my dry skin. The harsh fluorescent lights overhead cast a sickly glow

water, my lips dry and cracked. The soldier who came to question me and beat me

sed to

fore me, or when the toilet was last cleaned? Its silve

result of malnourishment and dehydration. I'm not sure how much longer it'll be unt

re of: I do not

om them, peeled the bloody socks off too, setting them beside me like discarded pieces of

had read about them in the library at Selina's place.

ss my friends, a

want t

tress thrown carelessly on the floor-my designated bed. The d

't di

spins as I take unsteady steps towards the toilet. Just as I reach it, my legs g

I catch a glimpse of my reflection and barely recognize myself. Sunken ey

can't

rate creature isn'

is n

the liquid heaven as it slides down my parched throat. A moan of relief escapes me as I drink h

ly are p

man who'd done this to me, who'd driven the corner of a clipboard through my burn wound, stands there, his fac

men move swiftly, their grip bru

al to mine. The sound of our footsteps echoes ominously off the bare walls. Finally, we stop befor

t pounds so hard I'm actually af

? What's going

k and scream, but my bo

y knees, my palms slapping against the floor. I draw a shaky breath, my

fore, but it's exactly as I imagi

' Arb

s high. And across from him, give distinguished men in expensive suits

nglead

mples that were taken after the Subject

? I was awake.

ain of being branded and being beaten for screaming play in my head. And when the Arbi

itive, Wen - negative, Santos - negative

t's imp

adding, "It seems that Subject Alaki B

.I'm

's been a mistake. My mother belonged to the Diallo Ring and my

ot Mus

e asks as he looks up from the stack of papers, his gaze

adorned with diamond earrings and a black tie. His dark complexion complement

estions, giving me a long, hard look b

nally saying, "Master Deonta'e, according to our reco

a be fuckin

lows up, "And the injuries? Why

stance during arrest," the

an't help but shake

after they caught m

hheld," the green-eyed man sitting

ter Efrem, our records show the Su

ntion is the last thing I would've rejected in this state. I didn'

doesn't matter anymor

they've never seen a battered woman before. Or maybe...maybe it's

an end, Efrem clears his throat. "I want to

He'll just

beard, and long, batting lashes that really put an emphasis on his emerald green eyes. This m

at, realization dawning on me

drug

los, sir," a famil

s widening as I see my t

s the fucking

ns forward, "did you

in replies with

i

em ask, "Subject Alaki Bea X, is

I sp

around, his glare pr

the monster you hide b

s men are men of integrity. If the General

balled into fists, my body trembling with rage. "H

rs, my body jolting. "You

uck y

. You don't get just how little they think of you un

nt, and because I'm not like them, they can get away

voice. "General," he says, his tone sharp, "should you find yourself with another Subject

The look he gives me, filled with a cruel promise, makes my skin cra

is voice grating on my nerves, "then

ion p

eeling washing over me. Whatever

a haze of legal jargon. But one phrase cuts through the fog: "e

rt plu

. This is

Talos," the Arbiter

d blond hair gleaming under the harsh lights. He doesn'

" Haden states, his v

asual way he dismisses my li

m Mustafin,

ises, my m

idn't he say anything? Why didn't he

decision?" the

cal blow, stalling the breath in my l

widen

at does tha

hangs wide, his composure shattered. Haden l

. "Efrem, have you lost your mind? She's a half-bloo

feel the weight of disgusted stares, th

is voice steady. "My

apers. "Master Efrem, surely you can't mean...

happy with his decision being questioned, but he maintains his composure like a gentleman. "Miss Alaki's blood

rshi

ders, seeking support or guidance. Finding none, h

ated. He takes a deep breath, clearly struggling to regain his composure. "Mast

as Deonta'e rises. My heart pounds s

fate is in th

ent before he turns to the Arbiter. The s

The Arbiter asks, his voi

old my breath, my entire body r

her," Deonta'e begins, his words measured and car

reath from my lungs. My mind is reeling, too many que

of red, but he swallows it. The decis

hed a decision. Subject Alaki Bea X will be taken under the sole custody of Ringleader Mustafin to be kept as property. Pape

per

s like a fatal gunshot. My lungs have constricted an

is mean..? H