hold of my arm. Pain shot through it, and I instinctively let go

pulled my

ere, okay? Don't move u

d with w

ther. She couldn't tak

led back my sleeve. The bandage came into view... and a

happ

the bandage, trying to unwrap it,

erious. It happ

rted picking up the bro

l me what rea

yed still. Then I l

s what you're thinking. They punished

ely changed. She stepped toward me,

Mom. Just

ouldn't cut someone like

ried both wor

another lo

ck to the Al

t everyth

it is. It's a mark. They carved the

rained from

arked y

I reached for the

derf

and through her hair,

your father... alwa

kept sweeping up

And Dylan... please try to stay out of trouble, alright?

bring herse

uragement," I replie

kissed the top of his head. H

ow's s

a smal

s ok

. Keep being

hair before he

rm. Even beneath the bandage, my skin still burned. That scar woul

being stronger, faster, and able to

absurd and i

my room, I closed

I f

ants rested on my bed. There w

side t

sh

o. The collar

t have s

uniform ha

one d

le so everyone would remember exac

everyone w

n Ri

ore than

.

without thinking twice. The truth was, I didn't care about the consequences anymore. I cared even less about what anyone thought. Ever

y moment getting ready to welcome their beloved King. As for the rest of us, the unbonded hu

nstairs! You're

I gave myself one last look. My eyes settled on my forearm. The carved words were still surr

s. Mom was helping Freddie put on h

ea

ile. I simply slipped on my

h already, so please don't do anything

every day. It was as if everyon

ke it through o

all nod. Even I knew that getting the K

u tonig

nto my fingers as we walked together. Nick used to come with us

eive his daily injection that kept humans obedient bef

ed the rest of

against my body, I walked at an unhurried pace. At the entrance, I gave

into the hallways,

me with disgust. Every unbonded human still wore long sleeved uniforms. Me

ext corner, I came

. and

't any space between them. They kissed each ot

ious

turned toward me with wide eyes. He was dressed in a fla

me. I looked away an

ootsteps ca

yl

y path, forcing me to stop. My bag

let me ex

m without a tr

he mar

t the chanc

t. I alre

d up my bag, and w

it's hard to fight it..

't slo

ant to hea

seat. A moment later, Nick came in behind me.

ed down again

d sit in t

him, I pointed to

there,

joking..

, I opened my notebook

en sitting next t

n't a

yl

remaine

over and grabbed my arm. I

is t

nto the words car

they do

y arm away

did it. It was

a small

proud to