The words made my pulse rush, my mouth salivating as I twitched. Holding my composure I swallowed thickly as I insisted, “I’m dry. I don’t have a stash- haven’t for a while now since it was confiscated. You’re wasting your time.” I went to step around him only to feel his hard hands shove me back, nearly knocking me off balance. 

His face twisted into an ugly scowl as he squared up to me, his lackeys standing solid behind him. “Can’t say I didn’t try,” Rackett said, his fingers flexing before he curled them into a fist. “You’ll give in eventually- and it’s more fun this way.” His eyes lit with a sadistic gleam before he raised his arm and swung his fist at me. 

I stepped back, raising my arm instinctively to block the blow. There was the heavy clash of flesh against metal, Rackett’s fist driving into the plates that were bolted to the bones within my arm. His fingers crumpled against it, a ragged groan of agony drawn from his throat as he reeled back. Clutching his injured hand, he was seething as he backed up; the other two prisoners quickly stepped in front of him as he spat, “Fuck him up!” 

Swearing under my breath, my instincts took over- against my better judgment. I could feel the heat under my flesh and the thrum against my bones as my cybermods activated. The tubes and wirings glowed through my skin- metal shifting from my skull, down my back and arms, all the way down my legs- as the mechanics within me readied for the fight. There was a sharp buzz of electricity- a pulse of power emanating from the thick metal collar that circled around my neck. My nerves were electrified, making me drop to my knees as my muscles seized and the cybermods began to stutter and shut down. The cement ground was rough under my palms as I braced myself, wincing as I watched the glow in my hands die down, too. 

Mocking laughter filled my ears as one of the inmates stepped forward, cracking his knuckles as he smirked down at me. “All those cybermods and you’re still on your knees,” he scoffed. “Not so tough with that sexy collar stopping you, are you?” His murderous gaze widened at the approach of pounding footsteps, and the guards were on us before he had a chance to take advantage.

The guards shoved between us, barking, “Step back!” when Rackett and his lackeys were reluctant to back down. I grunted, giving off a shout as I felt gloved hands pull me up by the arms to stand. The movements were rough as my wrists were yanked behind me and cuffed in a block of iron. I felt the weight hang off me, pulling at my wrists. I was panting as I looked up at the guards in their robotic suits, their impenetrable helmets making them so inhuman. 

One of them stepped in front of me, their weapon held tightly at their side. “Causing trouble again, Wescoff?” The guard’s voice was modulated by the helmet, monotonous and carrying the faint drone of machinery. They pressed the barrel of their weapon to my chest, keeping me from moving as they nodded toward the tunnel I had entered the yard from. “Take him inside.” At his command, two other guards grasped my arms, dragging me back toward the dank prison cells. 

It felt like they were smirking under their helmets, but there was no point in struggling- and I knew what it would cost me if I argued. Though my body was covered in black market cybernetics and my muscles were thick and taught with tension… as long as that collar was around my neck it would be nothing compared to the exosuits the guards wore. 

My sliver of freedom had been short lived. And instead of looking over my shoulder at the yard, I felt my head tip back so I could stare at the sky instead- trying to burn what little of it I could see into my mind. As we approached the metal doors to the tunnel, I sucked in a deep breath, filling my lungs with the cool fresh air, before I was sealed away again. Who knew how long it would be this time?

I looked up at the guards, my heart pounding as I noticed we passed the exit to my cellblock. A cold chill washed over me as my mouth went dry, finally finding the voice to ask, “Where are you taking me?”

One of the guards tightened their grip, making me wince as they said, “Where do you think?” Despite the sterile inflection of their voice, there was a smug note to the words. Fist grabbing my hair, he pulled back sharply, forcing me to look up at the emotionless helmet protecting his face. “No more questions. Shut your mouth and keep walking, or you’ll only make it worse for yourself.”