rcase. Instead, she turned left, heading down the

sa st

econd floor," she sa

t turn around. "The... the Mistress said the s

t was silent. There were no drop cloths. No smel

id. "I'm not allowe

leading Clarisa out into the rain again. They

's quarters before they outsourced the landscaping.

he air inside smelled o

whispered, then fled as

steppe

omeone else

, lumpy bed. She wore thick glasses and a

d. "I'm Bethel. Brady assign

at her. Assista

abysitter," Cl

ously. "I'm here to help you adj

. She placed her plasti

ut. "I can unpac

o fast, so aggressive, that Bethel stum

Her voice was low, dangerous. "If you to

lowed hard.

f clothes she had and marched into

k, full blast. Then the shower. The

popping it open. Tucked inside were several tiny, mismatched electronic components wrapped in plastic-scavenged resistors

om. The mirror. The ve

nt; he didn't think she w

et clothes. They landed in

t herself in

er collarbones jutted out like knives. Bu

er blades. Long, thin white lines on her thighs from where she

sedatives they forced on her when she refus

She didn't feel sorry for the girl in the mirror.

through the door. "Do you

to check for fresh tracks.

larisa yelled over the runn

thel's foots

en compared to the ice-cold hoses at the camp. She scrubbed her skin until it

wash away t

on the hook. It was rough cotton, scratchy. She

t, Bethel was ty

he bed and sat down

she thought. Or.

morrow. Tonight, she just