Chapter 1
April 2093
Alexander stared across the table at her, eyes still adjusting to the darkness. He hadn’t seen the girl in a few days. Her skin was a mix of black and blue; cuts ran down her arms, fresh blood oozing out of several. One of her eyes was too swollen to open, and he could see burns all the way up to her neck. Her hair was matted with grime and sweat; he couldn’t remember its original color.
She didn’t look at him. The chains that bound her to the chair forced her body forward, but she was gazing blankly at the opposite wall. She hadn’t reacted when he’d entered. The one eye visible beneath the bruises was lifeless. The guard behind her was standing ready: gun in hand, waiting for Alexander’s signal.
“You know why I’m here,” He said, looking down at the papers he was holding in order to avoid thinking about how her skin had become so scarred. “You have one more chance to-“
“No, I don’t.” She said. Her voice was quiet but echoed in the cell. “I’ve been dead since you first started to look for me. I could give you names and locations for dozens of people and you would still kill me.”
He looked up from the papers and Melody’s eye met his. It wasn’t a challenge, but her gaze sent a chill up his spine. She had already accepted she was gone.
“One more chance to avoid more pain,” He said, “How about that?”
“You need me dead.” It was not a question. “The longer you keep me alive, the longer they keep fighting. You know that’s not my fault, but you have to deal with it the only way you can. So, if you’re going to kill me, just do it already.”
“Do you really not care?” Alexander asked, leaning on the table so he towered over her. “Do you really want to die?”
“No.” She spoke in a dead, flat voice, “But I don’t have a choice in that, do I?”
He glared at her one final time, before turning on his heel and walking out of the room.
“Do it,” He called, slamming the door shut behind him.
