Gemma’s heart slammed harder in her chest as the memories came back to her: The wrong person dying of her poison; her escape attempt from Zion; the shocking pain of stun electrodes against her back.
She’d seen the electrodes used on people in Perileos before. Their bodies always filled with a bright, blue light before they collapsed, unconscious, to the ground.
Now she knew what they felt like too.
Another cold breeze wafted across Gemma’s bare stomach and chest, and her eyes filled with tears.Am I...?She hazarded a glance up at her body. The nightmare was real.
She was naked, except for her underwear.
Gemma squeezed her eyes shut and forced herself not to cry. They weren’t just going to take away her life; they were going to strip her of her dignity before doing so. And, for some reason, that hurt more.
The throbbing in her shoulders and knees—and the pounding in her head—finally registered. How long had she been suspended like this?
Gemma tried to adjust her position, but she couldn’t move. She had no leverage. She couldn’t even bend at her waist, given the connection between her ankles and knees.
She was stuck, helpless.
Naked.
Her throat ached as she stifled another sob.
The door to the torture chamber opened with a bang, startling Gemma. Upside down, she could only see a small portion of the room, but she didn’t have to strain to understand what was happening.
The red trousers of two lieutenants filed in, followed by the dark-blue trousers of the Kaizen herself. Gemma struggled against her bindings as her heartbeat thrashed in her ears.
“By all means, continue to fight. I love when blood starts running down arms from rope burn.” The Kaizen chuckled darkly.
Gemma’s entire body trembled as her three torturers drew nearer, her eyes burning like she’d looked too long at Reva’s blue sun.
This is what Reymond had meant about wanting to use the poison for herself. She would do anything to free herself of this moment of terror and humiliation.
“You’re a sneaky little snake, I’ll give you that,” the Kaizen said. “You actually let an innocent girl die. I mean, I’m almost impressed.”
A tear rolled down Gemma’s temple at the mention of Moriah. She squeezed her eyes closed, demanding her body stay in control of its emotions.
“What are the Dissent’s plans for Zion?” the Kaizen asked as a buzzing sound started.
Gemma clenched her jaw. She wouldn’t answer, even if she could. But she honestly didn’t know. Reymond had never shared what would happenaftershe’d kickstarted the Dissent’s uprising.
Smoldering pain combusted in her side. Her eyes snapped open as she screamed. The Kaizen stepped back, and an electroprod dropped into Gemma’s vision.
They were instruments deemed too painful to be used during combat, forbidden by the Systems’ military.
Yet, the Kaizen was using one on her.
Gemma couldn’t stifle her tears anymore but kept her jaw clamped. She would never give that bitch the satisfaction of breaking her.
“Answer me! What are the Dissent’s plans?”
Gemma closed her eyes and held her breath. The onslaught of flaming pain lasted longer this time, the electroprod sizzling deep into Gemma’s side. The howl that tore through her was unnatural, a noise that sounded as if it radiated from the bowels of the hells themselves.
When the Kaizen pulled her weapon away, Gemma pleaded. “Please, I don’t know.” Tears rained down her forehead, dripping into her hair.
“Bring the bucket,” the Kaizen spoke to her lieutenants.
A moment later, the two men in red dragged a tub filled with water across the floor.
Again, Gemma struggled against her bindings. “Captain, I swear, I have no idea what Reymond’s plans are.”
