Leadership couldn’t have suspected her yet. Blending in was what she did best in Perileos; most people didn’t even know she existed. It was the entire reason Reymond had recruited her for the Dissent.
Yet, the Kaizen wouldn’t have called her out if there wasn’t a motive.
Gemma fingered her poison ring. She couldn’t go back to Perileos. It was either fulfill her mission or die.
But she also couldn’t say no to the Kaizen.
Gemma couldn’t find the courage to look at her teammates as she stepped away from them, a knot forming in her chest.
“Follow me,” the Kaizen said. Her lieutenants waited until the girls obeyed before taking up the rear.
Gemma andone-seven-eightstayed on the Kaizen’s heels, but barely. The captain’s feistiness matched the ginger hair on her head; her speed was unparalleled.
Gemma couldn’t keep track of the twists and turns they took. They even rode a couple lifts to an area that was nothing but red stone. Condensation dripped from the ceiling, and lights were strung along the walls, as if they had entered one of the mines in Perileos.
“In here,” the Kaizen said as she slid open a metal door. Her lieutenants took up positions on either side.
Gemma’s stomach sank to her feet, her body turning cold. Thick wooden beams adorned the ceiling, from which rusted chains dangled like the withered fingers of the damned. A multitude of instruments of pain were arrayed around the room, highlighting how cruel the Kaizen had become.
A torture chamber—there was no other word for it.
The Kaizen knew about her. Somehow, she knew.
Nadine, forgive me. Gemma stifled the tears that filled her eyes. No matter how much the Kaizen hurt her, she wouldn’t let the captain see her cry.
In the center of the room was a metal table, on which were undoubtedly dried blood stains. One metal chair sat on the side closest to them, and two were on the opposite.
The Kaizen pointed to the pair of chairs. “Sit.”
Gemma fell into one of them, her knees weak. A lump the size of her fist settled in her throat, bile burning below it. The Kaizen sat across from them with a look in her eyes that promised death.
“I don’t understand,”one-seven-eightsaid. “Why are we here?”
The Kaizen’s steely eyes bounced between them. “One of you two is a Dissent agent.”
Gemma’s heart stopped.
The captain sat back in her seat. “Normally, I’d shoot both of you, but I’m in the mood for a game. So, I’m going to figure out which of you it is.”
“Wait, what?”one-seven-eightshrieked, her voice cracking.
The Kaizen ignored her outburst. “You both grew up in Sector 45, correct?”
They nodded, unable to utter a word.
“Reymond—you know, the guy from all those wanted posters—was seen leaving that sector the night you all left the city. Now, you two are the only ones from there who participated in the Trials this year. Which means, one of you is a Dissent operative. So, I’ll give you ‘til the count of ten to tell me which of you it is, or I’ll kill both of you.”
No.
“I’m not a traitor. You have to believe me!”one-seven-eightpleaded, wrapping her arms around her body.
“Ten,” the Kaizen began.
“Please, neither of us are part of the Dissent,” Gemma lied, her nails digging into the flesh where she gripped her thighs.
She would not give in. Not yet. She knew it was wrong and that she was riskingone-seven-eight’s life, but if she could convince the Kaizen they were both innocent, neither of them would die, and she could complete her mission.
“Nine.”
