Six years ago, the younger sister of Marcus Winter went on a walk in the Yosemite National Park. She found a ten year old girl there, lost, alone, and with no memories. When Leona checked her at the police station, no one recognized her, she wasn't even in the registry. Leona was barren, unfortunately - after a miscarriage years ago she found herself unable to have a child. This ruined her marriage and her then husband left her, so she decided to adopt the nameless child and name her Ellen.

Ellen was always a strange girl. She was naturally curious, but she was also quiet and reserved, preferring not to talk whenever possible. She was incredibly intelligent even when she was young, and very quickly learned about the world. Still, Leona was afraid that Ellen might've ended up afraid and alone once she was thrown into an unknown environment like school, so since she was the same age as Cress, Leona moved to a house closer to where her brother's widow lived, one of her best friends for a long time, Louise Winter. There she introduce Cress to Ellen and it was then that fate was decided.

Cress showed Ellen the world, and it was her that helped Ellie feel as if she were really a part of the family. The two were as close as real sisters, and was what was needed to help ease Ellie out of her natural shyness, bringing out the repressed child side of her that liked fun and playing around. Of course, Ellie's almost magical ability to warp technology however she wanted only proved to be worse and worse as time went on and soon enough, Ellie saw men in black suits following her around. They took pictures of Cress, using her as leverage to draw Ellie out and she agreed to help with whatever they wanted if it meant they'd leave them alone.

The girl was forced to create strange futuristic weapons that humans had never seen before and she always felt horrible for knowing that her knowledge was going to be used to hurt others, but she had to prioritize Cress, because her cousin was almost everything to her. From then on, though, Ellen started closing herself off again, distrusting those around her and made sure to always think through things before doing anything hasty. She wasn't sure if Cress or the rest of the family ever knew about the incident, but Ellen wasn't sure she'd ever tell anyone.

Then one night, Ellen fell into a trance at the family summer home, hearing a strange voice that made her feel things she hasn't felt for over six years. She followed the voice, not knowing her beloved cousin, Cress, was following behind her, tying their fates together...