kind of hell. It wasn't the abstract cruelty of H

group of women whose eyes were

ere on me. The largest one, a woman with a s

rules, new gir

out, sweeping my legs from under me. I crashed to the f

roared. "Kiss the flo

I trembled, but I pushed myself up. "N

o hard my ears rang. I fell back

h?" the woman spat. The others closed i

a ball on the floor, trying to protect my head. The pain

only the

d me down while another woman used a makeshift needle and ink to carve a crude, ugly flowe

ed in a corner, counting the minutes, the hours, until Hudson' s promis

, a guard unlocked the ce

my body a canvas of bruises

against his sleek black car. Ginger

e shock crossed his face. He saw my split lip, the

o you?" he asked

, Aleen," she whined. "Don't be so

er of concern extinguished by Ginger's w

A bitter smile touched my lips. "

r ag

s a silent vow

ewelry box, I took out a small vial. A special drug Cason had given me, one that w

g at it. A flicker of

is t

said, my voice flat

" he said, his voice laced with a strange, de

ilence a more damning answ

ay. I have to go. I've already told everyone you're unwell from y

id, my voice

h my compliance. "Don't

ould just sit here and wait for h

ploded in a kaleidoscope of color. Fireworks. For Ginger. A me

single tear tracing a path t

ntents without a second thought. The bit

ss conspicuous cars, and started driving towards the wi

uzzed. It

?" he asked, h

," I r

'm in it. The staged scene is ready a

ll,"

I aimed for the sharpest curve, the one with th

was

ony was ab