I was sitting in the colonel’s office, cuffs on. They had dragged me here after the tranquilizers wore off. The colonel sat across from me, smoking a cigar, casual as ever.

I stared down at my shoes before looking up at him. “Well? The fuck are we waiting for?”

He didn’t answer. Just sat there, staring at me, face blank, expressionless. Funny, it was the same look he had when he was executing the lieutenants.

We stayed like that for about ten minutes—silent, unmoving—until Lieutenant Zenzele stormed in, a furious scowl twisting her face. But her eyes darted between me and the colonel, sharp and accusing, and I knew she wasn’t just angry at me. She was angry at both of us. Yay me, I guess?

And then fucking Sofia walked in after her, head held high, a plaster over her nose like she’d been in some massive fight. Pathetic. I only hit her once. Okay, maybe twice. But still.

“Why the fuck are you here?” I sneered, and before I could even register movement, the lieutenant was behind me, smacking me hard across the face.

“And what the fuck do you think you’re doing here? Hey, Boris? Do you have any idea how serious this is?” she hissed, her eyes boring into mine, sharp as knives.

I looked away. Not because of the slap—I could handle that—but because of the hurt in her eyes, and that was too much to bear. I turned back to the colonel instead. “Can we, like, skip to the execution, or do I have to wait to die of old age?”

A small smile tugged at his lips, and then, without looking at me, he spoke to the lieutenant. “You got one, Lieutenant. Leave it. He’s a big boy.”

I glanced up in time to see Zenzele poised to hit me again. She flicked her hard gaze at the colonel, gritted her teeth, then exhaled sharply and stepped back, standing at ease like we had to do every morning.

The colonel turned his attention back to me. “Alright, lay it out for me, step by step. What the fuck do you think you were doing?” His eyes shifted to Sofia, one brow raised, like he didn’t quite buy what she had told him. “She says you’re selling information to the rebels.”

I scoffed. “I was just running to Alexandria. Looking for a weapon. Don’t listen to the spoiled brat’s nonsense—she has no idea what the fuck she’s talking about.”

“Sir. Don’t listen to him,” Sofia said, her voice firm, dripping with certainty. “When I cornered him in the freezer—before he assaulted me, I might add—he told me he was hungry. When I pressed him on it, he said he’d argued with the other B-rankers. I think he was just trying to weasel his way out because he knows he got caught.”

“Besides, I believe he’s using the food he stole as a cover, trying to give legitimacy to his claims,” Sofia continued, gesturing toward the pillowcases filled with food. “I mean, if he was really just hungry, why run to Alexandria—sixty kilometers away—when there’s an entire pantry full of food down the hall?”

She spoke with certainty, like she had rehearsed this speech on the way here, every word polished and deliberate. And in that moment, she sounded just like her mother.

“He’s a traitor, sir. I believe he’ll be a valuable source of intelligence to use against the rebels.”

“What the fuck kind of cartoons are you watching?” I asked, completely bewildered.

“Be quiet, Boris,” the colonel said, his tone final, brooking no argument.

And then, as if none of this was urgent, as if we weren’t all sitting here in a room thick with tension, he leaned back in his chair and continued smoking his cigar.

That seemed to throw Sofia off balance. Her eyes flicked around the room, searching for something—maybe for the colonel to react, maybe for reassurance—but the lieutenant didn’t budge. She just kept staring at me, her expression locked in fury, jaw clenched so tight I thought she’d crack a tooth. I had no idea what was happening, but we all just sat there, waiting for… something.

Five minutes passed before the door opened, and one of the finks I had scuffled with at the gate walked in, accompanied by a lower ranker from our year. I’d seen him around in the mornings, but he clearly wanted to be anywhere else but here. Go figure.

He snapped a sharp salute, standing stiff despite the sweat beading on his forehead. “Sir!” he said, voice shaking.

The colonel waved a hand lazily. “Cale, activate your ability. We’ll have a field test today.”

Cale nodded furiously, tapping his arm. His tattoo glowed. Then the colonel turned back to me. “Right then, what’s your name?”

I blinked. “The fuck? You know my name.”

“And yet, you can tell me again,” he said, colder this time.

I exhaled sharply. “I’m Boris.”

The colonel shifted his gaze to Cale and raised an eyebrow.

“He believes he’s telling the truth, sir,” Cale confirmed, his stance rigid.

“Good, good.” The colonel nodded, seeming satisfied. “I apologize, Boris. But it’s important to set a baseline.” He paused, his voice taking on a careful edge. “Did those nuns and that priest you told me about die five to six years ago?”

I stiffened. Why the hell was he asking about that?

“Yes,” I said through gritted teeth.

The colonel turned back to Cale.

“He believes what he’s saying, sir.” Same as before.

And then it clicked. Cale could tell the difference between the truth and lies.

I felt sweat trickling down my back.

“Good,” the colonel said, taking another slow drag from his cigar. “Now then, Boris. You said you were going to run to Alexandria. Is that true?”

“Yes.” I answered, swallowing.

Cale hesitated, his brows knitting together. “He believes what he’s saying, sir… but…”

The colonel raised an eyebrow at him but didn’t press the issue. He turned back to me instead.

“And were you going to look for a weapon?”

I hesitated. Just for a second. But the air immediately grew colder, the weight of the colonel’s stare settling on me like a noose tightening. His eyes narrowed, sharp as a scalpel.

“Yes,” I said after a beat, trying to sound as convincing as possible, hoping—praying—that if I believed it hard enough, Cale would too. But the poor bastard’s face went white, and his voice was tight as he said, “He’s lying, sir.”

The lieutenant was with me in an instant, moving so fast I barely had time to register it before she was standing right next to me. I glanced back and caught Sofia looking down at me from the bridge of her nose, the way someone might look at a caged animal—like she had known all along and had finally caught the monster.

The colonel set his cigar down, leaned forward, and crossed his arms over the desk, locking eyes with me.

“Boris,” he said, his voice calm, measured. “Were you colluding with the rebels?”

I scoffed, pulling a funny face. “No, I wasn’t, and you know I wasn’t. Don’t believe that bitch’s lies.” I sneered, anger bubbling up, pissed off that he would even entertain the idea. I respected him. He had killed those stupid lieutenants. But this? This was a bit much.

He didn’t react. Just held my gaze for a long, heavy moment. Before shifting that gaze to Cale, and he practically withered under it. His eyes darted toward Sofia, apologetic, before he stammered, “H-He’s telling the truth, sir.”

The second the words left his mouth, both the colonel and the lieutenant exhaled, relief washing over them. Before I could blink, the lieutenant clamped a hand down on my shoulder, her grip gentle, almost… grateful. And then, just as quickly, she was gripping my shirt, shaking me like I was the biggest idiot in the room.

“So what the fuck were you doing, Boris?” she snapped. “Stealing food again? If you were that desperate, why not take from the pantry? And for fuck’s sake, I was already organizing something for you from the higher ranks, you absolute moron!”

She was throttling me and coddling me at the same time.

I glanced at Sofia, who looked so disappointed it was almost funny. Almost. I flashed her a grin before turning back to the colonel.

“Does it matter?” I asked.

The colonel just smiled. Even as the lieutenant fussed over me, straightening my shirt like she hadn’t been the one to ruin it. It felt… nice, being cared for. Even if she was still pissed. Not that I’d ever tell her that. I’m taking that shit to my grave.

“Yes, it matters,” the colonel said, still looking far too amused. “Thankfully, I am not forced to execute you now, though that is protocol.” He leaned back in his chair, cigar still in hand, the picture of relaxed satisfaction. “So—give me something good to tell the higher-ups, and you’ll only be punished severely instead of, well… becoming dead.”

I shrugged. “Well, I was just going to Alexandria to see the statue. It’s nice.”

The colonel’s smile didn’t waver, but the edges of his eyes tightened ever so slightly.

“Oh, really? That’s all?” he asked lightly. “No other reason whatsoever?”

“The statue’s real nice,” I said again, feeling the first hints of sweat on my palms.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The colonel took another slow drag of his cigar. “I want a yes or no, Boris. Were you only going to see the statue?”

My stomach twisted, a cold tingle creeping up my back. But I forced the words out anyway.

“Yes.”

The colonel turned to Cale.

Cale swallowed hard, voice small, almost apologetic.

“He’s lying, sir.”

The colonel’s smile vanished instantly as the lieutenant hauled me up by the collar, lifting me as high as the chain would allow.

“Tell us why the fuck you were running there, Boris! This isn’t something you can just brush aside! You will tell me right now!” she shouted, shaking me hard enough that my teeth rattled.

“I can’t,” I muttered, barely above a whisper, staring at the floor, refusing to meet her eyes.

Sofia took a sharp breath. “Sir, while he might not be colluding with the rebels, he could still be aiding them—unknowingly, unwillingly. I went through the recordings of his personal training sessions, and one of them…” She hesitated, like she was carefully choosing her words. “One of them had been tampered with. Someone attempted to delete it. Even if he doesn’t realize he’s guilty, I believe this alone proves something is going on.”

The lieutenant stilled. Her grip loosened, and she dropped me back into the chair, turning to look between Sofia and the colonel, her expression tense with guilt.

I don’t think she saw it, but I did—the way his eyes changed. Cold fury locked onto Sofia with such intensity I almost shrank under it. When I glanced back at her, I saw her face go pale, her eyes widening as the colonel’s stare bore into her like a blade.

The lieutenant snapped to attention, looking like one of the kids caught red-handed, knowing they were about to get torn apart but still needing to say something.

“Sir, I was—”

“Yes, I know,” the colonel cut her off, his voice disturbingly calm. “You were trying to protect the boy. That’s why I let it slide.” He dusted off his cigar like none of this was pressing.

She stiffened, eyes wide. “Sir?”

“Come now. You’re still new, so you wouldn’t know that only the administrator and myself can delete footage.” He shook his head, almost disappointed. “Of course I knew.”

Sofia stepped forward, anger rising in her voice. “Sir, this is a complete breach of protocol, and to allow the boy to leave—”

“Sofia.”

Just one word. But the way he said it made everyone freeze.

His tone was sharp enough to cut, his expression unreadable, but the weight of it was suffocating.

“Because of you,” he said slowly, deliberately, “I now have to punish a boy who, yes, was breaking out—but in doing so, he helped me prove that those bastards weren’t doing their jobs correctly. They couldn’t even order someone to patrol the yard, to stop one sleeveless from escaping. And because of you, I might have to execute him.”

His voice remained eerily calm, but his movements weren’t. He snatched up the pillowcase full of food and emptied it at her feet in a sudden, angry motion.

“Execution. Because he decided to steal some fucking food.”

Then he reached into his pocket, pulled out a pistol, and held it out to her, grip first.

“So,” he said, his eyes locked on hers. “Do you want to be the one to carry it out? To shoot the boy in the back of the head?”

Sofia stood frozen, her mask shattered, her mouth opening and closing like she was searching for words that wouldn’t come.

“I—sir, I—”

“Enough.” His voice sliced through her stammering like a blade. “Don’t speak again.”

Then he turned back to me, his patience finally worn thin.

“Now, Boris. You will tell me where the fuck you were going and why you were going there, or my hands will be tied, and you will die in that chair. Am I clear?”

I looked down at my shoes, exhaled, shook my head once, then slowly lifted my gaze to meet his.

“I’m sorry. But I can’t tell you.”

The lieutenant struck me hard across the face.

“Excuse me? Excuse me! What the fuck did you just say!?” Her voice cracked, tears brimming in her eyes. “You will tell us now, Boris! Right now!”

The colonel just watched, looking… sad.

“Are you sure?” he asked quietly.

“I’m sure,” I said.

“He’s sure of nothing!” the lieutenant burst out, turning to the colonel—pleading, desperate. “Walker, please! Just let me talk to the boy—”

I stood up, reaching out, trying to place a hand on her shoulder—some weak attempt at reassurance—but she smacked it away, grabbed my shirt collar, and hauled me out of the room, slamming the door in my face.

More shouting erupted from behind the door. I could still hear her, still hear the colonel, their voices rising and falling in heated bursts, but I couldn’t make out the words.

Cale and Sofia must’ve decided it was smarter not to stick around, because they followed me out shortly after.

Sofia shot me a look of pure disgust.

“You’re willing to die to keep your reason for leaving a secret, but you’re not colluding with the rebels?”

“Well, yeah,” I said with a shrug, glancing up at the ceiling. “Thanks for getting me executed, by the way.” My voice dripped sarcasm.

Something shifted in her expression—like an ice cold bucket of water had been thrown over her—and suddenly she turned sharply on Cale, who was trying to sneak away.

“You! Low ranker. Come here.”

Cale sighed but spun on his heel, marching back to stand at attention. “Yes, ma’am!”

“At ease. Stay there. Tell me if he’s lying or not,” she ordered, frantic now. Then she turned back to me, desperation burning in her eyes.

“Why were you running to Alexandria?”

I smirked. “Didn’t you hear? Just really liked seeing the statue of your dead daddy.”

She flinched. Looked down. Then back up.

“Where in Alexandria were you running?”

“Why the fuck would I tell you?”

“Just tell me! You won’t be executed that way! I can figure out how the rebels are using you, you idiot! Just tell me!”

I rolled my eyes. “Does the word ‘no’ mean nothing to you? Besides, I’m not working for, being used by, or even remotely favorable to the ‘rebels.’ Hate the gangs almost as much as I hate you.”

Cale muttered, “He’s telling the truth, ma’am.”

I gestured toward him like, See? Told you.

And for a split second, I swear I saw something—guilt, hesitation—flash across her face. She looked away, searching for something, anything. Then her eyes suddenly lit up.

“...The statue. The statue! It points to the entrance of the tower! That’s where you were going!”

“What? No, I wasn’t.”

Cale’s voice came in small, hesitant. “He’s lying, ma’am.”

I snapped my head toward him, furious. “What the fuck, man?”

But Sofia wasn’t listening. Her gaze flicked down—just for a second—to a bread roll in between her feet that must have rolled out the door earlier, and her breath caught.

“The food,” she whispered.

My stomach dropped.

Her eyes darted back up, wild with realization.

“The food! You weren’t just running. You were bringing supplies. That’s why you took so much—you weren’t just stealing for yourself. You were carrying it somewhere.”

I felt my hands clench into fists. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

Cale shifted uncomfortably. “He’s… lying, ma’am.”

Sofia’s eyes widened even further.

And then, without hesitation, she wrenched the door open.

The shouting from inside hit us like a wave.

“Lieutenant! Sir! He wasn’t just running to Alexandria! He was trying to break out of the tower! He wa—”

I lunged at her, clamping a hand over her mouth. “Shut the fuck up! Shut it!”

I tried to drag her backward, but then I felt my brain turn off, dragging Sofia down with me as I fell onto my ass.

By the time I regained control, Sofia and the lieutenant were already hauling me back into the office, shoving me down into the chair. Cale stood there too, annoyingly, watching everything unfold.

“Sir! I figured it out! He was trying to break out of the tower!” Sofia said, pacing back and forth, manic energy spilling off her in waves.

“And the food! He’s willing to die rather than tell us because there’s someone waiting for him back in the township!”

Her breath hitched, and then something snapped into place. Her eyes went even wider, somehow.

“Wait! I remember! That day—Sir, he had a little girl with him. And another boy around his age! He’s trying to go back there! That’s where he’s been going each night! He has been running to Alexandria, but he’s been scouting the tower’s entrance!”

She nodded to herself, like she had solved some grand puzzle, then turned to the colonel. And then, the most surprising thing I'd seen in a while happen. She begged.

“He thinks they’ll be in danger if he tells us! He hasn’t done anything! He’s just been running there and back! So we don’t have to execute him! We can just lock him up! He doesn't need to die!”

I felt the whole world start to cave in. The sky was falling, the walls were closing in, and the ground beneath me had cracked open.

“No— There’s no one waiting for me—she’s wrong—listen, I can expla—”

The colonel lifted a hand, silencing the room. Then he sat back, calm as ever, watching me like he had already seen the end of this conversation.

“Even without Cale’s ability, I can hear you lying.”

His voice was steady. Even.

“This is actually good, Boris. I don’t have to execute you now.”

He exhaled, tapping ash from his cigar.

“Okay, let’s start again. You were looking for ways to escape. I assume you found one, judging by the amount of food you were taking?”

I gritted my teeth. “No.”

Cale’s voice came quiet, hesitant. “He’s lying, sir.”

Something in me snapped.

That same feeling from the taxi came rushing back—trapped, staring down death’s door, knowing I was fucked. I had been so close. So fucking close. I could have kept them safe. But she—she—had ruined it.

She had killed them.

She had killed them the moment she stopped me in that freezer.

“Enough,” I said, shaking my head. My voice was flat, but there was something boiling beneath it.

“Enough.”

I exhaled slowly, meeting the colonel’s eyes.

“Yes, I was breaking out of the tower. Like a few finks could stop me now.” I sneered. “It was easy. I even got to feed my kids a few times.”

Then I turned to Sofia.

“But you.”

My voice dropped to something colder.

“You stole the food out of their mouths, your goddamn self.”

She stiffened.

“Why couldn’t you just let me die?”

The words came out slow, bitter.

“You killed my children.”

Silence.

“And now, I'm going to kill you.”

I lunged as the dice rolled.

My hands were inches from her throat before Colonel Walker moved.

His hand flicked as he tapped his shoulder, his ability activating.

Before I could react, the weight crashed down on me, slamming me to the ground.

My arms were unsleeved. I still had time. I tried to grab hold of her feet before she could jump away, but she was already moving, her eyes wide with fear. The lieutenant was on me next, slamming her full weight onto my back, wrestling to pin my arms.

I thrashed beneath her, snarling, raging up at Sofia.

“I was just feeding my kids! Because of you, they’re going to starve!”

My voice was hoarse, raw, torn straight from my chest.

“Fucking monster! Child killer!”

I twisted, fought against the weight, clawed at the floor, but it was no use.

Sofia just stood there, breathing hard, staring at me.

“If it’s the last thing I fucking do—”

I strained against the weight again, one last effort, my vision tunneling, my world narrowing to nothing but her.

“I will kill you!”