MAXINE

The silence after the door shut was suffocating. I realized with a sickening feeling where we were. We were locked in a metal cage. One so small that we couldn't even stand to our feet. We were like animals.

If either of us tried to escape, we would end up hurting the other because of how close we were. My heart pounded in my chest. I was helpless.

I sat on the ground, my back pressed against the metal. Zel was beside me, her body slumped in exhaustion. I couldn’t imagine what ...