallways, winding around like an intricate maze.

I heard a shocked gasp behind me. Heart pounding, I turned around immediately. Ren’s astonished face greeted me, his mouth agape.

“You looked…” I grumbled as his green eyes darted between me and the smoking hole behind me.

"What...how...that's impossible..." he stammered. 

I fidgeted nervously, unsure of what to say. I had just carelessly used my power in front of a complete stranger. A power I had been told to hide. 

What now? Would Ren see me as a freak? Would he tell others about me?

…Would I have to eliminate him?

No… I don’t want to hurt anyone, especially not someone I just met. But then, what do I do now? I cursed my own inexperience as I shuffled my feet apprehensively, unsure of what the right course of action would be.

The silence stretched between us as we both struggled to process what had just transpired, the fate of our newly forged companionship hanging delicately in the balance.