a's

ha

grasp the meaning before Miss Caroline, she yanked my arm so forcefully that the world

nd my tongue felt heavy. I managed to swallow the burning lump in my throat, forcing my brea

te on her tongue. "Or whatever your name is, I don

r voice made my

ing of her fingers around my wrist, digging in like she was trying to claim ownership over me. I stumbled, but she didn

cell didn't even glance my way. They all sat in silence, each one lost in their own world, thei

rent. Alway

e air, when Miss Caroline's voice sl

omorrow, Lyra. You'll help clear

al. It took a moment for them to

a

say what I th

eard the whispers, seen the way the others were treated like cattle, their lives dictated by rules I didn't fully unde

labo

coul

ack, but I didn't care.

ced off the stone walls, echoing

d toward the door. "If you're too delicate for this, you'll have to learn th

athe. The weight of her words pre

e

y them. The thought made my blood run cold. I'd b

made her way out, leaving me to st

rds strangled by the rising pan

hind her, cutting m

ted test to break me down? My fingers curled into fists, nails digging into my palms as

me, made bile rise in my throat. What if they hurt me? I couldn't-no,

to the empty cell, my voice t

lips, I knew they were nothi

choice here. They had all

One of the women, a tall, gaunt figure with dark eyes that

. "We all do what we're told.

hipped around to face her, the sh

t. "Is that all you thi

d into a bitter

ou can do." She didn't seem angry.

s burn through me, but I re

ore to myself than anyone else. "I'm not li

t stare, her eyes full of something I couldn't quite place. The

ched m