Chapter 2
One guard slapped the wall.
Another pointed at the red cross patch still sewn to Alexis’s sleeve.
“She came to save lives,” he mocked. “Now she needs someone to save hers.”
More laughter.
Alexis stayed still.
Her breathing was heavy.
Her ribs hurt.
Her shoulder burned from where they had thrown her into the truck.
But pain was information.
Pain told her what still worked.
Her hands worked.
Her legs worked.
Her eyes worked.
That was enough.
Hassan crouched slightly, studying her face.
“You understand me, yes?”
Alexis lifted her eyes.
“Yes.”
His smile widened.
“Good. Then understand this. No one is coming for you.”
He raised his hand and slapped her so hard her face snapped sideways.
The sound cracked down the corridor.
The soldiers laughed again.
Alexis tasted blood.
For one second, her vision blurred.
But she did not fall.
Slowly, she turned her face back toward him.
The laughter began to fade.
Hassan waited for tears.
For begging.
For the fragile little medic to realize what kind of place she had entered.
Instead, Alexis looked at him with terrifying calm.
“Then start counting.”
The words were quiet.
Almost gentle.
May you like
But something about them made the hallway colder.
Read Part 3 to see why one sentence made Commander Hassan stop smiling.
