One week later, the Westchester Detention Center
Aiko’s cell door opened, and the creep known as Operator 47 entered and dismissed the guard with a flick.
“I just wanted to see how you’re doing,” the man said.
Fresh tears rolled across Aiko’s face. He wiped them away with the back of her hand.
“How do you think I’m doing? Watching her burn like that...”
“I don’t know how she got the bottle of lighter fluid past the guards. I didn’t even know she was suicidal. What a pity and a waste of a life,” Operator 47 said.
What lighter fluid. This was all one big setup! You’ll suffer a much worse fate than flame when I get through with you.
“If it’s alright with you, I’d rather not talk about it.”
“That’s okay, dear, but Malcolm will hold you accountable for not holding your end of the bargain. You should have solved that pesky math problem by now.”
“He can solve his own damn problems,” Aiko said in an icy tone.
“Well, this will cheer you up. I’ve gotten word that your court hearing is next week, and Malcolm will put in a good word with the judge if you solve the set of problems by then. He will even let you see the visitors eagerly trying to get to you.”
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“What?”
“You heard me. You have a few visitors. There’s the young girl and her sister. Not to mention an old samurai.”
“I have heard of no such visitors.”
“The girls here only see friends and loved ones if they play ball. And you’ve stopped doing that. So good luck at your hearing,” the man said as he headed for the door.
“Wait, I will continue. But I want to see my uncle first.”
“We can arrange that. But you’d better get cracking.”
The slamming of the door jolted her out of her fugue state. She didn’t trust Malcolm or want to help him. But she had little choice but to be locked away in this cell. The exercise periods used to be her favorite times of the day, but now she dreaded seeing the yard. The courtyard reeked of charred flesh and death. She didn’t know Ginger that well, but she was forming an undeniable bond with the girl. She would avenge her and Operator 47’s other victims. The familiar buzzing of the breakfast bell reverberated throughout the cell. She had ten minutes to get dressed and in line for the morning feeding ritual. There would be no pleasure in eating. Life in here denied all the simple pleasures she used to take for granted. Aiko longed to be back with her friends at the farm, and she couldn’t believe that she was taking the fall for Liam’s death. That bastard Jack deserved that and much worse. The pull of justice overcame her as the memory of the fallen bully came into her mind. She frowned as a pang of guilt overcame her. Aiko didn’t like the person she was turning into these past months since the traumatic incident in Mrs. Henderson’s kitchen that changed her life forever.
“Hey, watch yourself,” a gruff female voice said.
Aiko was so wrapped up in thought she scarcely noticed the line ended so abruptly. The girl known as Dynamo glared at her. She remembered sparring with her in the yard. Dynamo was more than capable, and she wanted to stay on her good side.
“I’m sorry, I... haven’t been myself.”
“I hear you, girl. We all miss Ginger. It was pretty fucked up how she lit up like that.”
Aiko couldn’t respond; it was like someone grabbed the vocal cords and squeezed. She let out a choking sound. The rest of the breakfast period was the same as any other day, and Aiko nursed the spark of hope back to health. She would need it sooner than she realized.