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I shut my mouth and forced my feelings deep down into a ball of rage deep inside my chest as I headed back to the mat.
When Taylor swung at me I dodged his fist and using his momentum, managed to send him crashing to the floor. It was my first win against him on the mat but it did little to improve my mood.
***
I didn't sleep well that night. Nightmares haunted me every time I closed my eyes until I gave up on even trying to get some rest. I woke early and wanted to get back to training as quickly as possible. Taylor tried to argue but eventually realised it was pointless and joined me for an early workout.
There was no one around apart from a solitary Warden sat at a desk in the central corridor as we headed for the training rooms. He raised his eyes from his book to watch us pass momentarily but made no move to stop us.
The corridors echoed with our footsteps as we headed into the training room and I shivered a little in the cool air.
The clock on the wall read five thirty and I flashed a guilty look at Taylor.
“Dammit Maya, I told you it was still the middle of the night," he groaned before strolling into the empty room and laying down on one of the crash mats.
I smirked to myself as I climbed onto a cross-trainer and started exercising. Taylor's snores soon filled the silence in the room and I upped the resistance so that I was working really hard.
My skin gleamed and my breaths came in sharp bursts but I pressed on. Exercise had always been my favourite form of therapy. If I worked hard enough, I could chase the nightmares right out of my head.
Slowly, the sounds of the other convicts and Wardens waking up started to punctuate my run.
Someone entered the room and headed for the gun rack but I didn't pay them any attention.
Green light flashed in my peripheral vision. Then again, and again as whoever it was continuously hit their mark. Curiosity got the better of me and I glanced up to see who was so proficient.
It was a man I recognised from the time servers group. He had a mop of matted black hair and spent a lot of time hanging around Grey. He must have sensed me watching him because he turned suddenly to face me too. I wanted to drop my gaze but held firm instead, gritting my teeth as I refused to balk.
The man raised his gun and pointed it at me. I shielded my eyes a second too late as he pulled the trigger and the red light of the laser beam shot towards me.
I cursed as I was blinded, snarling angrily at the douchebag was responsible.
The sound of running footsteps pounded across the mats and Taylor grunted in shock as something woke him.
I stumbled to a halt and half fell from the cross-trainer. Red lines swam in my vision and made it almost impossible for me to see in the dim light. A hand curled around my arm, gripping me firmly before yanking me back towards the door.
"Get off of me!" I yelled, trying to shake them off but their hold was iron. I blinked furiously as I struggled against my attacker.
"Come on poppet, no need to fight me." I recognised Dolly's voice and my blood chilled.
I dug my heels in and they caught on the edge of one of the crash mats. I stumbled to the floor, using my weight to stop her as I swung a fist in her general direction though it met with nothing but air. My vision cleared and I could see her dirty fingernails digging into my skin.
Taylor was struggling against the man who’d blinded me as he used his training rifle like a bat.
I kicked out towards Dolly as her face started to swim back into focus. She jerked aside and released my arm with a snarl of frustration. My heart thumped wildly in my chest as panic started to take hold of me and I cursed her again as I fought to get away from her.
Something buzzed loudly by my ear and Dolly collapsed with a shriek of agony. She twitched and jerked as the taser took full effect and my lips parted in surprise as I spun to see who had come to my rescue.
I scrambled backwards and looked up to find Laurie looking fierce as she moved to stand over me. She had her gun drawn and pointed at the man with the matted hair. He stood slowly with his hands raised and dropped the training rifle he’d been using to batter Taylor.
Taylor spat a wad of blood onto the floor as he regained his feet. He offered me a hand and I stood too.
“Get back to your dorms," Laurie commanded Dolly and the man.
He stopped to help Dolly to her feet and they left without another word.
Dolly glared back at me as she went. Her hands were still twitching from the taser and if looks could kill I’d be a thousand times dead.
“New rule. You don't leave your dorm until I come and get you," Laurie said firmly.
