Chapter 4

Brittany laughed. "Don't joke around with me like this! I saw her go to the police station with that officer to meet up with you. She was really upset about Maggie."

Maggie walked into the room. "Why was she upset about me? Did I do something wrong?"

Brittany covered her mouth in shock. "Santana was kidnapped!?"

Santana's mom wiped her tears. "We haven't been able to find her. I alerted the police. Can you tell me about this officer that she went with?"

Brittany tried to remember the officer. "Well, he was in a silver car with police lights on it. He was also dressed in police clothing. He had a white handlebar moustache and a half-way bald head. He sounded nice and he told Santana that Maggie was murdered and that he needed to take her to the station to meet up with you. I didn't see her or hear from her after that."

Santana's mom burst into tears again. "She could be dead! My baby could be dead! It's your fault for letting her go with the man!" She got up and smacked Brittany in the face, then grabbing Maggie's hand, she ran out the door and drove away.

Brittany held her cheek in pain.

Her mother and father looked very sad. "Honey... It wasn't your fault. No one knew that he was a kidnapper. You can skip school today. We're going with Santana's mom to the police station to describe the man to them. We're also going to look on their records for the officer that you described to see if he used to work there.

Brittany started to cry. She couldn't take the fact that her best friend could be dead.

Santana had finally cleaned the bathrooms and finished serving dinner to the staff. Now was the moment she had been dreading. She had to be 'branded'.

She walked to the basketball court and looked around. Nobody was outside except for her. She thought about escaping right then but the fences were electric and she could detect a few alarm systems hanging in observation towers. This place really was a prison.

Suddenly a large manly looking woman walked up.

"My name is Emma. I came here when I was your age. It sucks, I know, but once you're 18 they'll let you become part of the staff. I'm going to be your brander for today. It's going to hurt but try to keep your noises minimum."

Santana clenched her fist, readying herself for the pain of the knife on her shoulder.

Emma got out a shiny pocket knife and started to cut the shape of a skull on her left shoulder. Santana couldn't help it, she had to scream, but she couldn't. Her screaming could result in death and she definitely didn't want to die.

Santana waited until the pain was over and then looked at her shoulder. There was a skull carved into it. Blood dripped onto the pavement. She winced. She had always been a bit squeamish around blood. Especially her own.

Emma put the knife away and nodded her head as to say a silent goodbye and good luck.

Ricardo came out of the building. He saw the skull carving on her arm.

"So you didn't decide to come here like a good girl. Did you get your chores done?"

Santana nodded.

"Good. Now get to the indoor gym with the rest of the girls. I'll meet you in there."

Santana nodded and scurried off to the gym. It was also concrete and had about 100 girls standing in rows acording to their age. Santana stood next to the girl with the dark brown hair. She looked extra frail today.

The man who had kidnapped her stood up and started to talk.

"We have been discovered. Starting tomorrow we're going to have men from larger industries coming to buy you all from us. Be prepared to lose your friendships and siblings. Most likely you will be shipped to California, Minnesota, or Indiana. Anyone 18 years old that has been here their whole teenage life, we have decided that you can choose either to stay and become staff for the other industries or you may leave and reunite with your families."

The line of 18 year old girls just stood there obediently.

"If any of you would like to become staff, please raise your hand."

All of the girls raised their hands. Santana almost gasped but stopped herself. Had they been broken beyond repair? Santana knew that if the oppertunity came for her to leave and go back to her family, she would. These girls all wanted to help the bad guys.

The dark brown haired girl next to her whispered, "they've been through a lot. Their masters have brainwashed them so much since they came here that they don't know right from wrong anymore. They're like robots."

The man who had been speaking saw the brown hair girl.

"Colette! Did I just see you say something to Santana?"

Colette shook her head.

"Ricardo... punish her!"

Ricardo walked up to the girls, took Colette by the wrist and pulled her up to the front of the gym where everyone could see her. Then he called up Santana.

"Kill her Santana."

Santana could see the fear in Colette's eyes. She couldn't kill someone who could have been her friend. That was just wrong.

"Do you see that locker room over there?" Ricardo asked.

Santana gulped and nodded.

"It's full of noxious gas. I want you to throw Colette inside and lock the door with this key." Ricardo handed her a key.

Santana took Colette by the wrist and pulled her to the gas chamber while everyone watched in shock.

Santana whispered, "I'm sorry. I hope you find a better place on the other side..." then she threw Colette into the room, locking the door.

Ricardo grinned and watched as Santana gave him the key and took her place back in her row.

Santana was scared for Colette. She had just killed a living person. They were already turning her into a monster. She had to get out. Who knew what the bigger industries would do to her.

Santana Lopez was going to escape.