The Recall Trials

One more strike, and I’d be penalized. What does a penalty even mean here? Death? Solitary confinement? A game worse than the others? Whatever it was, it wasn’t worth it.

But still, if he touched her again, I wasn’t sure I’d care about the consequences.

Carter was sitting on his bed with his head down. His hands were shaking. He looked defeated, like the little bit of hope he’d built had just been smashed out of him.

I got up and walked toward him.

"Hey," I said, crouching beside his bed.

He didn’t look at me at first. Just let out a breath. "I really thought we had a chance," he mumbled. "I thought... people would want freedom more than money."

"I thought so too," I replied.

"Thanks for standing up," he said. "I saw what you did. You didn’t have to."

I nodded. "I’m not going to sit back while someone lays their hands on her like that."

Carter smiled a little. "That girl’s got you hooked, huh?"

I smirked, looking back toward Zaara. "Yeah... I think she does."