Objective Consequence (Book Two of the Subjective Justice series)

Chapter Six: What Happened on Saso

TRIGGER WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS DEPICTIONS OF RAPE AND TORMENT. PROCEED WITH CAUTION

It's also partially unedited, sorry, I don't wanna edit.

Indra curled into a ball in the far corner of the room, placing her head on her knees. Even isolated and far away from every object in the room, she could feel his touch on her skin. Each point of contact from her clothes– her own hands – made her skin crawl.

She could feel Jacque's poisoned claws tracing each curve of her body, deep enough to hurt, shallow enough not to kill. Sobbing, Indra drew her knees closer, willing it away, knowing it wouldn't go.

You're stronger now. He can't hurt you. He'll never hurt you again.

Then why did every anniversary of this betrayal make her relive that cursed place? Indra gripped her skirt, clenching and unclenching her hands repeatedly. No one would betray her. No one would hurt her. She trusted everyone in the mansion with her life–right?

Akio is stronger. If she wanted to, she could break you.

The nasty voice in the back of her mind made it all flood back, sweeping her away with the current intent on drowning her in misery.

..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

Seven years ago, Treamor

How much longer would she be hiding here? Cozbi said that Layla would be here. Indra, then known as He'mi, adjusted herself in the small closet. If the patrol found her–no, they wouldn't. She was quiet. Invisible. Gripping the dagger in her hand tighter, she assured herself that if anything happened, she'd fight her way out. Footsteps approached her location. Excitement almost made her burst through the closet. It had been two years since she'd seen her sister. She couldn't wait to envelope her in her arms.

"She's in here? The weapon's sister?" a low rumbling voice asked.

He'mi swallowed. That wasn't Layla. She gripped the hilt of the knife tightly. What was going on?

The familiar limping clank of Cozbi's cybernetic approached her hiding place. "Yes, baby sister to the weapon. They are quite close. Your lowers said that would fetch quite the price. I want to see it first."

They'd been traveling together for five years, what was he doing? He'mi needed to run. She needed to escape. She placed her hand on the closet door. It didn't move. He'mi tried again. Nothing. Frantically, she hacked at the wood with the knife. She had to get out. She had to escape.

The low voice laughed. "She seems feisty. Let's take a look."

Blistering pain from the direct sun exposure traveled up her arms as she was pulled out of the closet by her oi'ek. He'mi thrashed around, stabbing blindly. "Let me go!"

Cozbi's cybernetic arm whirled as he clenched his hand closed. Burning agony shot from He'mi's oi'ek to her head, making her skull pound. She stabbed the dagger into the weak point of his cybernetic. The grip released. He'mi fell to the ground, twisting her ankle and snapping it. Scrambling to her feet, she cried out, her leg giving out beneath her from the throbbing agony.

"Forgot to mention," Cozbi said, his fist slamming into her stomach.

Burning pain stole the breath from He'mi's lungs, each inhale was agonizing. Why would he do this? Why would he hurt her? Betray her? She bit her trembling lip to keep from sobbing. He didn't deserve to see her suffer. No one would see her tears. .

"She's fragile."

Sharp, pointed claws traced her body from her chest to her thigh. "Pretty little thing, aren't you? I'll take her."