Page 69 of Us Dark Few

The accompanying silence spoke for them. It felt as if no bars separated them. The very air was still, and not even the cockroaches moved. It was as though everything and everyone was locked in stasis.

Takeshi’s dark eyes fastened around her grip on the bars, and his jaw clenched as he walked away. She hung her head like a weight of bricks descended on her neck.

Takeshi continued to wedge himself beneath her skin, peeling back layers, unveiling Khalani for who she really was.

She wasn’t that same little girl who begged to perish with her parents.

Khalani would stand on the earth’s surface tomorrow, like her ancestors before the Great Collapse. She would face the Governor, the man who murdered those she loved most. The one who robbed her of everything that mattered.

Apollo taught her well.

Justice wasn’t true unless it was coated with blood.

19

There lies a riot in you.

With your very first breath, you cried in protest.

The entrance into Genesis was a massive, gleaming elevator. The doors were see-through with a goldGinsignia written on the glass, signaling its sole destination. Serene squeezed her hand as they drew closer to the forbidden area.

When Serene learned that Khalani had been requested as a servant in Genesis, she carefully swiped a pad from an unsuspecting guard and switched Khalani’s number with another prisoner’s. Khalani objected, but one stern look from Serene made it clear that it wasn’t up for negotiation.

Khalani was grateful for Serene’s intervention, however, when they were later given extra soap and ordered to scrub themselves clean in the shower.

She changed back into her uniform and afterward, Dr. Francis arrived at her cell with an apologetic expression, strange clothes in hand, and holding a white metal stick.

“Sorry,” he said, his lips pressed into a thin line. “They want theservants completely clean before seeing the Governor. Obviously, we can’t give prisoners razors, so I have to use this.” He held up the thin white object with a firm grip. “It emits a laser that will permanently remove the hair. It will probably hurt.”

Khalani closed her eyes and swallowed hard. Of course, the Governor and his Council wouldn’t tolerate anything sullied or dirty in their precious city.

Her nails dug into her palms as she said through gritted teeth, “Just get it over with.”

The procedure hurt nearly as much as the initial branding, with fiery electric shocks coursing up her skin. He worked as quickly as possible. By the end, her legs and arms were completely smooth and she felt sick to her stomach.

Dr. Francis stepped back, swallowing nervously and not quite meeting her gaze.

“You’ll need to change into these clothes,” he said regretfully.

That was how Khalani found herself at the entrance of Braderhelm, joining Serene in a tight black dress and matching high heels that made her fear for her ankles’ safety with every step.

Were they headed to a dinner or a brothel?

They were joined by two other prisoners, one male and one female. The girl had pale skin, a pretty, heart-shaped face, and flowing black hair that still held a shine. Khalani recognized the auburn-haired boy as the prisoner who had been shoved around the food line her first day in Braderhelm.

At least the guard gave him pants to wear. She might as well have been half-naked.

Their transport swiftly hummed to a stop before the elevator. Khalani gulped at the number of guards standing at attention around it. The stone-faced men wore gold uniforms, and the leader approached their group.

“These the prisoners?” he asked.

“Yes, sir,” the Braderhelm guard responded.

The Genesis guard tilted his head. “Check them.”

One of the guards abruptly invaded her personal space, starting to search her body for weapons. She kept her eyes forward and went rigid as rough hands patted down her whole body, including her chest and groin.

Serene made a sound of disapproval but was quickly silenced.

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