They were herded back into their rooms for rest time and Jason lay on his bed, limbs tingling, adrenaline still racing through him. Images of what had happened that morning flashed through his mind. The shock of what Lila had done to Alelu. And then… the promise he desperately hoped was true. At least one little girl wouldn't be hurt anymore.

And then there was Lila's betrayal. Her previous camaraderie had all been an act. He'd known this, but some part of him had hoped Lila had some sympathy for him… he could work with her…

But he couldn't be linked in any way to a child molester. He felt sick just thinking about it—how he'd ever had friendly feelings toward her.

He flipped on his side, facing the wall, kicking himself for associating with her. He couldn't have known the specifics. But she was part of Yavesh…so she wasn't exactly one of the good guys.

He'd considered making a deal with the devil. Would he need to in order to get out of here? Compromise his soul?

No deals. With Tamara as well. Her sympathy could be another act. There had to be another way…

I've got to get out of here. And get Alelu and Elliot out. And everyone else.

Dear God, how?

It struck him he hadn't talked to God much since the party. He immersed himself in God's presence and the filthy world fell away for a little while.

What day is it anyway? Sunday? He hadn't been to church for…how long? He recalled Alelu had a way to record a calendar. He wanted to ask her—somehow when it wasn't a danger to her.

After lunch, no energy or desire to go to the recreation room again, he went to the common room across the hall from the library. Sahara was in the far corner, absently toying with puzzle pieces.

"Mind if I join you?" he said.

She gestured to the puzzle. "Sure. I don't know if I'm in the mood for even this much… need to focus on something, though."

He picked up the puzzle box. It was a picture of a black horse running through a field. It hit him with unexpected nostalgia – for the outside in general, for fields, for animals that weren't caged. And specifically, when he and Connie would go for rides…. Tears sprang to his eyes, and he looked down so Sahara wouldn't see them, but a tear splashed onto a green puzzle piece.

"Maybe we should do something else," said Sahara. She slid over to the next table with an abandoned checkers board.

He joined her enthusiastically, and, grateful she didn't directly acknowledge his tears, he threw himself into the game.

She was more than his match. After several games, she trounced him quite thoroughly.

"I give up." He spread out his hands. "Maybe I'm a bit rusty…."

"I'm just the reigning queen of checkers," she said. She laughed. "Gramma used to play with me for hours on the front porch…. She was the actual unbeaten queen. Till…" She closed her eyes, took a deep breath. "She taught me so many things…"

"She sounds amazing."

"She was. Now Grandpa is living alone, and I worry about him in that old house—"

"Where does he live?"

"North Carolina. By Asheville."

"I love that place."

"Me too. I used to spend summers there, at my grandparents'….. Mama worked a lot, so she was grateful for the help. They were teachers when I was a kid, but continued the tradition as I grew older… They had a small patch of land and two ponies and some goats … we used to climb up in the haymow and play pirates…. Zack on one side, me on the other, opposing ships…."

"Zack is your brother?"

She nodded. "We were inseparable. Except when we fought." She laughed. "I had a little sister, too, Mikayla. I'm using past tense, but they're still around… I was just the one stupid enough to get caught—" Anger seized her face. Her fist clenched, she looked away, eyes narrowed.

"It could happen to anyone. They're the ones who—drag people out of their lives…."

"I had a pretty good life too. As lives go. I mean, I was working things out. Waitressing. It didn't pay much, but I had my dreams. I was actually planning to go help Grandpa… help around the farm, as long as he wanted to stay, and work wherever I could, and save money… I was just so stupid. There was this concert. This was down in Savannah. I used some of my money—I had to have my fun, too, you know. They were passing things around… I got a little too high…. Mixed who knows what… next thing I knew, they had me. I was fighting in the van but they—tied me down and—" Her voice hitched, and she clasped her arms around herself, trembling. "I was just so, so stupid…. I get what I deserve…. Here instead of…." Tears spilled down her cheeks, splashed onto her red checkers.

"You don't deserve it. No one does. Please don't think that. You're kind and strong and smart—so much more than they try to reduce you to. Don't let them worm their way into your soul."

She looked at him askance, tears glistening on her dark brown cheeks. "I've been here so long…. They took so much from me…. It's so hard to get away from it in your mind. Now I have no illusions about Rave. As if I should be grateful to be trapped here! After what they did! They're the ones who hurt him—the one I love—" She broke down and he slid his chair over to her and held her as she cried on his shoulder, dampening his shirt. He rubbed her back gently and she clung to his other shoulder, her face buried in his chest.

"We're going to get out," he whispered, almost to himself. But the words burned a path to his soul.

We're going to get out.

Determination flooded him, and he grasped it, burying it in his heart so he would never waver.

"Get out…?" she whispered, her quavering voice filled with awe, a sliver of hope.

"You're going to be free, and go back to your grandpa's, and you'll realize your dreams."

"And I'll see Mama again. And Zack and Mikayla."

He nodded.

She looked at him, wonder in her dark eyes, tears damp on her face. She wiped them away, and a fierce hope replaced them.

He clasped her hand.

"Let's pledge, shall we?" she said.

He nodded.

"Let's vow to help each other get out. I will go home, and you will go back to—where were you from again?"

"A small town called Odyssey."

"Oh, yes, up north. And you will see your family again."

His heart ached. "My dad, Connie, my sister, niece and nephew…."

She squeezed his hand. "We'll go back to the States together. Promise?"

A smile spread across his face. "Promise."

"We can't leave the others here, though… if possible…" She shook her head. "Perhaps this is a fantasy… I don't know how we can…."

"We'll have to find a way." How hard it would be, and how long it would take… he couldn't hazard a guess. "We can…work together." He whispered as quietly as he could. "We'll have to figure out a proper code…"

"I got a little carried away… I hope they didn't—" Her eyes darted around the room. She tapped the back of her neck. "Sometimes the chip catches whispers, sometimes it doesn't. This time we were lucky." She frowned. "That'll be the hardest part."

"If we can find an unbreakable co—"

She pressed a finger to her lips. "Better not say that word anymore. It's one of the forbidden ones. Serhii might know one… he's got experience. Hey, you two should get together… when he's back."

"I wonder when he'll be back down…."

"No way to know. They could be doing more things to him…"

"I wish I could get upstairs to see him."

"Above is bad news all around."

"We'll have to eventually…."

"Maybe. I've heard rumors…. Well. I can't say anything else." She gathered some checkers, shuffled them in her hand, and they jingled lightly. "It's down Below that's the worst, even worse than Above. Above you can sometimes escape their notice… like Karim did at the party. But if you're Below, they're focusing on you."

"Have you…been there?"

"We've all been there. For processing."

"I haven't."

"That's because…." Sorrow flickered in her eyes.

"Because I'm hers."

Sahara nodded. "I don't see that as a privilege, believe me. I've seen enough of what she's done to people—to Elliot. I hope you never have to go Below."

"Maybe we'll be home before then."

She smiled and her eyes took on a faraway look as she absently fiddled with the checkers.

"Another game?" he said tentatively, not sure he wanted to be defeated again.

She shook her head. "I think I'll just wander for a while…. No offense, but I think I need to be alone for now…."

"I totally understand."

She smiled and sidled out the door. He hoped desperately she could get home again. He had this image of them striding out, hand in hand… flying back to America…. Perhaps he could visit her sometime…. It was true that no one else would really know what they'd gone through. The survivors could support each other….

He was wrapped in reverie, forgetting he still had a long way to go before that happened, when a squeaky object approached. It stopped near his table.

Ali. In his wheelchair. Jason almost got up and walked away.

Maybe I can use him…. I can never trust any of these people in any way. That's an illusion. He might not be able to do much for me, since he's injured and he'll be leaving after his recovery, but he does seem to be part of their inner circle…. And he's not in the best shape, so maybe I can pry some secrets from him…. get him back for what he's done to me… For stringing me along, all the while manipulating me….

Anger boiled in him, but he suppressed it as he turned to face Ali.

Ali spread out his uninjured arm. "Hey, Jason! My arm is strong enough now I can wheel myself."

"Good for you," said Jason.

"I'm working on walking with a cane, but it's not easy with both legs shot. At least I've got an arm!" He tilted his head. "If not for you, I'd probably be walking by now. Your bullet did the worst damage, at such close quarters."

"I…don't think I can say I'm sorry."

"I wouldn't ask you to. I was being hard on you. Now that's all over. I'm not assigned to you anymore. But still…." His eyes glimmered with some of that same admiration mixed with possessiveness he'd had on the Outside. Jason was so done with such things. But at least Ali respected boundaries… to a point. But who knew whether he always would. Perhaps his lust would get the better of him too…. the best part about him now was that he was temporarily disabled and there wasn't much he could do. Jason could trust him because he could easily overpower him. Perhaps he was even manipulable if he was still obsessed with Jason ….

"So you're here to see me?" Jason said.

"At least my injuries are good for something. I'm sort of on…vacation here. When I'm better, Elena will send me back out into the fray."

"Everyone in Muldavia knows about you now."

He shrugged. "I'll just switch to a different dimension. More in the shadows, perhaps. I like the shadows just as much as the spotlight…. I wasn't pretending when I said I loved the idea of being a secret agent. I just didn't admit I already was one." He smiled lopsidedly.

Jason cringed at his attempt at familiarity. Being an agent for an indefensible organization wasn't exactly the same as being an agent for a country….

But perhaps he could squeeze a few details out of him… he had to bind together all the pieces he could into a working plan to escape….

"So…" said Jason. "Would you like to play a game?" He gestured to the checkers board.

"I was thinking about something a little more… stimulating. Challenge myself to actually think again after all this brain fog…."

Jason walked and Ali rolled over to the chess board in the middle of the room. "Which side do you want?" said Jason. "Light or dark?"

Ali smiled slyly. "Dark, of course." He picked up the dark knight and set it on its place on the board.

Jason picked up the white knight and set him opposite Ali's. Then he set up the rest of the pieces. He rubbed the king, the smooth, almost bitable feel of the carefully carved marble taking him back to playing endless chess games with his father. His father won more often, but Jason often surprised him with maverick moves.

Hm, perhaps I can do the same in here…. do things they're not expecting… I've got to somehow be myself in this confined space…. They were right, I really do get distressed by being trapped….

A semblance of freedom now, at least. With someone who can't hurt me. I can beat him. Metaphorically, at least.

Jason made the first move, sliding a pawn out into the battleground. Ali moved his next, facing him directly. Jason wondered how Ali could actually stay silent for a few minutes. Perhaps he really did take this game seriously. If so, did he actually think of himself as the dark side? Probably it was just a joke of sorts. Perhaps he didn't really believe in the concept of good and evil. How could he, in this job? Did he take anything seriously?

"So, did you miss me?" said Ali, moving another pawn.

"What?"

"I couldn't even make it to the banquet. I was already exhausted…. And with all these drugs, I couldn't even drink much. I wouldn't have been able to join in with most of the festivities. Just sit around and watch."

"So you would've joined if you could."

"Zar's parties are always pretty entertaining. I heard things got interesting."

Anger froze his hand. "That's one way to put it."

Ali looked at him earnestly. "You know I wouldn't have taken any of the slaves against their will. That's just not my style."

"Maybe you don't approve of all they do. You still—bring people here. Children are being—" His voice cut off. Suddenly the chess game seemed trivial. He considered abandoning it. Not giving any of these people the time of day.

But the big picture…. Use them….

"It's true I have been… indifferent to them. Playing my part, while the others play theirs…. Life's a game to be savored. But…." He lowered his eyes. Then looked at Jason and said softly, "I'm sorry about what happened to you. Somehow I didn't consider the consequences. None of it bothered me before. I was always…out there, anyway. People came and went… But you—broke through to my heart. It's not just the usual passing feelings. I care about you."

He wasn't ready to hear this, especially since it could be more manipulation. The board clouded, the pieces blurred.

"It…bothers me that you were hurt. That you were shocked yesterday. Almost like… I felt it myself. It's a very, very strange feeling… I want to get rid of it. But I can't. And I don't want to. Because…there's something special about you. You're strong, yet vulnerable, fierce and yet gentle… astonishingly beautiful—not just on the outside. Your heart shines through your eyes and I—" He chuckled. "I'm not used to being brazenly sentimental. Perhaps the drugs are getting to me. But you were getting to me long before I was shot. I was sort of in denial; you were just another target. But now—now that you're here—I—" He stopped, glanced around. Then he lowered his voice. "I can't bear the thought of…what's in store for you."

"What's in store for me."

"She always gets her way. She's taking her time…but it's inevitable." Resigned sorrow gleamed in his dark eyes. "She will hurt you. More exquisitely intimately than the others. Not enough to—damage you permanently. But that doesn't mean it won't be just as bad. She's taking her time because… she sees you as special. But that doesn't stop her. I've seen what she's done to slaves. I could be detached before. But now…" He shook his head. "She will tear you apart, and you will learn to thank her for it, lick her hands in servile gratitude. Not literally, perhaps. But she bends everyone to her will. Even I…who cherish my freedom… in a way, I'm attached by a long leash. She has her hand wrapped in it and she could yank it back if she wanted…. She could bind me if I displeased her and have me strung up by my ankles… and I would be dangling at your side, only more expendable. I adore the treasures she provides me. That's how I can live the life I want; it's all an illusion. It was enough for me. Now… it seems a bit…washed out. Hollow. When I look into your eyes—none of that matters. The thought of you being broken under her—it's abhorrent to me. To see you caged—it's agony. You should be free. You belong out there."

"None of them belong here."

"Perhaps. It's just… I have a bit tunnel vision now. Perhaps I've been compromised. Perhaps I've outlived my usefulness… I feel particularly useless here in this chair, and perhaps this all will pass once I'm able to walk around without pain. Perhaps I'll go back to my flamboyant, carefree self. Somehow I don't think so. You've carved you way into my heart, imprinted on it, and it will never go back to how it was. I'm so far gone that nothing else matters to me anymore. All of this…." He looked around, wariness in his eyes. "I don't even mind that I might be caught so much as…. Ah, I really am too far gone. Elena has foreseen this…she's warned me. I've got to pull myself together. I've got to detach my mind from my heart… a bit too hard when I'm incapacitated. I'll have to wait till I'm recovered. Until then… I can spend time with you." He tilted his head. "Unless you'd rather I not. If you told me to leave and never approach you again, I would. From now on, I will honor your requests. It's my fault you're here. It's the least I can do."

"You don't have to go away," he said. "But please, don't touch me without my consent again."

Ali inclined his head. "Some of that was…part of the pressure she wanted put on you. Make you uncomfortable. But I have to admit, it was a pleasant part of the job…. Don't worry. You're not my target anymore, so now I'm free to honor your wishes, which is a stronger impulse. I know you only belong to one. And I will never want to take from you what you don't want to give, especially now, when…the most powerful have a claim on you. You don't need more unwanted attention. I only wish that I could protect you. From the worst of it, at least. Perhaps I can…. Although I'm extremely limited—" He tapped the wheelchair, disdain on his face.

"What would you do?"

"If I had full mobility, I would—" His eyes flashed. Then his eyes darted to the door. "I dare not entertain treason. I just… if I were free to do anything, I would stand in front of them and take down any who wanted to hurt you. That's a fantasy, even if I were whole. You cannot fight this system. More realistically, I would… use my eloquence to persuade them to keep from the worst… I have Elena's ear sometimes. I even have influence… to a point. If anyone's going off the rails and thinks they can get away with hurting you, I would stop them. Zar doesn't have the power here he thinks he does. Any Admin can admonish him if we want. He might throw a fit, but…." He looked at Jason. "I heard he was a bit… ah, I can't stand the thought of his hands on you. He's worse than Elena in a way; if you weren't hers, he might tear you apart. He's a golden tornado, spreading chaos and destruction anywhere he goes. It's too bad we have to put up with him. if he bothers you at all, call me and I will deal with him."

"How can I call you?"

"I'll give you my personal number. You can call on the payphones." He jerked his thumb toward the small phones on tables in the back.

"How do you pay?"

"You have to have credits. You get them for being 'good'. But I think I can fudge things a bit and give you a month's worth, if you stretch it out."

Gratefulness hit him, so he almost forgot to be suspicious. "Thankyou."

"It's the least I can do."

Suspicion filtered back into him as they played. A few of Ali's moves didn't make sense and he seemed to be fading out, but that could all be an act. So could his generous offer. He'd have to play it by ear and see if Ali was acting out of actual concern for Jason, if he was getting anything out of it, or his strings were being pulled by someone higher up.

It struck him that the pay phones could mostly only be used after the fact. What if he needed help immediately? And really, how much could Ali do in his condition? Would he send guards? Would the guards obey him? They wouldn't if his orders contradicted Elena's….

"Is there a way to get a mobile phone?" Such a thing seemed a novelty in here; he almost forgot they existed in real life. He moved his knight.

Ali frowned. "Well…. That takes a lot of privilege… I don't know if I can order one singlehandedly. Even then, the mobile phones are monitored. You'd have to use them strategically."

"I'd really appreciate it."

Ali's eyes gleamed. "I'll see what I can do. It might take some doing…." He looked troubled as he returned to the game.

Ali seemed to be distracted and that was his undoing. The last few moves Jason took with lightning swiftness and with triumph Jason killed Ali's king.

Ali bowed graciously. "Victory is yours."

Jason laughed. "It's just chess."

"It's where I live," said Ali. "Except…now things have switched… it's an upside down world. Real life is more than just a game. What was all in fun is deadly earnest now." His hand slid toward Jason's across the table, but then he looked down at it and stopped, as if it had moved of its own accord. He looked at Jason sadly.

"Would you like to play again?" asked Jason.

He nodded. "Not now. I'm fading out…. We'll have to play again later…." He swirled his wheelchair around and headed out the door.

Jason played a rather casual game with himself, considering the future. How he could use Ali as a pawn. He could use his obsession against him, and he could use the fact he wasn't thinking sharply under the pain meds… Perhaps more than a pawn, but only playing the game would show what piece he was.

At least I beat Ali! he thought. But it didn't seem the triumph he'd thought it would be, and not just because Ali hadn't been in optimum condition.

Willing to risk his position for me…. Perhaps….

But only time would tell whether Ali could be a true ally. So far, his best bet. He almost laughed.

The guards ushered him back to his room for rest. He lay on the couch and stared at the ceiling as the screen played a soft, pleasant tune over a rushing waterfall.

Without looking at it, it reminded him of the glade, and in his mind he could picture it…. Connie was with him, and they were laughing beside the pool…. His arm around her shoulder, a rainbow strung across the seething cascade…

He drifted into dreams.

The chime for supper awakened him rudely. He waited until the last minute to saunter out. Elliot emerged, carrying Alelu, who was still sleeping.

"I wish she didn't have to come out at all," said Elliot. "But if she doesn't, they'll punish her."

"How's she doing?"

Alelu stirred in his arms. "She was very distraught. So many times she was hurt like this…. I read her favorite book, Alice in Wonderland, and she eventually fell asleep."

"Oh, good."

Elliot nodded. "Sometimes she can't get to sleep at all… I wish I could've stopped any of it from happening—"

"Those shockrods…. There's no defense against them." How can we neutralize them? he wondered. The autoshocks are even worse….

In the cafeteria, they sat at their usual table in the corner. Elliot helped Alelu onto her chair and she sleepily uncurled as he got a tray for her. Jason sat one chair away from her. When Elliot returned, Jason got up to get a tray with some kind of fake steak and mashed potatoes and lumpy gravy. An apple that looked half-decent. He sat back down beside Elliot, who was helping Alelu cut her steak. On the other side of the table, Sahara set a tray in front of Zakhar, who looked despondent. She took a bite of her mashed potatoes. "Mm, these are good. Would you like to try some?"

Zakhar shook his head.

"Don't fade away on me, Zak."

He looked at her sharply, then, resigned, took a small sporkful of mashed potatoes.

A little shadow appeared at Jason's side. "Hi," said Tim. "Is Alelu okay?"

"Someone hurt her," said Jason. "But we got her away before it could get worse."

His face fell. "I was playing with the other kids for a while. I forgot about—them." He looked over at Alelu, guilt in his blue eyes. "I didn't want to forget about Ally though!" He rushed over to her.

Alelu took his hand and they embraced lightly, Tim careful with her as if he might shatter her. He looked better than the last time Jason had seen him; there was color in his cheeks now, and a sparkle in his eyes, and he didn't look as thin. That probably meant they'd been leaving him alone…. It was good he'd found a way to block out the horror.

"I'm sorry I wasn't by you," said Tim. "I was running around a lot."

"That's okay. I'm kind of boring."

"No, you're not! I like playing with you." He glanced at the bruise on her arm. "Somebody hurt you."

Alelu nodded. "But Elliot and Jason saved me."

"They're good at protecting."

"If they're around…." She glanced around the room, fear in her eyes.

"I wish I could always be there," said Elliot. "But if I'm not, Jason probably will be. And I've been… left alone more often lately, so— I hope…."

"As long as I can breathe," said Jason, "I will fight to keep you safe. You too, Timmy. Sorry—Tim, I mean."

"That's okay!" said Tim. "You can call me Timmy." He whispered, "That's what everyone used to call me. I just didn't want anyone here to know it…."

"That's a good strategy," said Sahara. "I wish they didn't know my real name. At least they don't know what my brother used to call me…" She smiled sadly. "Almost no one knows that."

"I'll try not to call you that when anyone's listening," said Jason.

"Okay!" He looked at Alelu. "Do they know your real name?"

Alelu nodded. "They all do. Because…Elena's my mother."

Timmy's mouth dropped open. "I didn't know that!"

"I found out at the party. But she's not really my mom, because she doesn't like me. But I will have a baby brother soon!"

"Really?"

She nodded. "In a couple months. Elliot is his dad. So…he's kind of like my dad." She looked up at him, glowing with adoration. "But if Elena teaches the baby not to like me, I won't really have a brother either." Her face fell.

"Alelu—" said Elliot. "I'm going to try to be part of his life. If there's any way possible, I will teach him to like you. And—he won't be just like Elena. He is…like me too. So—I think he will like you. Only bad people don't like you."

She smiled at him, though there were hints of anguish in her eyes.

Timmy wrapped one arm around her. "Maybe the baby will be like you, too."

"He might look like a combination of you and Elliot," said Jason.

"Now you just need a mom," said Timmy. "A real mommy. Who can hug you and read you stories."

"Elliot already does that."

"Well, they can read them together! And they can play with you and you can go live in their house…. Maybe they can save you, too." He looked up at Elliot. "Maybe you can get married to her mom."

Elliot paled.

"I mean a real mom. A nice one."

Elliot smiled. "We're a long way from that… it would be awesome if someone would rescue us…. I doubt she'd marry me, though."

"Why?"

"Because….." He took a sharp breath, looked down, cheeks suffusing with shame. He shrank, his eyes dulling.

"Well…she can just be a nice lady. Maybe there's one around here." He looked at Sahara.

"Don't look at me," said Sahara. "I'm not mom material. I'll be your aunt, though. I think someone really special has to be your mom." She looked at Alelu. "Someone who can love you fiercely and protect you. Someone who matches Elliot." She tilted her head, eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "Because I think he needs someone, too. Someone who can help him break free of her…."

"Elena really messes everything up, doesn't she?" said Timmy.

"She sure does."

"Anyway, I don't need a mom because I have one. They took me away from my mom. I played at the park. Then a ice cream truck came and they gave me a ice cream but I fell asleep in the truck…."

"Where are you from?" asked Jason. When they got out, he'd need to find his family. As well as the families of the other children.

"Selva," he said.

"It's by the Czech border," said Sahara. "Near the mountains. That's what Mira told me."

"Do you want to go play after lunch?" said Tim.

"Okay." Alelu put down her spork.

She followed him and they went off with two of the other kids.

A moment later, a cluster of guards strode in. One of them was the red-haired man Jason had seen upstairs with Nalika in the party room. The other man was the one who had hurt her in the pool room. Behind the female guard, who looked remarkably similar to the man beside her, was a man with blond hair, in dark clothes, a shockrod at his belt. His blue eyes looked around coldly.

Gray.

Jason froze. He tried to make himself move, but he was agonizingly sluggish, dragging himself in slow motion as he turned to face them.

Finally he made himself stand, bracing his hand on the back of Elliot's chair. Elliot turned and slowly stood, his arm on the chair trembling.

The red-haired guard turned, looking at the people in the cafeteria. "Everyone, look at this," he said. "Looking away is not an option." He gestured to the two other guards, and they advanced toward Elliot. Gray hung back, looking uncertain. The red-haired guard gestured at Gray. "It's most important that you take note. In a day or two you will be following their example."

Jason stepped in front of Elliot. "Take me instead." He didn't want to be hurt, but he also knew how fragile Elliot was.

He smirked. "Stand aside, Jason."

"Don't you see he can't take any more of this?"

"Your protests mean nothing as you're not one of us yet." He gestured to Gray. "Hold him."

"I thought I was only to watch."

"You are on thin ice until you're fully one of us. So I wouldn't be obstinate if I were you."

Slowly, Gray moved closer and grasped Jason's arm, not looking at him.

"You don't have to do this," said Jason.

Gray glanced sharply at him. "The only alternative is to join him."

The two guards grabbed Elliot and dragged him to the middle of the room. Elliot struggled weakly but couldn't break free.

Jason pulled his arm experimentally; Gray's grip tightened. He added his other hand, holding his wrist.

Dim flashbacks shuddered through his mind, blurring into the present. Gray's fingers were like heated iron bars, digging into his flesh.

The guards held Elliot by each of his arms and rotated him, so he was in profile. He struggled harder and managed to yank one hand away. The female guard whispered something in his ear, and he froze, his indigo eyes anguished.

The red-haired man stepped in front of Elliot. "Since Lila couldn't be here, I'll be the one to carry out punishment. An Admin or Breaker must be the one to punish for the assault of a Breaker. Since you're on the potential Breaker track, Gray, it's important for you to know this. In fact, why don't you come closer. Bring Jason. He needs a front row seat, too."

Gray tugged on Jason's arm, and he stepped forward, his legs like rubber. Gray stopped at the edge of the open space. Apprehension trembled through his hand into Jason's arm, which dragged his mind out of the past. This wasn't the old Gray. This was the man who was deeply affected by others' torture.

Maybe there was a way to stop this.

The Admin raised a fist.

"Stop!" said Jason. "He was already punished."

"We decide how much punishment is warranted. Elliot should have minded his own business."

"Lila wasn't supposed to touch Alelu."

"A slave cannot punish a Breaker. No matter what she is doing; to a slave, whatever she does is right."

"It's wrong to punish someone for protecting a child."

The Admin smirked. "You don't get to decide what's right and wrong."

"Right is always right."

"Perhaps in your world. This is a microcosm where the normal rules don't apply."

"Making your own rules is just an excuse. This is a place seething with evil."

"It will spread throughout the world, devouring everything in its path."

"I'll fight that world with everything in me."

"Eventually, you will lose. Our system breaks men, remakes them—we are a factory of necessary pain."

It was no use arguing with him. "I attacked Lila. Elliot barely touched her. Why don't you punish me?"

The Admin looked down at him, smirking. "Who's to say this isn't a punishment."

Horror ran through Jason. Elena knew him too well. Hurting others hurt him just as much.

The fist slammed into Elliot's jaw. As his head snapped back, another blow hit the other side of his face, breaking open his cheek.

Gray's grip weakened.

Jason took his chance. He yanked his arm away from Gray's hand and hurled his fist into the Admin's jaw. Pain burst across his knuckles. But it was satisfying pain. He hit again, straight into the Admin's nose. He staggered back, and Jason leaped at him, ramming a fist into his stomach. He doubled over, clutching his stomach. Blood flowed from his nose.

Jason kicked, intending to follow the punch, but a snatch at his ankle and he spun in the air, then crashed awkwardly onto his side, hitting his elbow on the hard floor. He struggled to his feet but something hard whacked down onto his back and he fell onto his stomach, his arm under him. He pushed himself to his feet. The guards advanced, but the Admin said, "He's mine."

He came toward Jason, grinning, blood streaming down his chin. Jason countered his blow; he laughed and motioned for him to advance.

Jason attacked, sometimes getting in a shot, sometimes getting hit. He had the sense that the Admin was just toying with him. His green eyes glittered. As if this was a thrilling game.

They danced around the open space, Jason doing his best to defend himself, to attack when he could, but he had to admit, the Admin's gaze was disconcerting. Jason tried to get blows past the man's defenses, but they were impenetrable.

A hit against his jaw sent him staggering backwards. A kick to his stomach. A swift strike against the back of his neck and he fell, slamming against his side.

Pain radiated from where he'd been hit, but what hurt worse was the humiliation.

The man's words were just distant murmurs above him.

Then, a shockrod appeared in front of his vision and fear ripped through his heart. He backed away. The rod raised, poised to swing down—

He shut his eyes, knowing he didn't have the energy to avoid it.

But it never came.

A man stood in front of him.

Elliot.

The shockrod slammed into Elliot's stomach and he doubled over. A succession of light shocks zapped against his side, and he collapsed, lying flat on the floor at a slanted angle to Jason.

Jason crawled over to him. Lay on his side beside him. "Are you alright?"

"Had worse…" He smiled, wincing. "You?"

"Been better," he whispered.

There really is no way I can call myself an agent, is there…. it's all an illusion…. I can only win against spoiled golden boys who mostly play golf…

The Admin stood over them, gloating. "I think a lesson was learned here. We are honed to the max. The only defense is to become one of us. Not an option for some of you. But for others…." He glanced at Jason and Gray. "I must admit, I'm a little underwhelmed by your performance. Jason—you could have been more of a challenge. It was a nice little workout though." He swung toward Gray. "But you should have kept him still. This will have to have consequences. I just have to figure out what they will be. I'll get Elena's input, and we'll adjust accordingly. I hope for your sake your lackluster performance has something to do with your history with Jason. Because we can work with that. We cannot tolerate weakness. It will have to be burned out of you. If it burns out too much of you—oh, well. Only the strong survive." The blood on his face was an accent to the triumph in his eyes.

He needs to be taken down a peg….

In fact, they all do.

But…how can I be the one to do it? Perhaps I need to wait to be rescued….

"As for you," said the Admin, looking at Elliot, "you've put yourself back on Elena's radar. She'll ask you upstairs soon. Whether for punishment or pleasure, I'm not sure." He motioned to the guards. "Come."

Gray glanced down at Jason, and then limped after the others.

Kara and Karim appeared at their sides as soon as the guards were gone. They helped them over to chairs, gave them some water, then helped them back to their rooms.

In Jason's room, Jason spread some salve on Elliot's cheek and where the shockrod had hit. Elliot trembled under his touch but insisted he was fine. Then he helped Jason with his wounds, which, Jason had to admit, were significantly more substantial. He cleaned his wounds, spread salve on them, and gave Jason some ice from the freezer wrapped in a cloth for his swollen lip.

Sitting beside him on the couch, Elliot bound his throbbing knuckles which were worn raw from hitting that Admin's smug face. He'd never wiped that grin off of it…. Despite the fact he doubted his strength for another match, he longed to teach that man a lesson…

I won't be able to do any of this on my own, anyway, he thought. It's not about me against any of these people. It's about escaping. Rescuing the lost ones.

"Thanks," said Jason when he'd finished. His wounds still throbbed, but the pain had dulled from the salve and the ice. "For this—and standing up to them for me."

"I just… couldn't let them hurt you." Wonder shone in his eyes. "I thought I'd stopped caring about anything. But I've learned I care enough to… put myself in their path again." He looked troubled.

"If…it comes to that… I will try to distract her. Take your place."

His eyes flashed with apprehension. "Please… don't do that…"

"You need to be here to protect Alelu. Besides, you would just be a distraction. It's me she really wants."

"Jason—"

The alarm for bedtime blared. Elliot got up, but because of his injuries, he wasn't fast enough.

The door closed, locking him inside.