A lot of dangerous people were in the basement of Primatech Paper. Horrible people who had done horrible things. But none were talked about with as much fear as Sylar.
Another day in confinement, Sylar thought as he sat, meditative, on his cot, facing the rear wall off the cell. I wonder who they'll send today. It's always someone. Bennet coming down to interrogate him, a team of scientists to perform experiments, the occasional new recruit brought by to see him, like a display at a zoo. Always tired-looking old men.
Who today?
As if in answer, the light in the dim cell snapped on, temporarily blinding him as usual. The door clanked open and closed, and Sylar rose from his cot to glare at today's spectator.
But far from his expectations of grey suits and grey hair, an explosion of color and life met his eyes. Like a mirage beyond the glass, a blonde girl, no older than 25 for certain, wearing a shockingly blue tank top and jeans greeted his eyes. He almost thought he dreamt that wickedly childish smile into existence.
"So you're Sylar," she said, still smiling. "The way they talk about you upstairs, I assumed you'd have fangs or something."
Sylar came back to himself, remembering to be intimidating.
"How do you know I don't?"
She giggled, a sound that seemed unnatural coming from that body.
"Daddy told me not to come down here, but I have to have someone to talk to for the next three weeks, don't I?" When he continued to glare at her, she simply said, "I guess you may not be the best person for that."
"Who are you?" he growled.
"I'm nobody."
"Everyone is nobody until they give themselves a name."
She smirked. "I'm Elle."
"Elle," he repeated, his features softening ever so slightly. He stepped closer to the glass, carefully absorbing the details of her face. As a sharper light threw him into relief, she looked him over and smiled more widely.
"Huh… they didn't mention how cute you are either."
Sylar's eyes narrowed. Cute?
Suddenly, an obnoxious beeping sounded and the girl… Elle… unpocketed a cell phone and answered the call.
"Hi, Daddy… No, I'm just looking around… Oh, okay. I'll meet you upstairs… Love you too, Daddy." She hung up and looked back at Sylar. "I have to go, but I'll be back, I promised." She smiled as she dragged the heavy metal door open and then closed again. She forgot to turn the lights off.
Sylar stared after her for awhile, then sat uneasily on his cot again. Unnerved as he was, he finally had something solid and tangible to look forward to.