A week goes by before they replace my jumper, socks and shoes, and during that time I'm almost constantly shivering, especially during the nights and out on the yard. I've noticed that new wolfbloods are arriving more and more often, filling the cells, and soon the guards begin putting them in with complete strangers; Maddy and I were roomed together because we were taken prisoner together. Fights are breaking out in the cells more and more frequently now, and guards are handing out shocks, slaps and punches for almost nothing, but the man I met the day I left solitary - who I've learnt is called Ben Reed - never raises a hand to anyone.

"It's the dark moon tomorrow," Ben mutters as he hands me my dinner through the bars, "you nervous?"

"A little," I lie. In truth, I've been able to think of nothing else all day. The gashes in my back have healed completely, and the new skin has obliterated my brands entirely. I keep remembering when I was first branded. I didn't know what was happening then, they held me down and the next thing I knew there was a searing pain in my back. I wonder if knowing will make it better or worse.

"You alright, Jana?" Maddy asks as we lie down to sleep.

"They're gonna do me brands again tomorrow," I reply quietly.

"Oh. Yeah." She's obviously remembering the pain too. It takes us a long time to fall asleep.

The lights come on and the guards arrive too soon. The dark moon has drained the life out of us, but those of us who are on the list for branding are forced to get up and allow ourselves to be cuffed and chained together. I'm too tired to protest being called by a number at roll call.

They cram us all into a holding cell, still cuffed and chained together, only taking one to Massey's room. Because of all of the new wolfbloods that have been arriving lately, a lot of us are about to be branded and the cell is packed; we're almost sitting on top of each other. At first there's talking, as most people are oblivious to the situation and wonder why we've been brought here. Others know too well. But before long the cramped space falls silent as the dark moon grabs a hold of us once more, some even falling asleep sitting upright in their chains.

Gradually, one by one, a guard removes wolfbloods from the chain and takes them away. About a third of us are gone when he takes me. I'm exhausted, unable to struggle, and so I follow him quietly to Massey's room. My breathing is getting quicker and quicker as they remove my handcuffs and collar and tell me to take off my jumper. My hands are shaking as I reach for the hem. I hear the footsteps outside the door before anyone else, and I soon recognize his scent.

"Sorry I'm late," says Ben as he rushes in, "traffic was a fucking nightmare."

"Better late than never," Massey replies, "We're just getting this one ready. Go on, girl, take off your jumper."

I obey, saving my strength, and she tosses it over to the door. They cuff my hands in front of me, but when they try to muzzle me I start to fight back. For less than a minute I struggle, trying to cover my face with my hands, but it's three against one and I'm exhausted by the dark moon. Massey buckles the straps painfully tightly and they force me to the floor, on my front with my hands pinned under me.

"Hold her shoulders, Reed," says the man gripping my ankles. I squirm in their grip, too tired to throw them off but refusing to lay still and let them brand me. Massey pulls the back of my shirt up.

"The iron needs another couple minutes to heat up," Massey says, "hopefully she'll give in by then."

I struggle harder, determined to prove her wrong, but soon I'm too weak. I look up at Ben, terrified, hoping to find some reassurance in him. He looks down at me, and I know that he's scared.

"What's up, Reed?" asks the man pinning my ankles.

"I uh… I was just thinking…" he bites his lip for a moment, "is she… Is she going to scream when she's branded?"

"Why d'you think we muzzled her on a dark moon?" replies Massey.

"It's just a gag?"

"Call it whatever you want," says the other guard," She'll probably whimper a bit, but that's all."

"Anyway," Massey buts in, "I think it's ready now."

She tugs my shirt up further, then walks away to pick up the horrible instrument.

"Hold her tight. She'll probably start squirming again when I do it, so I'll count down from three each time."

I shut my eyes tight in anticipation.

"Three. Two. One."

I try to scream, but because of the muzzle it comes out as a high-pitched whine. Tears run down my face as she holds the scolding metal against my back, searing pain clouding my mind. She takes the branding iron off me and steps over me, positioning it to brand my other side.

"Three. Two. One."

Another burst of pain and I try to writhe out of their grip, but it's pointless. After they've held the iron against my back for a moment they pull me to my feet and remove the muzzle and handcuffs. When I've put my jumper back on and they've chained me up in the usual way Ben leads me out of the room.

"You alright, Jana?" he asks as soon as we're out of earshot.

"I'm fine."

He shakes his head.

"I can't believe they're doing this. It's barbaric."

I don't reply. There's nothing more to say, and in any case I'm exhausted. Maddy is asleep when I'm put into the cell, and I don't bother to wake her. Instead I lay down beside her and bite back the pain in my back, closing my eyes and remembering the feeling of warmth that my mother's ghost gave me.