Chapter 16:

Chapter 16: Bad News

Max finished cleaning her bloody face and legs. She tried her best to straighten her hair and shirt. She could hear Cindy in the other cell. Cindy was silent, but she could hear her breathing. Max rolled her pant legs down. The door to her cell opened. Renfro stood in the doorframe.

Max stood abruptly. An agonizing pain shot up from her ankle to about three inches above her knee. She knew better though than to show her pain. She bit her tounge as she stood. She attempted to stand as tall and straight as possible. But her back wouldn't let her. It was still too sore from her Punishment that had only ended about ten minutes before hand. She felt something-wet slide out her ear; more blood was slowly dribbling out. She blinked her eyes a few times to wipe the fresh warm blood from them. Renfro stared at Max for what felt like an hour but was really only about three minutes. She was mocking Max, Max could see it. She was expecting Soldier X-5452' to slip up. Renfro opened her mouth,

"Sate your designation."

"X-5452!"

Renfro gave a wry smile. She said, "I hear that you have made friends with the woman in the next cell."

It was a statement not a question. Max said nothing. Renfro spoke once more,

"I did not mean for you and the other to make friends. Do you understand soldier?"

Max still said nothing. She wasn't going to answer to Renfro anymore.

"I SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Max still said nothing.

"Fine, I see that you will not answer me. Very well, have it your way. I came to tell you that your sister Brin has passed. She died this morning in action," Renfro leaned in closer to Max's ear and said in a cold voice, "Do you need another heart?"

Max felt something snap in her mind. She raised her hand and punched Renfro in the mouth. The guards started to come into the cell but Renfro held up her hand.

"No. Careful 452. You wouldn't want another discipline action taken towards you would you?"

The cell door shut. Max was left alone. Her sister was dead. Be hacked to pieces for organs. She had a friend next door that would probably be killed sooner or later. A year of her life had been forgotten. She had to get out of here. She held in her mourning. She couldn't do that now. She had to remember. She had to remember her life. Once she did, she could escape. She sat down and fought down the bubbling rage that was building inside of her. Renfro would get hers, soon.