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Nova sighed. “It’s exactly as they said. The strongest fighters in the pits get to Claim a Prize. Mostly, it’s a symbol of prestige.”
My stomach churned at the thought. “What? No. I’m a nurse. I have a shift… I have responsibilities… I have… I have…”
The panic attack came on fast.
I bent over double or else would have passed right out.
Nova looked sympathetic and placed a hand on my back. “We all feel that way. But escaping Ikmal is no easy task. This place is fortified beyond imagination.”
I refused to let her words discourage me.
As we spoke, I took in the environment around me.
The walls were made of a transparent material, probably an alloy.
The vast expanse of space stretched out beyond, dotted with stars, galaxies, and the silhouette of a magnificent planet.
The sight was breathtaking, but the beauty did little to soothe the anxiety that bubbled within me.
The prison complex was vast, with high ceilings and a series of interconnected chambers.
From my limited view, I could see the fighting pits in the distance, a roar of cheers echoing faintly.
There were guards, humanoid in form but might have been robots by all the hardware they carried.
“Have you tried to escape?” I asked Nova.
She shrugged her shoulders. “A few times. But it’s not just about getting out. There’s nowhere to go. We’re on a moon, surrounded by the vacuum of space.”
I felt a pang of hopelessness.
A guard approached, his keen eyes scanning the Prizes. “The Claiming Ceremony begins in thirty minutes. Prepare!”
The Prizes were a sudden frenzy of activity.
I just sat on a seat, trying to grasp the enormity of it all.
What the hell is going on?
* * *
Whispers and subtle giggles echoed around the dressing chamber as the Prizes — which now included me — readied ourselves.
Rows of luminescent cosmetics lay on illuminated counters, radiating in various shades.
I hesitated, not knowing where to even start.
Nova was beside me, her tattoos now coated in a luminescent powder that caught the dim lighting of the room. “Just embrace it,” she said softly, applying a shade of silver-blue on her eyelids that made them pop beautifully.
Taking a deep breath, I picked up what looked like a stick.
The moment it touched my skin, it transformed into a warm blush, highlighting my cheeks.
The scent of wildflowers arose, momentarily comforting me.
“Smell good?” a purple-skinned female from the next counter asked, her large eyes twinkling.
I nodded, feeling the velvety touch of a brush as it swiped across my collarbone, leaving a trail of glitter.
