Tw: mention of injuries, threats The door creaks open, and instinctively Eva crawls to the back, putting as much space between herself and Dawkins as possible. It’s not easy. She has a symphony of bruises, scratches, and a broken wrist all screaming with pain. It’s amazing how fast things change. They were friends once. And now he can snap her wrist in two without a second thought. “What do you want?” She spits at him venomously. “Are you here to break my other wrist?” Dawkins sneers at her and motions to the guards, tossing a whimpering bundle at her feet. “Unfortunately, no. I just wanted to show you my new pet.” /ZARA?!/ She’s different from when Eva had last seen her. Her face is streaked with tears and dirt. Her face is older, her eyes sparking with a bitterness Eva had never noticed two years ago. And her hair-her beautiful gold hair, which she had been so proud of, looks like it’s been hacked off with a chainsaw. An iron collar is clamped around her neck, attached to a long, slender chain- a leash. Dawkins spots her staring and smirks. “Is she familiar to you?” “No,” Eva lies. “She just looks terrible.” “She’s broken, my dear Eva,” Dawkins sneers. “Now I have work to do. I’ll see you tomorrow, pet.” He clips the leash into the wall and walks out. The moment the door shuts, Eva grips Zara by the shoulders and yanks her upright “What did you tell him?” “I-I didn’t-” Zara whimpers, clawing feebly at Eva’s hold. “Don’t lie to me, you little brat. I know you better than you think. You’d do anything to save your pretty face. /What did you tell him?/” “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! All I said was someone was looking for her friend, Amber, and was trying to rescue her.” “Wait-Amber?” “Yes. That’s all, I swear!” “Not…not a red squirrel therian?” “She was-why?” Eva’s hands feel cold and sweaty all of the sudden. Zara slips through her fingers and scrambles backward, tripping over her leash. Amber. The red squirrel therian. It wouldn’t take Dawkins long to find out, and when he did… /Oh, Amber. If only I could protect you./
Next: Sorry schoolwork
