Aiko awoke on the cold, unyielding floor of the detention center, her body aching from the rough handling she had endured. The dim, flickering lights cast eerie shadows on the walls, making the room feel like a nightmarish labyrinth. She sat up slowly, her head throbbing, and took in her surroundings. Several girls, mostly older and tough looking, surrounded her, their eyes filled with curiosity, hostility, and pain. Aiko’s heart raced as she realized the precariousness of her situation.

A tough-looking girl, around seventeen, with fiery red hair and many elaborate tattoos, sauntered over and plopped down beside Aiko. The girl was so close that Aiko could smell the nauseating cafeteria meatloaf on her breath. She exuded confidence and strength, and her piercing blue eyes locked onto Aiko’s with a predatory gleam.

“Name’s Ginger,” she said, her voice a low, gravelly purr. “You look like you could use some protection.”

Aiko shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. “No, thank you.”

Ginger’s lips curled into a smirk. “Are you sure? A pretty girl like you won’t last ten minutes without me to protect you.”

Keep your cool, Aiko. I must heed Uncle’s lessons.

“I’m sure. Now, leave me.”

“Watch yourself, little one,” Ginger said as she stood and strode out of Aiko’s cell.

One of the older girls, a burly brunette with a cruel sneer, entered Aiko’s cell and rummaged through her meager possessions.

“I can use this,” the brunette said as she pocketed Aiko’s toothpaste.

“Put it back.”

“What? Is the little mouse talking to me?”

“You should show her who’s boss, Roxy,” one inmate said.

The brunette backhanded Aiko so hard she hit her head against the wall.

Aiko’s instincts took over, and she punched Roxy in the gut, then kicked another girl who tried rushing her. The brutal clash happened so fast that Aiko barely had time to think. Aiko fought with conviction, and her actions were on autopilot as she defended herself. Aiko only saw fists, legs, and teeth as the snarling girls ganged up. She grabbed one of the incoming arms and yanked it out of the socket. The girl cried in pain. Aiko then managed to break the girl’s arm with a sickening snap. Pain seared through Aiko’s side as she was stabbed by a homemade knife, the crude blade slicing through her skin.

Several guards stormed in and subdued the brawling girls. Aiko was dragged to the infirmary, her side bleeding profusely. The sterile, antiseptic smell of the room assaulted her senses as she was roughly deposited onto a metal bed. A doctor, a stern woman with sharp features and a no-nonsense demeanor, began tending to her wounds.

The doctor’s eyes bore into Aiko’s as she worked, her voice clipped and accusatory. “Why did you attack those girls?”

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Aiko winced as the antiseptic stung her wound. “I was protecting myself,” she replied, her voice steady despite the pain.

The doctor looked skeptical. “Self-defense, huh?”

She finished bandaging Aiko’s side and left her alone, handcuffed to the bed. The lights dimmed, casting long, ominous shadows across the room. Aiko’s mind raced, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear and confusion. She tugged at the handcuffs, but they only bit into her wrists, leaving angry marks.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, growing louder with each passing moment. Aiko’s heart raced, but she practiced her breathing and slowed it down. As the door creaked open, a man stepped into the room. The dim light obscured his features, but his presence was undeniably menacing.

He stopped short of her bed, his voice a low, sinister murmur. “Hello, Aiko. My name is Malcolm.”

Aiko’s breath caught in her throat as she strained to make out his features. “What do you want?” she asked.

Malcolm chuckled, a sound that sent chills down her spine. “I need your help to solve a little puzzle your mother was working on.”

Aiko’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “I’m not interested.”

Malcolm’s smile widened, a predatory glint in his eyes. “I urge you to reconsider. I can make your life a living hell in this place.“

Aiko’s defiance flared. “Who do you think got you in here in the first place?” Malcolm continued, his voice dripping with malice. “Your foster parent put you here.”

Aiko’s heart sank as doubt gnawed at her. “Mrs. Henderson would never—”

“She would,” Malcolm interrupted, his tone smug. “I threatened her with prison if she didn’t cooperate. She had no choice.”

Aiko’s mind reeled, the weight of Malcolm’s words pressing down on her like a suffocating shroud. She wanted to believe in Mrs. Henderson’s loyalty, but the seed of doubt had been planted and took root in her heart.

Malcolm leaned in closer, his breath hot against her ear. “Think about it, Aiko. Help me, and I can make all of this go away. Refuse, and you’ll regret it.”

Aiko’s resolve wavered, and her mind became conflicted as she filled with emotion. She closed her eyes, trying to shut out the darkness that threatened to consume her. The memory of Liam’s lifeless form flashed before her eyes, and a steely determination took hold.

“I’ll think about it,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Malcolm straightened, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. “Good girl. You’ll be hearing from me again soon.”

He turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing in the silence. Aiko lay back on the bed, trembling with fear and anger. She had to find a way out of this nightmare to uncover the truth and bring justice to Liam’s memory.

As the hours ticked by, Aiko’s mind raced with possibilities. She couldn’t trust Malcolm, but she couldn’t ignore the leverage he held over her. The puzzle her mother had been working on was a vital piece of the mystery, and Aiko needed to understand it if she was to have any hope of escaping Malcolm’s grasp.

The dim light of the infirmary cast long shadows on the walls, and Aiko’s thoughts drifted to her mother. She remembered the late nights spent poring over mathematical formulas, the look of intense concentration on her mother’s face as she worked tirelessly to uncover hidden truths. Aiko had always admired her mother’s brilliance. Now, more than ever, she needed to channel that determination and intellect.

Aiko’s eyes fluttered shut as exhaustion overcame her.

When she awoke, the infirmary was bathed in the pale light of dawn. The handcuffs made her wrists scream in agony. She could barely move them without pain. The door creaked open, and the doctor entered, her expression inscrutable. She removed Aiko’s handcuffs and checked Aiko’s bandages.

“You’re healing well,” she said, her tone devoid of warmth.

“Thank you.“

“You’re being moved to a different cell. Try to stay out of trouble.“

Aiko’s legs buckled as she tried standing. The doctor helped her to her feet.

“I feel a little woozy,” Aiko said.

“I gave you something for the pain. It should wear off soon enough.”

The guards escorted her to a new cell that was barely larger than a closet. A feeling of claustrophobia set in as the cell door slammed shut. Aiko’s heart sank with her hopes and dreams for a normal life.