Zaria Dove

Prison

After sobbing for hours, I somehow managed to drift off to sleep. When I finally woke up, I was startled to discover that not only were the cages open, but they were also completely empty.

Ever since I arrived in this place, I had noticed a peculiar bump on the ground right in the center of my cell. Curiosity got the better of me, so I knelt down and gave it a knock.

To my surprise, I realized that there was a hidden space beneath the ground.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have any tools or means to dig or break through the ground, so I decided to leave it for the time being.

With caution, I made my way out of the cell and soon realized that all the other cages were also empty, except for the ones housing the infected individuals. Strangely, there were no bars in sight.

Suddenly, I heard the faint sound of people chattering. Intrigued, I followed the noise, which led me to a wide and spacious stairwell-like area.

Each step had four cages - two on the left, two on the right, and a middle section where water flowed down.

As I went further down, I stumbled upon a cafeteria-like area.

It was huge, with long benches attached to the walls and tables in the middle.

Each table had four people sitting at it.

“Hey, I saved you a spot!” called out the tall girl, motioning for me to join her.

Grateful, I sat down next to her, holding my stomach in pain.

“Can I take a look?” she asked, concerned. I lifted my shirt, and she squinted as she examined my wound, it was right under the belly button.

“These are stitches,” she observed. “I’m not a doctor but I think they must have removed an organ from your body!”

I pursed my lips, feeling a mix of confusion and worry. “But why? I don’t feel any internal pain.”

“Grab something to eat,” she suggested, pointing towards the holes in the wall next to us.

Pipes were coming out of those holes, with trays of burgers attached to them.

Curiosity sparked once again, I asked, “Is this meat?”

“Yeah, they’re so generous, right?” She chuckled. “Oh, are you a vegetarian?” Her face turned flat.

“No way! But it’s strange that they would serve meat to their prisoners,” I commented, feeling puzzled.

“They probably do it to keep the healthy girls for their own twisted purposes,” she shrugged, her mouth full of food.

“By the way, I completely forgot to introduce myself. I’m Nina!”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Zaria,” I replied with a smile.

Despite my discomfort, I managed to take a few bites. However, the memories of Jarred came rushing back, stopping me from eating any more.

“Excuse me!” I suddenly stood up and rushed back to my cage.

Leaning against the wall, I looked up at the ceiling, taking deep breaths to hold back the tears. Eventually, I slid down with my back still against the wall.

Curling up into a ball, I buried my face in my arms and cried uncontrollably. Suddenly, I felt a gentle touch and looked up in disbelief to see my father sitting in front of me.

“How is this possible?” I gasped, only to realize that he was just a figment of my imagination. “You’re not really here, are you?” I sighed in disappointment.

He didn’t respond, and I continued to stare at the ground, tears streaming down my face. “What are you looking at?” I finally raised my eyes to meet his gaze.

“I’m proud of you,” he smiled.

“What do you have to be proud of, Dad? The girl you were once proud of is broken,” I replied, my gaze dropping once again.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve been broken,” he started, but I interrupted him.

“This time it’s different.”

“This is the moment where you must truly heal yourself!” He gently lifted my chin. “Zaria... I have been proud of you since the day you came into this world.

You have always been determined. I remember when you took your first steps, your favorite toy was on the couch, and you insisted on getting it yourself. If your mother or I tried to help, you would cry until we let you do it on your own.”

You fell down so many times while learning to walk, but you never quit. Eventually, you got back up and grabbed that toy all on your own.

That’s just how you are - always finding a solution to fix yourself, doing things even when they appear impossible. That’s why I chose the name Zaria for you, which means Dawn. You are the beginning of a new era.

You’ve uncovered the secret about Type B. It’s only a matter of time before others discover it too. You have a responsibility to protect them.” He rubbed my cheek.

I stared at my father, completely unable to understand how it can be possible. “But how, Dad? How can I possibly protect them from this awful place?” I asked, my voice filled with desperation.

“That’s something you’ll have to figure out on your own, my dear. How you escape and save them is all up to you,” he replied, getting up from his knees.

“You’re leaving already?” I questioned, feeling a sense of abandonment.

“Don’t let his sacrifice be in vain,” He said, reaching out his hand for me to hold. He helped me up, and just like that, he disappeared into thin air.

I hurried towards the staircase, making my way up until I reached a massive, heavily guarded door after only a few steps. I pushed against it, only to be met with a jolt of electricity. The shock sent me flying backward and triggered the alarm.

Everything went black as I lost consciousness. When I finally woke up in the evening, everyone was back in their cages. The same group of guards who had been here earlier came for their routine inspection.

As the guard without the helmet approached me, a surge of anger filled my eyes as I glared at him. However, Nina called out to me, urging him to examine my wounds. “He’s a doctor too, let him see your injuries!” she insisted.

“Keep your hands off me!” I warned him, my voice laced with caution. At first, he remained silent, but then he removed his mask and retrieved an injection from his kit.

“Don’t you dare!” I muttered under my breath.