Ani rested her pickaxe against her hip as she wiped salty sweat from her forehead. She was in Endovier, death camp but formally known as a salt mine. The salt mines were a labyrinth of winding white tunnels. Thousands of miners – convicts, sent to Endovier to work to death – toiling in the mines, chipping away at the salt. She and her elder sister, Delphine, had been sent here two months ago after being accused of murdering a member of the Wendlyn royal family. Of course, they hadn't done it, but once accused by royalty, there was nothing they could do.

"Hey!" shouted a guard. He raised his coiled whip threateningly. Ani quickly picked up her axe and resumed her work. It was hard, day after day, working in the salt mine. The physical effort wasn't the hardest part. No, it was seeing her friends drop dead like flies after long months in Endovier. That was part of Endovier's design: work criminals until they died, and if they tried to escape? No one had ever managed to escape the mines, and no one tried unless they had a death wish. Most people were killed in three seconds if they made a run for it.

Just then, Delphine walked past. Her skin, like Ani's, was dotted with sweat. The two sisters made eye contact.

"I love you," Ani mouthed. They always repeated those words to each other in case that day was their last.

Delphine mimicked her sister as she turned the corner with her pickaxe in one fist. She was followed by two other prisoners who looked like they were at the end of their time at Endovier; sunken cheekbones and dead eyes were a sign of time running out, of minds and bodies giving way.

Ani cast a wondering glance at the entrance to the tunnel she was in. The chains encircling her felt heavier than ever as she contemplated freedom. It seemed the prisoner next to her was feeling the same as he staring longingly at the entrance and rubbed at the handcuffs on his wrists.

"I want to run, you know," he rasped after noticing Ani, too, was looking towards freedom. "I want to go, to leave, so badly."

Ani remained silent. This one looked like he was on the verge too. The madness in his eyes was fading to blankness, and once his eyes held nothing more than irises, he was done for.

"I want to run," he said again. His fingers twitched along his chains as though he could rip them off and sprint freely. Ani felt a sudden lurch of sympathy. She had only been here two months and already she could relate to this poor man. How long would it be before she ended up like him too?

Ani knew she had to stay strong. She and Delphine would escape one day. They had to.


Delphine followed the guard in front of her. She and the prisoners with her were heading to a new section of tunnel where there were fresh sources of salt. The guard had a whip in one hand and Delphine's chains in the other. Every so often he would give a tug, making her nearly trip. The coarse metal scraped constantly at her ankles, wrists and neck. The heavy chains made her feel like she was sinking into the ground with every step.

"Come on," he grunted. Another tug. Delphine lurched forward but managed not to fall. The prisoners behind her made no move to help. If they did, they might be whipped – or worse.

They turned around another corner. The tunnel grew dark. Finally, the guard stopped and threw Delphine's chains onto the floor. She switched her axe to her other hand and raised it, preparing herself for the work that lay ahead.

"Get to work!" The guard's gruff voice echoed faintly. The two prisoners behind Delphine scuttled forward and immediately began chipping away. Delphine made to do the same, but the guard caught her hand. He wrapped her chains around his fist and leaned close to her. "No. You're coming with me."

Instantly, Delphine felt a shot of fear. She had heard stories of female prisoners being taken advantage of in Endovier, but she never thought it would happen to her. But worse than being felt up was being dead, so she obeyed.

The guard led her into a side tunnel where the darkness shrouded her.

"No," she whispered, feeling sick. No answer.

"What's your name." He didn't even sound like he cared. Delphine heard him shuffle towards her and swallowed.

"Delphine." Her voice nearly cracked. He leaned into her, his hands stroking her dirty hair. Her hair had thinned out during her time at Endovier, and she could feel strands being pulled out.

"Mmm…" he breathed as his hands moved up and slipped around her jaw. She swallowed again, feeling his fingers traced down her throat to her collarbone. He suddenly gripped her chin in his hands. Delphine squeezed her eyes shut. The darkness helped her imagine she was in a dream, an awful, horrible dream as the guard's face pressed close to hers. She could feel his sour breath and almost wanted to pull away. But she knew that if she did, she'd be whipped, or killed, or worse.

Finally, after an agonizingly long time running his hands over her, he kissed her. His lips forced hers opened and his wet tongue slid into her mouth. She nearly retched after tasting him, but she managed not to move. She was a statue – a cold marble rendition of a woman.

"Good girl," he murmured as he pulled away at last." "I'll tell the boys that Delphine gave Rochester a good time." Delphine's face burned. He leaned in for another kiss, his lips devouring hers. The guard was so eager that he didn't even notice Delphine's lack of response.

Suddenly, she came to a realization. If she could manipulate Rochester and get a guard on her and Ani's side, he could be their ticket out of this place. This vile man could help them. She jerked her head to side and let out a breathy moan.

"Yes," Delphine hissed seductively. "Thank you, Rochester."

His hands roamed across her chest as he spoke. "You liked it?" He prodded at her nipples. She grabbed his wrists but couldn't bring herself to pull them away. She could almost feel the whip striking her back if she did that.

"Of course!" Delphine's purring voice seemed too forced, but he bought it.

"I'll be sure to give you special treatment" – he chuckled - "the next time we're down here. Now let's go." He took her chains again and led her down the tunnel back to the others. Delphine followed slowly, feeling a sense of sickening guilt overtake her as they walked.

One of the prisoners that had accompanied her here gave her a sad, knowing look. Delphine returned the gaze evenly before taking her pickaxe up. She had done what she needed to do to survive. She had done what she needed to do to help her and Ani.