Gaining respect in the Death Zone seems to simply consist of choking down the food.

Okay! I can do that!

I just must be careful not to let anyone see that I actually like the stuff.

I also don’t know what to make of this Zeitstürmer, Moriphos.

I have a feeling he’s interested in me. At least I don’t have to explain why I’m here anymore. He seems to think that guy – Torsos – is just crazy anyway.

I’ve also gotten to know this Kaia a bit better. She acts like she’s the big and dangerous one, standing above everyone else.

It seems like a façade to me. A shield hiding a lonely woman.

 ⭑*•̩̩͙⊱••••✩••••̩̩͙⊰•*⭑

I’m sitting on my bed. Moriphos, who lives in the cell behind mine, is still sleeping soundly. His bed is directly attached to mine, so only the bars separate us.

Now and then, I think about how he could kill me if he wanted to. But I’m not afraid of that. It could be worse. He seems nice.

Nora, to my right, lies on the bare floor. When she’s awake, she presses her trembling body against the bars that face the hallway and my cell. Her bed is next to the one of a guy who even sends chills down my spine.

A disgusting little, skinny guy who constantly grins at us, pulling his lips up so far that two rows of rotten teeth appear.

In the other cell, next to mine, a fat guy lies on the bed. But I haven’t heard anything from him yet.

Now I’m looking more closely at the bracelet.

It’s about two fingers wide, like the one Nora wears – golden and fairly thin. They differ in only one small detail: while hers is made entirely of smooth metal, mine is adorned with two rows of stones. Each row is made of red stones, with two of a different color between them.

In the upper row, there’s a green and a purple stone; in the lower, blue and yellow stand out. The differently colored stones are spaced slightly further apart in their rows but arranged differently in the upper versus the lower row.

Do they have some kind of meaning?

Lost in thought, my fingers brush over the stones.

“Morning, Janine,” Moriphos says with a yawn from behind me.

I might have hidden the bracelet under my long sleeve a bit too hastily, trying to keep Moriphos from seeing it. Kaia made it clear how important it is that no one sees it.

“The way you’re acting, someone might get the wrong idea,” Moriphos calls out.

I look at him, questioningly for a moment, then gesture toward Nora.

“These weird bracelets aren’t really my thing.” I smile at him. “They’re ugly.”

“What was that guy thinking, locking girls up in here,” Moriphos snorts. “I can keep an eye on you and the little one.” He makes the offer with a wink. “Before the guys here get even more pushy.” His expression shows concern. “A few too many of them have been giving you way too interested looks for my taste.”

“Oh, and you haven’t?” I ask directly, smiling as I say it.

I’ve noticed that ever since I arrived, the other prisoners’ eyes are constantly on me. But what do I expect? After all, this is a men’s prison. A fact that makes me realize how lucky I am to have a protector.

“I’d hate to see one of those guys lay a hand on a pretty girl like you.”

“Thanks for the offer,” I say to him. Moriphos really doesn’t seem to have any bad intentions. “I think we could really use a protector here.” A sigh escapes my lips.

“Just stay close to me,” he asks. “I’ll keep the guys away from you.”

I smile at him gratefully. I’m sure Nora will be very glad about that too.

My gaze shifts to the blonde girl. I used to hate her. But I would never have wished this on her. For me, it’s clear that I’ll get out of here eventually. The only question is when.

But what about her?

I feel so sorry for her.

If I get the chance to talk to Kaia again, maybe I could ask her what will happen to us.

Another question pops into my mind as I look at my neighbor.

“I heard there’s a shower here,” I say out loud.

“Yeah!” Moriphos responds. “I bet everyone would love to shower with you girls!”

At that moment, I’d love to have a sponge to wipe that smug grin off his face. As if his words weren’t enough to make it clear there aren’t any separate shower rooms for men and women.

Kaia had already told me about it.

“Someone told me I can ask one of the guards if I want to take a shower,” I remember her words from yesterday. I realize my mistake too late. Both of us know that kind of information can only come from one person.

Moriphos seems surprised by what I said. When he understands the implication, he looks at me confused. Then, when he asks me to step closer to the bars, I get the feeling I said something so wrong it could end badly for me.

Hesitantly, I follow his request, unsure if I might be mistaken after all.

He leans down to me and whispers, his lips near my ear: “Is that witch offering tours of the prison now?”

For a moment, I’m speechless.

His serious tone and the strange environment, where a single mistake could doom me, almost make me miss that he’s joking.

What’s the best way to respond to him?

I think about it for a moment. The answer comes faster than I expected, without me having to lie to him.

“I think she just felt sorry for me,” I whisper, making sure no other prisoners can hear. “I’m just a poor, helpless little girl here.”

“That woman feeling sorry?” Moriphos laughs dryly. “Stop with the jokes.” A concerned groan escapes him. “Don’t think you can make friends with anyone outside the prison. Especially not with someone like Kaia. Even I wouldn’t be able to protect you then.”

Moriphos ponders my words for a moment. “But maybe you really should try your luck with a guard.”

Nora lets out a yawn as she wakes up.

“Did you have a better night than I did?” I ask her kindly.

She shakes her head, tired and exhausted.

One of the guard’s steps into the corridor. I hadn’t noticed anyone entering the room until now. His gaze sweeps over the cells, some calm, others less so.

One of the many patrols to check order in the cell block.

When he reaches my cell, I decide to try my luck.

“Hello!” I call out to get his attention. He looks at me curiously but remains silent.

The guard is young, just in his mid-twenties, maybe even younger. His short hair is the same brown as his eyes.

“I have a question.”

He steps closer to my cell.

His curious gaze moves from me to Nora, inspecting her too.

That look... I don’t know how to describe it, but a small part of me wants to stop speaking. But my curiosity about whether a morning shower is possible outweighs my hesitation.

A silent battle rages within me, with only one possible winner.

"The shower room is accessible to everyone, right?" I say, my words catching his attention. "And there are just the two of us girls. Isn’t there a way for us to shower alone, without all the crowds?"

He begins to smile. "No problem!"

To open our cells, he only needs to place his hand on a section of the lock. "You both need to hurry!" says the guard, showing us the way through the cell corridor with his steps.

Some of the prisoners call out to us, asking if we need someone to help soap our backs. Nora presses close to me fearfully as we’re led to the farthest corner where the shower room is located.

The room might seem spacious for just the two of us, but given the number of inmates, it's much too small. I wouldn’t even call it a shower room, since all I can see is an empty space with tiled walls. There are no showerheads, faucets, or towels. Privacy is non-existent—no partitions—though from what I’ve seen in the cells, this prison places no value on such things.

I look questioningly at the guard. How is anyone supposed to shower here?

The answer comes without me having to ask. He pushes me against the wall and presses one of the metal tiles. A bar of soap pops out of the wall, and another reveals fresh towels. I examine this function with interest. A press on the tiles closes the compartments again.

With a press of another square, I am suddenly standing under cold rain.

So that answers one question: there is no hot water!

I hurriedly press the square again, and the water stops. I glance at Nora, who’s standing next to me, giggling. I run my hands through my drenched hair.

"Okay, I guess this is what you’d call fair punishment." This must be how it felt for her when she ended up getting drenched, thanks to me, during all those times with her boyfriend.

Still lost in thought, I glance at the guard. A shiver runs down my spine, and it has nothing to do with the cold water soaking my clothes.

It’s the way the young man looks at Nora. His gaze is far too interested in her. As he turns toward the door, I think I spot a grin on his lips. Similar to the prisoners, who would love a moment alone with us.

I must be wrong! I must be! He’s here to maintain order. Kaia said we could trust the guards, and I trust her!

Yet the hint of doubt lingers.

"I think now you know how I felt so many times." Nora giggles, starting to undress.

"Well, you always brought it upon yourself," I reply teasingly.

I didn’t offer our garden as a private make-out spot. It was her choice to retreat there. Her fault if she got caught right under my window doing something sneaky!

"And my dad actually paid you for that?" she asks.

There’s a trace of sadness in her voice, a grief for being separated from her loved ones.

"Not at first," I answer, and she looks surprised, not by the words but because I move as far back into the room as I can.

Hopefully, she assumes it’s because I’m embarrassed to shower with her.

Despite our disagreements back home, I trust her enough to believe she would never turn me over to the other prisoners.

There are two reasons I keep the bracelet a secret from her, especially since it differs so much from hers. First, I can't explain why it was put on me without revealing its significance. How can I make sure she won’t accidentally spill the secret? How can I emphasize how important it is that no one knows? Unless I share the second reason for my hesitation.

My family… It’s my fault they were kidnapped. This whole mess was aimed at me.

How can I tell her that?

We may have fought back on Earth, but the guilt of being responsible for her situation weighs heavily on me.

I’m the reason she’s separated from her father and boyfriend!

I pull my wet sweater over my head. The bracelet gets so tangled in the sleeve that I must free it from the fabric before I can take the sweater off. When it’s done, I freeze mid-movement.

With my sweater half off, I stand there for a moment, my gaze lingering on the bracelet. Once again, I wonder if the stones on it hold a significance beyond decoration. Do they serve a function? There must be a reason why every wearer is labeled a spy. Otherwise, why mark them this way?

I run my fingers over it, pressing the stones, almost playfully, waiting for something to happen. Maybe the bracelet will play some silly tune like "Fox, you’ve Stolen the Goose," accompanied by flashing lights.

That would be ridiculous and useless—a completely absurd thought, but way cooler than what actually happens.

Nothing.

If the stones are just for decoration, they could have been left out. What’s the point of making the bracelet stand out from the others? It just makes the wearer noticeable!

Frustrated, I throw my sweater to the floor, followed by my pants and underwear.

With a slight swing, I let my body fall forward, arms outstretched. In one fluid motion, I press the square tile for the water, just as the guard had shown me.

A cool shower rains down over my body, the water flowing off me and down to the floor where it drains away. After a cold rinse, I soap myself up.

Just as I start to wash off the soap, a scream pierces the air.

Alarmed, I turn to Nora, and I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Not after Kaia specifically recommended me this.

Nora is standing near the entrance, trembling with sheer terror. She’s playing out the worst possible scenario in her head.

Before her stands the young guard.

He presses his body heavily against hers, preventing any escape. One hand grips her wrists, keeping her under control, while the other roams her body to his delight.

"Don’t be so difficult!" he whispers in her ear, as if she’s his girlfriend and not the victim of his harassment. "It’s not like you have a choice! This place is rough. You’ll need all the protection you can get. I just ask for a small favor in return!"

"She already has all the protection she needs!" My voice, sharp and commanding, cuts through the air. "So, let her go immediately!"

"And you’re going to provide that protection?" He mocks me, ignoring my command and continuing to harass Nora.

My eyes dart around frantically.

Weapon! I need a weapon!

Somehow, I must defend her from his assault. There must be something I can use against him! But there’s nothing here except towels and…

Instinctively, I slap my hand against the wall and touch one of the square tiles. A bar of soap pops out, and I immediately grab it. I draw my arm back.

From that motion, I throw the bar at him with all my might.

I should’ve been a pitcher instead of a model!

The soap hits the pervert in the head.

It drops to the floor, but my voice rises in warning.

"I said, let her go!"

Not sure what else I can do except provoke him. The soap hits its mark but barely fazes him.

"Little bitch!" he curses at me.

I press another square.

Another bar of soap. Another throw. And another. One more.

Next time, I’ll trust my instincts! I silently promise myself. When something inside me screams caution, I should listen instead of leaving myself vulnerable!

The guard finally releases Nora.

At least I’ve managed that. But unfortunately, he doesn’t seem inclined to follow my command to leave the shower room. Instead, he stomps toward me with large, menacing steps.

"I'll teach you some manners first, you beast!" he barks at me.

I step back, my retreat blocked by the wall, heart pounding in fear. At least I got him to stop harassing Nora, but she’s still standing near the entrance, while I picked the corner farthest from it.

Idiot!

He’s now between me and the only exit.

Can I run past him, or will he catch me? Maybe if he slips on the wet floor!

But where would I go?

Will his colleagues side with him or protect us? Then there’s the row of prisoners we’d have to pass by. I really don’t want to give them a free show, encouraging them to act on their vulgar remarks.

Damn!

"If you’re so eager to be first, I’m happy to oblige!" he sneers, a nasty grin spreading across his face.

He might’ve targeted Nora initially, but now he doesn’t care.

And I do the only thing I can think of.

I raise my arm, displaying the bracelet. It practically shoves itself into his line of sight.

Kaia said it!

"You… you can’t hurt me!" My voice trembles with fear. Not just my voice—my entire body is shaking.

Help!