Chapter 9 - Iron Grip

Briggs leaned forward, folding his hands on the desk. "You will both be sent to the children's prisoner compound. There, you will learn discipline and prove your worth to this community."

Kelly's jaw tightened. "And what if I don't want to be part of your 'community'?" Kelly shot back, her voice laced with defiance.

Briggs's lips curved into a cold smile. "Want has nothing to do with it, Kelly. You're here now, and the Citadel doesn't tolerate wasted potential. You, however..." His gaze lingered on her, sharp and appraising. "You're interesting. That fire in you can be useful, with the right guidance." Briggs turned his attention to the boy, his expression hardening. "Justin, on the other hand..." He waved a dismissive hand. "Fragile. Dependent. You'll struggle to survive unless someone is willing to carry you, and in this world, that's a dangerous thing to expect."

Justin flinched, his voice barely a whisper. "My dad... What about my dad?"

"Joseph is being reassigned to overtime work to compensate for the time he wasted searching for you. He'll have little room for anything else. You'll see him once a day but not now."

"Why not now?" Justin pressed.

Briggs's eyes narrowed. "Because, Justin, this is the Citadel. Work comes first. Every minute of his time is now owed to me."

"Let me leave," Kelly demanded. "If you don't, I'll find a way out myself."

Briggs' eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded Kelly. "The children's compound is the most secure section of the Citadel," Briggs began. "Every gate, every exit is monitored." He let the word hang in the air, almost savoring it. "And life in the children's compound is simple. Follow the rules, stay in line, and don't disobey."

Justin shifted in his chair, his hands twisting nervously in his lap. "What kind of rules?" he asked hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Briggs turned his gaze to the boy, his expression hardening. "The kind that keep you alive," he said bluntly. "You'll work, you'll train, and you'll contribute. No more, no less. Those who fail to pull their weight have no place here."

"What if I don't want to be here at all?" Kelly asked. "What if I refuse to follow your rules?"

"Refusal isn't an option," Briggs said simply. "You'll do what's required of you, or you'll face the consequences." Briggs straightened. "George!" A moment later, the door creaked open. Briggs gestured toward Kelly and Justin. "Take them to the children's compound," he ordered. "Make sure they understand the rules."

Kelly turned behind her to see George nodded silently and stepped aside, waiting for them to rise. Briggs's gaze lingered on Kelly for a moment longer, as if he were silently daring her to defy him. Kelly stood, she didn't look at Justin as they followed George out of the office.

-_-_-

The walk through the Citadel was suffocating. George moved ahead with an unhurried stride and Kelly took in her surroundings, her eyes darting over every detail. The buildings were uniform in their cold, industrial design, their steel walls rising high. Armed guards patrolled the pathways, Kelly noted how their hands hovered near their weapons.

Justin shuffled beside her, his head down and his arms wrapped around himself. She could hear his uneven breathing, each inhale and exhale louder than the steady crunch of their footsteps against gravel.

"Keep up," George barked without turning around.

Kelly stiffened but quickened her pace, every step deeper into the Citadel felt like another link in the chain tightening around her. Her gaze flicked toward Justin. "You're not helping by acting scared."

Justin flinched at her words. "I'm not acting scared."

Ahead of them, the main buildings gave way to an open expanse of gravel and dirt. Towering floodlights lined the perimeter, casting long shadows across the area. Kelly's stomach twisted as they approached a massive fenced compound on the outskirts of the Citadel.

The fence loomed high above them, crowned with coils of razor wire. Armed guards stood at regular intervals along the perimeter, their rifles held at the ready.

"This is it," George said, stopping just short of the gate. He turned to face them, his expression as impassive as ever. "The children's compound."

Justin's face paled further as he stared at the fence, his grip on his bag tightening. "It looks like a prison," he murmured, his voice shaking.

"What happens in there?" Kelly demanded, her tone sharp.

"Like Briggs said," George began. "You follow orders. You stay in line."

Kelly shifted her focus to the compound itself. Beyond the gate, she could see rows of massive tents dominating the landscape. Without a word, George opened the gate to the children's compound and gestured for Kelly and Justin to enter.

Kelly's stepped in and Justin stayed close behind her, his small frame trembling slightly. When his steps faltered, George's firm hand gripped his arm, propelling him forward. "Don't stop," George muttered. "You'll learn soon enough to keep moving."

Kelly turned her gaze forward, focusing on the largest of the tents that loomed ahead. The tent was a hulking structure, its frayed fabric sagging in places. As they approached, George finally stopped, letting go of Justin's arm.

"This is where you'll sleep," he said curtly. "Bunks are not assigned, you'll just get whatever's left. Tomorrow, you'll learn how the compound is run as the day goes. Got it?"

"What about my dad?" Justin asked in a small voice. "Can I see him?"

George's smirk faded, replaced by a look of irritation. "That's not up to me. You're here now, and your dad's doing his job. You should focus on doing yours."

"What job?" Kelly repeated. "We're just kids."

George tilted his head slightly, studying her as if deciding how much to reveal. "Everyone works in the Citadel," he said finally. "Even kids. You'll get your assignments tomorrow."

"But I don't..," Justin hesitated, taking a breath. "I don't know what to do."

"Then you'll learn."

The tent's entrance loomed behind him, and with a sharp motion, George unlocked the flap and pulled it back. "Get inside," he barked.

Without waiting for Justin, Kelly stepped through the opening. The air inside the children's tent felt dense, a mix of stale warmth and the low murmur of voices. Rows of bunk beds stretched across the space in a chaotic pattern, barely leaving enough room to walk. Most beds were occupied by children of varying ages, their faces pale and hollowed by fatigue. For a moment, as the flap of the tent closed behind Kelly and Justin, a dozen pairs of eyes turned toward them. Just as quickly, they darted away

Kelly paused, her dark green eyes scanning the room. She took in everything.. the lopsided rows of bunks, the thin mattresses sagging under weight. She noticed the hushed exchanges between a pair of older girls in the corner, the way a younger boy near the back sat hunched, gripping a threadbare stuffed animal.

Kelly stepped forward, she wove through the narrow paths between the bunks. Justin hesitated before following, his uncertainty clear in every tentative step. His bright green eyes darted nervously around the room.

Kelly came to an abrupt stop in a gap between two rows of beds. She turned sharply, her jaw tight, her gaze locking onto Justin as he nearly bumped into her. "This is your fault," Kelly hissed, her voice low but venomous.

Justin froze, his face paling. "Wh.. what?"

"You heard me." Kelly's voice rose, cutting through the low hum of the tent. A few heads turned toward them again, but she didn't care. Her emotions boiled too close to the surface. "If it weren't for you and your dad, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be stuck here."

Justin's lips parted, his face crumpling in confusion and hurt. "But.. I didn't-"

"Didn't what? Didn't let your dad lead us right into their hands?" Kelly snapped, stepping closer. "Your dad was with them, he knew them! And now we're here, locked up in this prison, because of him. Because of you!"

Justin's hands clenched at his sides, his head shaking furiously. "That's not true! My dad.. he didn't mean for this to happen! He's trying to help me! Maybe even help you!"

Kelly laughed bitterly. "Help me? Are you serious? Do you see where we are, Justin? Do you think this.." she gestured around the tent, her voice trembling with frustration, "looks like help to you? Because it doesn't to me."

Justin flinched as though she'd struck him. His mouth opened, but no words came out. His green eyes, usually so bright and full of cautious optimism, clouded over. "I... I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Sorry doesn't fix this," Kelly said coldly. "Sorry doesn't get us out of here. Sorry doesn't bring back..." Kelly faltered, her throat tightening. "It doesn't bring back what I lost."

Justin's face fell, his gaze dropping to the ground. He fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. Justin looked up at her again, his green eyes glistening. "I... I'll leave you alone," Justin murmured. "I promise I won't bother you anymore."

Kelly didn't watch Justin go. Her eyes stayed fixed on a spot just past his shoulder, her jaw clenching as her emotions churned. When Justin finally turned and walked toward an empty bunk in the far corner, Kelly closed her eyes, willing herself to stay composed. The faint murmur of the other children's voices returned, the world around her retreating into a dull hum. She didn't move, didn't speak. She just stood there, rooted to the spot.

Kelly took a long breath, making her way to an empty bunk. She sat rigidly on the sagging mattress and with a weary sigh, she lay back, letting her body sink into the thin, unyielding bed and closed her eyes.. taking deep breaths, calming herself down.

A sudden tap on her shoulder and Kelly's eyes flew open, her hand instinctively balling into a fist. Standing above her was a girl about her age, though with a height advantage that Kelly didn't appreciate in this moment. Her messy blonde hair framed a pale, freckled face set with an easy, mischievous smile. The girl tilted her head slightly, as if amused by Kelly's tension. "You're on my bed," the girl said, her tone casual, almost playful.

Kelly immediately sat up, her apology clipped and sharp as she moved to swing her legs over the side. "Sorry. I didn't know-"

"Relax," the girl interrupted with a laugh. "I'm kidding. You should've seen your face though." She plopped down beside Kelly, uninvited and unapologetic, her presence both intrusive and strangely disarming.

Kelly frowned. "Is this how you greet everyone, or am I just lucky?"

The blonde girl grinned, leaning back on her hands. "Just the new ones. Keeps things interesting. I'm Patty, by the way. And you are.."

"Kelly..."

"Kelly," Patty repeated, rolling the name over her tongue like she was testing it. "Cool. So, Kelly, what's your deal?"

"My deal?" Kelly echoed, her tone flat.

"Yeah, you know. Why're you here? How you end up in this lovely establishment?" Patty gestured around the tent with exaggerated flair, her sarcasm cutting through the gloom like a blade.

Kelly glanced across the room where Justin sat hunched on a bed, his shoulders slumped and his head bowed. Her jaw tightened, and she forced herself to look away, focusing instead on the floor beneath her feet. "Wrong place, wrong time," she muttered finally, hoping it would be enough to end the conversation.

Patty, however, wasn't deterred. She followed Kelly's gaze, her eyes narrowing as they landed on Justin. "What about him? He your kid brother or something?"

"No," Kelly said quickly, a little too quickly. She caught herself and added,

Patty's eyebrows shot up, and a sly grin spread across her face. "Ah, so you're babysitting the little guy. That's cute."

Kelly's eyes snapped back to Patty, her glare icy. "He's not my problem."

Patty chuckled, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Chill." Kelly shifted uncomfortably, her arms crossing over her chest. "Anyway," Patty said, breaking the silence, "if you're smart.. and you seem like you are.. you'll keep your head down and stay out of trouble. Briggs loves a rebel, but not in the way you're hoping."

Kelly bristled at the implication. "Who says I'm looking for trouble?"

Patty smirked, leaning in slightly. "Your face. You've got that look, like you're ready to burn this place down if it means getting out."

Kelly didn't deny it, which seemed to amuse Patty even more.

"Good luck with that," Patty said, her tone light but laced with an edge of sincerity. "Just don't take me down with you, alright?" Before Kelly could respond, Patty shifted her attention back to Justin. "So.. what's the deal with you and the ginger?" she asked, her voice light but tinged with intrigue.

Kelly exhaled through her nose, her jaw tightening as she rubbed her temples. "It's him and his dad," Kelly said sharply. "They're the reason I'm here."

Patty tilted her head. "Oh, really? How's that work? Kid doesn't look like he could hurt a fly, let alone land you here."

Kelly shot a glare at Patty but didn't immediately answer. Her eyes drifted toward Justin again, and she clenched her fists at her sides. "His dad works for Briggs," Kelly hissed, her voice low but venomous. "He's the reason we got caught. The reason my.." Her voice faltered, but she pressed on, her words picking up speed like a runaway train. "The reason I lost everything. My cabin, my home, my-" She cut herself off, swallowing hard. "If it weren't for Justin, none of this would've happened."

Patty tapped her chin, her gaze flitting between Kelly and Justin as if piecing together a puzzle. "So, let me get this straight. You think it's the kid's fault that his dad's a.. what? A guard? A lackey? Some cog in Briggs' machine?"

"He's not just some cog," Kelly snapped. "He's went out search for Justin. He's the reason they found us in the first place. He-" She stopped again, her teeth grinding together.

Patty raised an eyebrow. "Huh. And you're telling me Justin knew all this? He was in on it?"

Kelly opened her mouth to answer, but no words came out. Her mind flickered back to the first time she'd met Justin, his wide eyes and trembling voice as he asked his dad what going on.

Patty noticed the hesitation. "Look, I get it. You're pissed off.. hell, I'd be too if I were in your shoes. But he even know what his dad was up to?"

Kelly inhaled deeply, her chest rising and falling as she wrestled with the question. "I don't know," Kelly admitted finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Patty gave a small nod, her expression thoughtful. "There it is," Kelly said, leaning back again. "Doesn't seem like the kid's the mastermind you're making him out to be, does it? I mean, look at him." She gestured subtly toward Justin, who sat hunched over on his bunk, his shoulders shaking ever so slightly. "That's not the face of someone who planned to screw you over."

Kelly followed Patty's gaze, her anger faltering as she took in Justin's dejected posture. His hands were clenched tightly in his lap, his head bowed so low that his chin nearly touched his chest. For the first time since their capture, Kelly noticed the dark circles under his eyes, the way his shoulders drooped.

"I didn't say he planned it," Kelly muttered, her voice quieter now. "But it doesn't change the fact that his dad-"

"is a piece of shit," Patty finished for her. "Yeah, got it. But that's on his dad, not him. You can't hold the kid responsible for something he didn't even know about."

"Maybe," Kelly said reluctantly. "Maybe he didn't know."