Ivy woke up early. Her eyes still felt swollen from the night before, but she pushed herself up. She did not want to stay locked away again. The air in the room felt too tight. The silence felt too heavy. She placed her palm on her stomach and breathed in slowly.

“I need to move,” she whispered.

She washed her face, changed her clothes, and stepped out.

Two guards standing outside straightened the moment she walked into the hall. Their surprise was clear. Everyone expected her to remain ...