“I didn’t do it to myself, did I?”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re the one that tried to escape, aren’t you? You nearly got me caught! The guards searched all other prisoners for weapons after they recaptured you.” She tilted her head. “Did you really think you could just run out of this place in the middle of broad daylight?”
“Just like you thought you could dig your way out, but instead you ended up here?” I shot back.
“Fair enough.” She stretched her arms up and looked around again. “Your cell is much smaller than mine. What did you do? Kill someone you shouldn’t have?”
I grimaced. “Something like that.”
More like he was already dead at my feet.
Footsteps echoed down the hall—a guard on his usual patrol. I sat up, ignoring the ache in my shoulders as I did so.
“Be quiet, or they’ll find you,” I snapped at her, my voice low.
We sat in silence as the echo of his booted feet sounded between us. When he had moved past, the girl raised her brows.
“Another prisoner would give me away instantly,” she whispered back. “Why don’t you call out to them? Collect the extra rations they provide to turn in escapees?”
I returned her astute gaze. She was right that I could get rewarded for turning her in—that’s exactly what happened with me. But I would be damned if I subjected another person to Thohfsa’s punishments, no matter how much my stomach growled.
But more than that, an idea was percolating in my head, one that grew stronger with every passing moment she was sitting here.
“I’m not interested in betraying another prisoner,” I said honestly. “Not after my last escape. You want to try to get out of here? Be my guest.” I gestured to my fresh injuries. “They’ll do the same to you.”
She smiled, but it was more of a suggestion on her face, as if she didn’t really know how to smile anymore and was trying it on. I understood that—I’d forgotten how to smile too.
“What is your name?”
I straightened. No one had asked for my name in the past year.
Names had meaning. Names were power. I knew that if my name had been different, if my family had been different, I might not be in this prison at all. Buthere,we were all the same.
We were all nothing.
And my name had no meaning behind these stone walls.
“Dania,” I answered. “My friends call me Dani.”
Not that I had any anymore.
“I’m Noor.” She sat cross-legged on the ground. I glanced at the small opening in my door. There wasn’t another guard patrol for a few hours, but I didn’t know if Thohfsa was keeping a closer eye on me after my escape attempt.
“And they won’t catch me,” she continued. “Iwilldig my way out of here. I am going to escape.”
Her words were so sure, soboldin the middle of my dark chamber, that a startled laugh escaped me.
The idea that had begun to take over screamed louder as I looked at the gaping hole she had made in the floor.
“It would be faster to dig with two people.” I said the words slowly, as if they were just coming to me, as if I didn’t plan them.
This girl had dug here, and if she had dug here, she could dig out as well.
Wecould dig out.
Her eyes narrowed on me, so shrewd I felt as if my very bones were being examined.
“Yes, it would be.” She cocked her head. “I’ve been digging for a year. By my estimation, your cell is on the other side of the prison. I must have gotten turned around when they brought me in. I’ve been digging the wrong way.”
