“Eat,” she whispered quickly, her voice rushed, urgent. “You have to eat.”
I didn’t move.
My eyes were still on him.
He was already walking away, moving down the corridor like nothing had happened, like we were nothing, like this was just routine, just another pass through cages that would be filled again even if we weren’t.
Until he reached the end of the corridor.
Paused.
And then—
The second set of footsteps came.
Faster.
Louder.
At least three of them.
Laughing between themselves, checking how the new arrivals had settled, like this was just another part of their day.
They didn’t stop in front of my cell.
Didn’t even spare me a glance.
Lena froze.
Completely.
Her hand tightened so hard around the edge of the tray I thought she might bend it, her breathing stopping for a
